NSW public schools may have to deliver lessons remotely amid the growing likelihood more schools will be closed as the COVID-!9 infection spreads.
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The NSW Department of Education has posted advice on its website to help teachers do just that.
The Department advises teachers to develop digital resources such as Eddie Woo-style videos, draw up timetables for students to follow at home, and to prepare lessons they can post out in hard copy or on USB sticks.
If small groups of students, or the entire community had to stay home, teachers should prepare digital or hard copy lessons that could be mailed to students ...
The NSW government has said education is important, and at present would only shut schools if a member of the school community tested positive for the virus.
But that advice might change as COVID-19 spreads. Four schools have so far closed temporarily.
NSW DoE secretary Mark Scott said schools would be given new social distancing guidelines on Monday.
"I think the operations of school will change," Mr Scott told the ABC. "We are likely to see no school assemblies for some time, we might shift how lunch hours are structured so everyone is not in the playground at the same time."
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the DoE uploaded detailed advice on Friday to guide schools in how to keep teaching "despite circumstances that interrupt normal school attendance for one or more students or the whole school community.
"If small groups of students, or the entire community had to stay home, teachers should prepare digital or hard copy lessons that could be mailed to students, and provide ideas for learning activities parents can do with their children."
Schools were told that over-communication was recommended "to ensure everyone feels connected, supported and confident".
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
