A Q&A About Virtual Learning

The transition to remote virtual learning has had an impact on everyone at our special education schools at the Watson Institute: students, parents, and educators. Anna, a student at the Watson Institute Social Center for Academic Achievement (WISCA) school program designed to meet the individual needs of children and adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, and her father Jeremy, share their virtual learning experience with Sydney Larner, Anna's teasher at WISCA. Teacher Question: Anna, what do you like about doing school from home and what do you dislike about it? Student Answer: What I like about virtual learning is that we get to work at our own pace and it’s a change of scenery. What I dislike is that I miss seeing my friends and stuff.   Teacher Response: 100% and I couldn't agree with you more, and I'm a teacher :) Teacher Question: What has been on your mind since we haven’t been in school all of this time? Student Answer: I’m wondering about how the other teachers and students are doing. Teacher Question: How are your interactions with your family changing... has your relationship with your family changed at all while you’re quarantining and learning from home? Student Answer: Yeah, since everyone is home from work and school, all of us are becoming closer. Teacher Response: That's sweet... that's always really nice to hear! Thank you so much, Anna, for answering those questions. Jeremy (Anna's father), I'll now move on to you... Teacher Question: What do you think about this remote virtual learning journey you're on now? Student's Father Answer: I think it's the best case scenario in the current situation. It reminds me a lot of the online courses I took for college when I was doing evening programs and such, so I think considering the circumstances, it's the best case scenario for what the kids can do. Teacher Question: What has surprised you the most about this new way of living and learning? Student's Father Answer: What surprised me the most would be how quickly everyone’s adapted to it. From work offices being so flexible with working-from-home capabilities to the Watson Institute for example being so prepared and so ready and so quickly for how everything has developed from having the courses online to having Zoom meetings for the different teachers. So keeping that teacher and student interaction has been fantastically done. To learn more about WISCA's school program designed to meet the individual needs of children and adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, visit https://www.thewatsoninstitute.org/schools/wisca/ About Watson Institute: For more than 100 years the Watson Institute has established itself as the region’s premiere resource for children with special needs. The Watson Institute is an educational organization in Western Pennsylvania made up of special education schools, programs, and resources for children with special needs and their families - including outpatient behavioral health services for children and adolescents up to the age of 21. Whether it's an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, neurological impairment or another serious emotional challenge, we are on a mission to help children and youth reach their fullest potential in all aspects of their lives. Our special education school resources and programs also serve as a learning environment for teachers, therapists and other professionals or pre-professionals who serve those children.