Students and teachers have had to face the challenges that hybrid and online synchronous learning has brought to the school. Classes and clubs have had to adapt and compromise in order to function in this new system. This includes Penn-Trafford High School’s yearbook class, who have been working hard in order to deliver students the 2020-21 PTHS yearbook.
The class is taught by Tami Thornton, who has been an English teacher at PTHS for 13 years.
In past years, the yearbook class’s approach would have been to plan the pages, take all of their pictures and then place those photos on layouts on their publishing site. After that, they send interviews to students and fill the layouts with the responses. All of the pages are then edited.
This year, however, since many students are learning online, both photo acquisition and communication has been made more difficult.
The class has been gathering over Google Meet, allowing members to communicate both at school and home. Thornton has also been extending deadlines and giving students additional jobs in order compensate for the difficulties presented to them.
Photographers have also been making sure to include photos from both green and gold days.
Unfortunately, some compromises had to be made. At some points, Thornton said the class was unable to meet deadlines with their publishing company, forcing students to step up. Along with that, photos will mostly consist of students wearing masks and sitting at computers or chromebooks.
Thornton stated that she wanted to, “[capture] the reality of what a day in school was like in 2020. It wouldn’t be ethical to fake it.” She added that overall, the year has been rough.
Thornton knew communication was going to be a challenge. In response to this, she stated that she will, “usually post the ‘ladder’ which is a page-by-page plan of the yearbook on a bulletin board.” Students will mark then they have completed an assignment on the ladder, notifying others they can continue to make progress on a task. With students present on different days and some entirely online, this collaboration is more challenging.
Thornton stated, “We’ve definitely struggled with [communication] this year since we don’t see each other on a daily basis, and students do not ever see the other half of the class.”
On the bright side, Thornton said that the class has, “learned that teamwork is essential to produce a successful yearbook.” While unsure how to record events that have been moved online, Thornton added that the yearbook is always accepting photos from students to be reviewed for the yearbook.