Osseo Schools Distance Learning Survey Reveals Areas for Improvement

Distance learning across the metro has posed different opportunities and challenges for school districts. To learn what’s working and what needs improvement, Osseo School District Superintendent Cory McIntrye asked for feedback from students, families and staff. The distance learning survey was administered from April 17-24. 

You can view the detailed survey results here.

Distance Learning Areas for Improvement

Technology 

The Osseo School District survey identified areas for improvement including the way support is provided for technology issues. 

American Indian families reported lower levels of support for technology. Sixty-three percent of American Indian families say someone at home is available to help the student if there are technology problems. White families report the highest levels of support for technology with 91 percent. 

Established Routines

Support in helping students establish routines and next steps in learning also landed in the areas for improvement. Twelfth graders had the lowest percentage, 57%, when it came to routines that seem to be working. American Indian families have also reported lowest levels in this category with 60%. Black families reported 76%  and Asians had the highest support for establishing routines at home with 79%.

Homelessness

The survey also found that homeless students had the lowest rates of engagement in distance learning. Homeless families had much less positive responses than other groups on all scales but one: access to food. Findings include that students who face homelessness face major obstacles to distance learning. Families also struggle to address many competing demands with limited resources, such as time, stress, availability and support, the report finds. 

Areas of Satisfaction

Feedback showed that students, families and teachers are satisfied with distance learning efforts in the following area: level of support for students from their teacher, access to technology needed, and access to the internet needed to do schoolwork.

Using the Data to Improve

After reviewing the feedback, Osseo District staff identified actions to improve the distance learning experience. Examples include:

• Purchasing Seesaw, a student engagement web-based platform, to better allow elementary students to show their learning, teachers to provide feedback, and to promote communication between the district and families.
• Distributing 3,000 iPads so every student, K-12, has access to a mobile device.
• Procuring WiFi hotspots for a limited number of families without internet access.
• Staff is considering other ways to improve the distance learning program, particularly in areas where obstacles to full participation in distance learning are beyond the student’s control

“The survey confirmed something we speculated, which is that distance learning works well for some students but not for others,” said McIntrye. “Because our students have a broad range of needs, our teachers have been working hard for a long time to provide more individualized instruction, which is even more challenging to do in distance learning.”

If you or your student did not receive the April survey and would like to provide feedback on the follow-up survey, please complete this form.

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