RMA Digital Learning 2020

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Dear Parents,

 

This is a joint communication from the Commandant and the Dean of Academics. We would like to share an update as we head into Phase Two of Digital Learning: Life after Spring Furlough. As we all have recently experienced, life can be unpredictable. The challenges we face today are unlike any other that most of us have faced and certainly are different from any experienced in Commandant Carter’s two decades of service to the Academy. We do not face these challenges alone. 

 

While most of the Nation viewed this issue as a temporary inconvenience and planned for a short term solution, COL Preczewski and the Board of Trustees had the foresight to realize that the COVID-19 virus would most likely impact the remainder of the school year. Thus, Academics was quickly charged with developing a seamless process to transition the Corps to a digital/remote platform for cadets on and off campus. With less than two weeks to plan, train teachers and effectively communicate our intent to cadets and parents, we launched the digital learning initiative on March 23. Seamless, no, impressive, yes! As we expected, we encountered a few hiccups along the way, but everything exceeded our expectations. Ninety percent of the cadets are sitting in a chair, behind a desk or a table, wearing appropriate attire, and positively contributing to the lessons being delivered by their teachers. A few cadets and some individuals not associated with the Academy have made a handful of attempts to be a disruptive force to the classroom environment. We were able to quickly shut down these disruptions, and we will continue to develop our knowledge of the new tools at our disposal and develop protocols that will minimize/eliminate these distractions.

 

TAC officers are working vigilantly in the background, checking on their cadets when they don’t show up to the Zoom classrooms, and assisting teachers in tracking down missing assignments. When class is in session, TAC officers are at their work stations assisting the Teaching Staff and cadets in any way they can. TAC officers are also charged with investigations relative to intentional classroom disruptions. Please remember, they remain at your service for assistance as well.

 

We hope that this past week has been an opportunity for your son to relax and enjoy some free time. We understand that for most, the typical spring break activities of traveling and vacationing were not part of the equation. Nevertheless, we anticipateca that cadets and teachers alike are ready to return to the digital classroom, refreshed and prepared to finish the academic year in the strong manner that is characteristic of RMA.

 

As we return to the Digital Classroom on April 14th, we are clearly articulating our expectations of cadets, in order to provide a more consistent environment and experience for all cadets. These expectations are as follow for all cadets:         

Cadets who violate these practices/expectations may be removed from the real-time digital classroom and forced to complete their assignments in the remote learning environment. Cadets will also be subject to a reduction in the classroom participation portion of their grade when they are disruptive in the digital learning environment. Cadets who intentionally continue to disrupt the classroom environment will be subject to suspension or dismissal, depending on the nature of their offense.

 

Based on feedback that we have heard from many of you, we are making some modifications to our daily schedule. The biggest change is that effective next week, we will not have classes on Wednesdays so that our cadets can have the opportunity to get caught up on assignments and work individually with their teachers as needed. We are transitioning to the new schedule this week. For this week only, our “day off” is today rather than on Wednesday. See below for both schedules.

 

 

 

 

Finally, we have a few suggestions that are wise for all of us (cadets, teachers, and parents!) 

Thank you all for your overwhelming show of support, and we encourage you to speak with your cadet/son about the adjusted schedule as well as the classroom expectations. 

 

We trust that beginning tomorrow, the Corps will be ready to put their best foot forward as we march toward the end of the school year.

 

For the Corps,

 

 

and

 

Cathy D. Moore, Ph.D.