1. Driving in the dark:
The return to in-person instruction and
our response to the new normal
Stephanie Schechner
Widener University
saschechner@widener.edu
3. Reality check
Study/learning skills: Rusty
Focus: Variable
Content Knowledge: ???
Mental health: A Priority
Physical health: Constant
source of concern
Social skills: Limited
Other challenges (family,
finances, future?)
4. Crafting our
response to
the new
normal:
Study Skills
• How to memorize
• How to read
• How to write
• Build in writing/reading practice under the assumption
that students may not know how to do these things on
their own
Back to basics
• Due dates
• Rubrics
• Scaffolding of more complex assignments
Clarity in assignments
5. Crafting our response to the new normal: Strengthening
focus
Cover less material but
in more depth
01
Break larger
down into manageable
pieces
02
Develop student
capacity to focus by
building toward more
depth activities
03
6. Crafting our
response to
the new
normal:
Content
knowledge
Less is more
Push back against notions of "coverage"
Quality vs. Quantity
Skills over Content
Long game over Short game
8. Crafting our
response to the
new normal:
Mental health
matters
Welcoming all learners: DEI +++
https://www.actfl.org/resources/resources-
language-educators-address-issues-race-
diversity-and-social-justice
https://ddfccollective.weebly.com/
Look at the images you use
https://nappy.co/
https://www.blackillustrations.com/
Pronouns across languages
Virtual workshop for all World Language
Teachers November
13: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1
FAIpQLSe4TlRqQ6WdsZwQfwZnt8ADCO
oKYL-weFZvTkN3BUUf4Afxyw/viewform
9. Crafting our response to
the new normal: Physical
health practices
Missing class for health reasons: Empathy
needed
Integrating physical activities in the
classroom: Modeling self-care
Outdoor activities: Mental and Physical
Health
10. Crafting our
response to
the new
normal:
Building Social
Skills
Creating communicative activities
Peer Study Groups
TalkAbroad
11. Crafting our response to the new normal: What's on the
horizon?
FINANCIAL CONCERNS COLLEGE/CAREER FUTURE EXPLORATION
