Mr. Roberts Prepares for Online Learning in Case Break Prolongs

By Jun Lee

 “All right, spread out across the library, we’re testing Zoom.” In case Covid-19 prolongs school shutdown, Mr. Roberts (Sr.) conducted a test-run of online video conferencing for his Web Design class.

As Mr. Roberts paced back and forth along the library hallway, checking if each student could connect to the conference, students explored various utilities of Zoom: the online video conferencing platform employed. Five minutes of clicking and giggling passed as students successfully logged-in and poked multicultural jokes at each other as usual.

Tien Min Tan (G12) called Nicole Lee (G12) “笨蛋 (idiot)” and Nicole replied, “愚蠢 (stupid),” while Seong Jin Kim (G12) and I (Junyong Lee, G12) exchanged Arabic greetings out of nowhere: “ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ,” “وَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ” (“peace be with you,” “you be with peace”). A cheery and jocular Dalat spirit never ceased as random laughing faces shined on the screen (although accidentally; they did not realize Zoom allows blackout).

Unfortunately, Mr. Roberts had to test-run the video conference because the very “cheery and jocular Dalat spirit” might not continue on campus. At 23:32:15 (MYT), Monday, 16 March 2020, Head of School Mr. Karl Steinkamp disseminated a notification to all Dalat parents: “According to the PM’s address this evening schools will be closed starting on Wednesday.” Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin declared in his Sarawak press conference after a full day of meetings that all schools and public facilities close until the end of March. In case students cannot return due to a potential extension of school shutdown or quarantine while returning from overseas, Dalat teachers prepared for online distance learning.

“In fact, we started preparing for this situation starting a week ago,” explained Mr. Roberts. After an extensive meeting on 10 March 2020 (last Tuesday), several teachers consulted Mr. Yost, sitting by his usual A-lab left-back corner. Despite the surprise-shutdown three days ahead, preparing a week ahead proved fruitful, as Mr. Brewster announced today, "Teachers will have work for you starting on Thursday morning."

While we cannot enjoy the stay on campus for a while, teachers’ prompt and dedicated preparation has prevented a potential absence of education for the rest of semester so feared by parents, teachers, and students alike. Now comes students’ time to contribute by “irrigating” the stream of “cheery and jocular Dalat spirit” to our online platform!