COMMENT
CLASS UNPLUGGED Downe House pupils were encouraged to get off their screens as an antidote to remote learning in a recent school initiative that embraced the importance of the school’s seven core values, writes MARK HILL
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n a world dominated by screen-time, Downe House took pupils off timetable and asked them to ‘unplug’ from technology for a day of self-led study to encourage them to be creative without any screens involved: the results were phenomenal! A much-debated concern for everyone involved in the provision of online learning for young people in the lockdown is the sheer amount of time that they’re spending in front of a screen and the effects it may be having on their wellbeing and mental health. No one disputes that online learning is the only viable solution during this time of national school closures, but in order to provide a sense of perspective and a welcome break from online learning in the third lockdown, we decided to give our pupils the opportunity to unplug, disconnect and go offline for a day to pursue a project of their own choice. Quite the novelty in a world that’s very much living online in so many ways from teaching and learning to socialising and shopping. The
included volunteering at a local foodbank, helping a neighbour, creating an artwork, studying cells through a microscope, embroidery, crochet, breadmaking, exploring a new culture through food or music, cooking supper for the family, taking photographs or baking a showstopper cake and of course, making the most of getting outside to exercise and engage with nature as far as was possible given local restrictions. One girl produced numerous beautiful boxes of food with thank-you letters for NHS staff, which were decorated with rainbows and contained flapjacks and butterfly cakes. Another fi lled several plastic bags with rubbish and plastic that she had collected from her local area while she was out exercising. I was impressed with the initiative and depth of ambition shown by the girls – whether they’d chosen to write a short story, help pack food boxes for frontline workers or learn how to make pasta from scratch. A lower fi ft h pupil called Sherry produced a stunning drawing of a nurse inspired by artist, Charlie
Mark Hill is Deputy Head (Academic) at Downe House in Berkshire
THIS UNIQUE DAY MADE US ALL PAUSE AND REFLECT ON THE WAY that technology has come to dominate our daily lives, and firmly RESOLVE TO TAKE TIME OUT TO BE MORE CREATIVE AND ACTIVE AWAY FROM OUR SCREENS Downe House Unplugged Project Day challenged girls to plan an activity day with a purpose and a clear link to the development of one of the seven Downe House DNA characteristics – compassion, collaboration, creativity, communication, aspiration, resilience and being outward looking. Under normal circumstances at school, everyone has the chance to develop the DNA characteristics daily in the classroom, on the playing field, in the boarding house and everywhere in between, and these core values are the hope, aim and challenge for every girl. We believe that applies just as much now, whether we are offline or online, whether we’re in school or at home. So we were aiming to give the girls an opportunity to challenge themselves and to make it a day fi lled with meaningful endeavour. There was an impressive scope of plans submitted by the girls for Project Day, which
Mackesy, who she spent time researching as part of her development for the artwork. In the weeks following the Project Day, the girls were asked to reflect on what they’d achieved and learned about themselves and then to share their experiences with their tutor or members of House staff. Each house nominated the standout projects to be rewarded for their exceptional depth, breadth, ambition and for service to their community as well as being celebrated in the whole school assembly. It was clear that the girls appreciated the ownership, independence and freedom they were given, resulting in tremendous levels of motivation and creativity. This unique day made us all pause and reflect on the way that technology has come to dominate our daily lives, and firmly resolve to take time out to be more creative and active away from our screens. SPRING 2021 | independentschoolparent.com
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