'Zoom Overload': PGCPS Tries To Find New Ways To Engage Students

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Students are drained, Monica Goldson said. The school system CEO finds that families need more support, but many don't know where to turn.

Goldson responded by hosting a telephone town hall Monday evening. Concerned parents called in to voice concerns about special education, feedback from teachers and screen time.

Forty percent of the 12,000 attendees said they didn't know where to find help. That disconnect challenges students who are constantly logged in to a laptop and can easily get fatigued.

"They are on screen [and] Zoom overload," Goldson said. "We don’t want them to just completely burnout."

Though it's easy to tune out on video calls, Goldson encouraged students to keep their camera on. She finds that students who stay connected during these sessions usually perform better in the class.

Aside from the monotony of video conferences, connectivity remains an issue. Many parents said they don't know how to get technical assistance. Others report that they don't know where to find supplemental learning tools.

The CEO reminded parents that the easiest place to find answers is the Prince George's County Public Schools coronavirus portal. That website has the latest information on reopening plans and virtual learning resources.

Goldson also suggested signing up for the PGCPS newsletter. This updates parents with the latest school plans and family resources.

If parents still have questions, they can dial the distance learning hotline at (240) 696-6229. The call center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday through Friday.

Goldson also invited a public library representative onto the call to offer additional academic help. Roberta Phillips, CEO of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, said her staff has more than 85 tools for students.

With bilingual tutoring, college test prep tools and Wi-Fi hot spots, Phillips said students can rely on the library. Families can find a full list of library resources by heading to this webpage or calling (240) 455-5451. The library is still closed to visitors, but it offers curbside pickup.

"I refuse to let our children be left behind because a pandemic was not effectively managed," Goldson said. "We are here to help you."

How Parents Feel

Goldson called the town hall about a week after a survey found that many families are not ready to send their students back to classrooms. The school system detailed the questionnaire's main findings in a summary released Oct. 28:

• 68 percent of parents say they're uncomfortable with in-person instruction
• 22 percent percent are somewhat or very comfortable with in-person classes

A majority of families still believe their students are getting a quality education through distance learning, PGCPS notes.

• Nearly 70 percent of parental respondents believe the distance learning services are at least "Good"
• More than one-quarter rated the current services as "Excellent"

Most students appreciate the chance to stay healthy and work at their own pace. Still, many feel disconnected from academic and social resources, the writeup continues.

Students are having a hard time in these areas:

• Staying focused and interested in virtual classes
• Problems with technology
• Missing the social interaction with friends and teachers
• Not really understanding the work
• Having trouble asking questions to and connecting with their teachers
• Having too much work and too many independent assignments

Middle and high schoolers reported more emotional distress than elementary schoolers. Parents of students with disabilities say they are still struggling to connect with resources.

PGCPS only released a synopsis of the survey, not the full results. The school system administered the questionnaire between Oct. 5 and Oct. 18. It drew responses from 4,672 students and 10,972 parents.

Though the sample size is large, the survey was not conducted by independent and professional pollsters who use scientific methods. That means the results offer an overview of countywide trends, but they may not illustrate an unbiased and wholistic range of opinions.

The full survey writeup is available here.

"I am grateful for the input from our families and students," Goldson said in a press release. "While I recognize that no scenario is perfect, working together, we can focus on safely supporting our students."

Future School Plans

Classes have been online since March. Students will continue distance learning through the end of the first semester. Goldson will update the county on her plans for the second semester on Dec. 1.

If she deems in-person schooling safe and appropriate, parents will have the chance to opt into a hybrid model for the final two marking periods.

Under the hybrid option, students would attend in-person classes twice per week and continue with online classes for the remaining three days. If implemented, the hybrid model would start on Feb. 1, which is the first day of the third marking period. Students can continue with full-time distance learning if they choose.

Regardless of their decision, families must fill out a form between Dec. 1 and Dec. 18 telling PGCPS which method their student will follow. The school system will not offer fully in-person classes until at least the 2021-2022 school year, Goldson said.

RELATED:

• Most PGCPS Families Not Yet Ready For Return to Schools: Survey
• PGCPS Will 'Prioritize Our Students' Needs,' Keep Classes Online
• Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening: Governor Hogan
• Classes Will Be Online Until 2021, Prince George's Schools Say

Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.