Academics

Digital Learning

For more than 70 years, Norfolk Collegiate has been blending tradition with innovation. For nearly two years, our faculty and staff worked to develop, train for, and test our Digital Learning Plan. Digital Learning allows us to deliver a great education and even better experience through valuable online learning when our community cannot be together in person, whether it's due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, such as COVID-19.

We believe a valuable education is more than worksheets. Our strong pre-K3 through Grade 12 curriculum and engaging programs are not limited to our classrooms.

What is Digital Learning?

Today's educators are doing amazing things with technology. Norfolk Collegiate is continuing to provide innovative learning for today's changing world through engaging lessons—whether they are in person or delivered online. We develop critical thinkers, doers and explorers through innovative, engaging instruction in an inclusive and supportive learning community.

What Does Digital Learning Look Like?

At Norfolk Collegiate, we have two phases of our Digital Learning Plan (as illustrated below).

List of 3 items.

  • Phase 1

    Phase I is designed for shorter disruptions and involves teaching and learning through video presentations and related assignments that students complete at home on their own daily schedule.
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  • Phase 2

    Phase II is designed to continue a meaningful program of teaching and learning during extended closures through blended learning, and related asynchronous learning activities to deliver high-quality instruction.

Digital Learning FAQs

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

  • How does it work?

    When in Phase I, teachers communicate with students and their parents via MyCollegiate, the school's student/parent portal. All teaching and learning are done through video presentations and related assignments that students complete at home on their own daily schedules.

    When in Phase II, teachers deliver lessons through online videoconferencing, such as Zoom, in real-time instruction. Teachers combine real-time lessons with related asynchronous learning activities to deliver high-quality instruction within a predictable schedule of regular class meetings. For example, a sophomore student will be expected to "attend" his or her regularly scheduled classes from noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, via Zoom. Outside of the Zoom classes, the students will have additional work that they must complete and turn into their teachers, just as they normally would. Resources, such as art, physical education, languages continue in this format!

    Instructional technology is a regular part of Collegiate's academic pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 program, so our Digital Learning Plan capitalizes on familiar platforms and activities to bring the classroom to our students as appropriate to their developmental levels. This plan details how we will continue to support teaching and learning in each division.
  • What is a digital learning plan?

    The Digital Learning Plan is Collegiate's formal plan for online learning when we cannot gather in person. It breaks down the platforms and activities used to bring the classroom to our students as appropriate to their developmental levels. It details how our school will continue to support teaching and learning in each division. 
  • Can I enroll my child for digital learning?

    Our faculty and staff switch to digital learning when our community cannot be together in person, whether it's due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, such as COVID-19.

    Only current Norfolk Collegiate students are able to participate in digital learning when the school is under such above-listed circumstances. 
  • What do the digital learning terms mean?

    Below are some of the terms that Collegiate, as well as educators across the nation, use to describe how digital learning is delivered. They are:

    Asynchronous: Asynchronous digital learning takes place through recorded video presentations and related learning activities posted to MyCollegiate. This form of instruction does not involve real-time interaction.

    Blended learning: Blended learning uses a carefully planned mix of synchronous and asynchronous strategies to combine real-time student-teacher interaction through video-conferencing and related learning activities.

    Digital learning: Digital learning is the use of instructional technology to enhance the teaching and learning process.

    Synchronous: Synchronous digital learning takes place in real-time using a video-conferencing platform like Zoom to allow students and teachers to meet for daily instruction and community building.

    Video conference: A video conference is a virtual class meeting that allows all participants to meet with real-time audio and video. Our video-conferencing platform is Zoom.
  • What are our parents saying?

    "Theo has been thriving this year in Norfolk Collegiate preschool. And now with the social distancing, the support we are receiving from the school faculty and his teachers to stay connected and maintain a continuity of his education is amazing. If you ask Theo, 'What's the best school in the who wide world?' He's going to declare 'Norfolk Collegiate.' "
    Sarah Bradshaw, mom to Theo '34

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