Woodland Public Schools adapts to distance learning

WOODLAND — Woodland Public Schools started the new school year on Sept. 8 with Distance Learning 2.0, with the hopes children will have a learning experience that more closely resembles in-person learning. Attendance is now mandatory unless family arranges for recorded video lessons. Students receive assignments and earn grades just like in school. “It was amazing to watch my teachers and paraeducators jump right in to teach students live the first day,” said James Johnston, principal of Woodland Middle School. “The staff adapted quickly and maintained flexibility with obstacles as we all knew the first few days could be rocky.” Shari Conditt, a government teacher at Woodland High School, worked hard to test new approaches over the summer. Conditt modeled her distance learning on Stanford University’s remote high school project, where students do the reading to learn the concepts in advance of the live sessions. Some families opted to enroll their students in Woodland’s alternative learning programs, which will remain distance learning even when the district returns to in-person school. “As a staff, we have shown that we must practice what we preach — just like we teach our students, you need to be able to adapt to new situations and change efficiently, effectively, and quickly to ensure student learning takes place in any environment,” Conditt said.