From Distance Learning to the Hybrid Model

It's all about passionate teachers: Today we introduce Grade 4 teacher John Bender from Canada, who is in his fifth year at BIS and currently is working at City Campus in Schwabing. He told us what his secret recipe for successful Distance learning is: “Giving the students the right mix of routine, keeping them motivated and engaged in learning, being innovative and coming up with fresh new ideas.” 

The EAL (English as Additional Language) Department at BIS, which also includes its Mother Tongue program, has found success with the transition to Distance Learning - and now Flexible Learning... While there is no magic formula for implementing Distance Learning, the department’s teachers have found success through maintaining consistent avenues of communication to provide students with clear instructions and feedback, regular routines, and opportunities to collaborate and interact in a safe and productive manner. 

Even though BIS students can now gradually return to the campus, Distance Learning will continue - for example, for rotating classes or children who have to stay at home. Today Mark Thompson talks about his experiences as a virtual teacher. He is British, homeroom teacher of class 5 at the City Campus of Bavarian International School (BIS) and also an Open Water Scuba Instructor...

"Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand". That's one of Connie Panagakis' mottos.  The Australian teaches music and drama at Bavarian International School - with joy and passion also digitally in Distance Learning...  Even the young students from grade 1 enjoy home schooling via Google Meet, learn words, melodies and prepare a music and drama performance from home. Above all, they have fun and are happy to see their friends and teacher. 

Mr. Loay Malek is one of the few educators who still teaches from his classroom. The Egyptian-born Australian appreciates his interactive whiteboard, which he connects to Google Meet for his math lessons. „I pretend that my empty classroom is full of my students. It’s difficult when I can’t see their faces to know how they’re processing information in real time, so I've replaced the ´raise your hand´ with a ´turn your mic on´ if you have a question“, says the maths teacher and Diploma Programme (DP) coordinator, who is working for BIS for seven years. Also in the world of distance learning, the classic maths textbook is an essential teaching resource - just as an eBook...

BIS donated 50 face shields and ten eye masks to the München Klinik Schwabing and the Klinikum Dritter Orden. Robert Clements, our Head of Department of Design Technology, produced the items using a 3D printer from BIS.

Immediately after the school gates had to be closed all over the country due to the corona virus, Bavarian International School (BIS) opened as a virtual school. With its own distance learning program, teaching continued seamlessly for around 1,200 students from 56 nations between the ages of 3 and 18. Already in the first three weeks, the innovative learning concept of BIS generated enthusiasm among students, parents and teachers alike. Newspapers such as the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" reported on BIS's distance learning as a benchmark

Immediately after the school gates had to be closed all over the country due to the corona virus, Bavarian International School (BIS) opened as a virtual school. With its own distance learning program, teaching continued seamlessly for around 1,200 students from 56 nations between the ages of 3 and 18. Already in the first three weeks, the innovative learning concept of BIS generated enthusiasm among students, parents and teachers alike. Newspapers such as the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" reported on BIS's distance learning as a benchmark

The "Süddeutsche Zeitung" was interested in our innovative distance learning program and integrated the Bavarian International School into an article on virtual schools in Munich. Editor Jakob Wetzel says: "The BIS does not have those kind of problems. Every pupil from the fourth grade receives a school tablet here, from the seventh a loan computer. Every child gets an email address of the school and a separate school department takes care of the technology. They would like to share their experiences, says the director." In fact, the BIS is very happy to share its knowledge and experience with other educational institutions in Bavaria or around the world. The Distance Learning program has been available to everyone since day one.

Some more good news from our BIS community: German teacher Darby Altinger sewed 42 masks to help the Klinikum Dritter Orden in times of the Corona crisis. Exactly on her son's fourth birthday, Darby sent the masks to the hospital where her son was born and where she has often supported births as a doula.

Brighten your day with the BIS Virtual Orchestra…! Grade 7 students play the song "Groovin' Through" - a song, which BIS music teacher Tim Collins composed himself for a music book. Tim is a former professional jazz musician who toured the USA, Europe and Australia, played for "Bayerischer Rundfunk" and released 4 albums so far. Not only that, the American is a baseball play-by-play announcer and was one of the commentators at the MLB World Series last fall for DAZN.
#BelieveInspireSucceed #BISareone #DistanceLearning

Our BIS Science teacher Dr. Sarah Sydney is teaching Physics via Google Meet. She has been really impressed by the students' engagement and creativity in the first two weeks of Distance Learning at BIS.

Positive messages are more important than ever at times like this! The BIS Chinese Community organised various Fundraising initiatives at City Campus and Haimhausen Campus for three small hospitals in Wuhan.

The Bavarian International School is taking advantage of the Bavarian government´s mandatory school closing to deploy its Virtual School Program for the the next five weeks through the end of the Spring Break. School leaders and staff have been working diligently to fine-tune the extensive details required to support 1,200 students from ages 3-18 in virtual or "distance learning". Protecting the health of students, their families and staff remains paramount throughout.

Der Coronavirus COVID-19 trifft auch die Bavarian International School (BIS). Auf Anweisung der Bayerischen Staatsregierung müssen alle Schulen und Kindertagesstätten in Bayern für fünf Wochen bis zum Ende der Osterferien am 20. April 2020 schließen –  auch die beiden Campus der BIS in München-Schwabing und Haimhausen. In diesem Zeitraum fallen auch alle BIS-Veranstaltungen, Exkursionen, Ausflüge und die Schüleraustausche aus.