June 15, 2021

With the directive from the Malaysian Ministry of Education for schools to close due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia, the students in Matrix Global Schools have moved from face-to-face lessons to online lessons. Our teachers have been working hard at home to ensure our students can continue to learn remotely so that they can work towards achieving the expected learning outcomes for each subject. Below are some of the ways that online learning in our international school and private school allow our students to continue to progress in their learning shared by Mr Andrew, Head of Matrix International School and Ms Tea, Head of Matrix Private School.

Matrix International School

Monitoring attendance and submission of assignments

Attending school is important because students are more likely to succeed in their learning if they are consistently at school. This is particularly important with online learning. Just like physical lessons, we continue to monitor the attendance of our students for each lesson and the submission of their work. We will contact home when students are not attending lessons, late to lessons or not submitting assignments to minimise disruptions in the learning of our students.

Sharing learning resources

Resources from online lessons are shared on Google Classroom to allow students to continue to revise concepts they have learnt in their own time or for students who were absent to catch-up on their learning. Resources shared can be in the form of pre-learning tasks, recordings of online lessons, learning aids used during online lessons, assigned tasks and assessments.

Lesson engagement

Our teachers use a variety of resources and applications to ensure that learning can be provided to our students in an engaging and interactive way. Regular training and the sharing of good practice by MIS staff allow our teachers to provide learning and teaching that is similar to what is delivered in the classroom.

Use of assessment

Assessment occurs in a variety of ways through our online lessons. Students have the opportunity to be assessed throughout their online lessons, activities they need to complete and the assignments that they submit. Formal testing and assessments are still provided by our teachers to allow us to monitor the progress of students. Weekly summary reports are sent home by Google Classroom to parents to provide information on the work their child had to complete and the status on the submission of the tasks. Academic reports are provided by the school to show the progression of students in their learning.

Varying tasks

With our online lessons, we still believe it is important for students to complete tasks in written form and using technological applications. Written work enables our students to develop their writing skills, understand the importance of spelling and grammar, think about presentation and limit the amount of time students use technology. Using electronic devices allows our students to develop their ICT skills, gives them greater experience of technological applications and to be creative and imaginative in the work they produce.

With a Bachelor of Education in History from Stranmillis University, Mr. Andrew Hamilton has a decade of experience teaching Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 in Northern Ireland and Malaysia. As a certified International Primary Curriculum (IPC) trainer by Fieldwork Education, Mr. Andrew has a broad experience leading Primary schools which includes developing the IPC to suit learners academic and cultural needs, as well as putting in extra focus on the pastoral care of students and staff.

Matrix Private School

Ensure online learning is similar to on-site learning

In order to ensure the learning is similar to learning in the physical classroom, MPS online learning follows the physical learning timetable which means that learning is from 8.00 a.m. to 3.15 p.m., from Monday to Friday. Students are encouraged to wear the school uniform to maintain the feeling of going to school, regardless of the venue.

Record students’ movements at all times

Attendance will be recorded for each lesson. Attendance will be classified as present with camera on, present with camera off or absent. In order to encourage learning, teachers will cue the students and interact with them all the time.

Observe online teaching

During the home-based learning period, the school Senior Leadership Team (SLT) will observe the teachers conducting their lessons and to provide feedback to the teachers on their lessons.

Use different online teaching tools

Teaching and assessing students physically and online require different techniques and skills. MPS has trained all the teachers to handle various teaching tools to assist their teaching by applying different and appropriate learning and assessment activities. The school will issue progress reports at the end of the term to the parents.

Support self-learning at home

Each lesson will be recorded and uploaded through Google Classroom. If students are absent from the lesson or need to revise at home by themselves, they download the recorded lessons.

Standby and solve technological problems

Students who need laptops for online learning may borrow them from the school. Our school Information and Technology (IT) Department will also assist students/parents to solve technological problems that they may face in virtual lessons.

Communicate efficiently with parents – through attendance, home work, PTC and coffee morning

Subject teachers will send emails to the parents to alert them that their child is absent in certain subjects, if prior notice is not given by parents/ guardians for students’ absence. MPS will organise online coffee meetings with parents/guardians to strengthen communication between the SLT and parents. Online meeting between parents and teachers will be held termly for the parents to understand the child’s academic performance from their subject teachers.