Schools and students continue to have problems with distance learning

The login page for distance learning.

Despite assurances from Fairfax County school leaders that the problems with distance learning would be fixed when students log on today, there were still glitches.

“We are continuing with distance learning today despite the continuing problems we are experiencing with Blackboard Learn (FCPS 24-7),” the school system announced this morning. “The updates made by Blackboard over the weekend have not corrected the system delays.”

Annandale Terrace Elementary School Principal Lisa Pilson passed along that information to the community this morning, stating: “We are aware that some students were able to access the 24-7 system early. However as the volume increased, we received word that access was intermittent or slow, in some cases requiring multiple log-on attempts. Once inside the system, Blackboard Collaborate worked well. If your child is accessing Blackboard, please stay in the session until the lessons are completed for the day.”

Teachers have been encouraged to provide instructional opportunities to students through a variety of other tools, including Google Classroom, prerecorded videos, learning packets, eBooks, and other approved digital resources, as well as directing students to Channels 21, 25, and 99.

Related story: FCPS apologizes for distance learning failure

In an email to the Holmes Middle School community this morning, Principal Margaret Barnes wrote: “As you know, our start to distance learning last week was a roller coaster. Again, I am so sorry that students were not able to see their teachers ‘face-to-face’ online. Teachers were disappointed as well.”

Since Blackboard is still not working consistently, Barnes said she was not able to hold her weekly lunch with students today.

She explained how online learning works at Holmes “so that you and your students can find some consistency and predictability while FCPS 24/7 (Blackboard) continues to have technical issues.”

Distance learning at Holmes is based on asynchronous instruction, so students can work at their own pace any day of the week at any time. Teachers will post a lesson grid each week outlining the topic of the week, along with required and optional activities for students. 

Synchronous learning, when the whole class is online at the same time, will take place on Wednesdays and Fridays. Those sessions will allow students to ask questions and get answers.

“The asynchronous model helps us to ensure that the learning continues for your student even when Blackboard is down,” Barnes says. The overwhelming majority of teachers at Holmes use Google Classroom as the primary platform for their classroom materials. 

FCPS was supposed to start distance learning on April 14, but there widespread problems involving security and login failures with Blackboard. As a result, distance learning was shut down for the rest of the week.

The school board will discuss the continued failures with distance learning at its April 23 meeting.