A long-term virtual learning environment, especially for students accustomed to in-class learning, can present new behavioral challenges. As the typical routines and rhythms of the school day fall away, students must learn to navigate online learning themselves. For educators, helping students to master distance learning means they must adapt behavioral expectations for the current environment.
Creating a Positive Behavioral Environment During Distance Learning
Educators may feel they have less influence over behavior during distance learning. However, it is possible to continue social-emotional learning even in a virtual environment.
The behaviors outlined in a school’s existing behavior matrix have been based on a physical school environment. As teachers and students navigate a distance learning environment together, there will be different criteria for positive and appropriate behaviors. To help schools develop a virtual behavior matrix, PBIS Rewards hosted a flash webinar with two experts:
- Dr. Jessica Hannigan, Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership Department, California State University, Fresno
- Dr. John Hannigan, Executive Leadership Coach, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
The Hannigans are the authors of six books on behavior and PBIS, including Don’t Suspend Me! which three webinar participants were selected to receive at the conclusion of the event.
Moderating this webinar discussion was our own Jill Hanson, Senior Educational Support Consultant at PBIS Rewards. Senior Educational Relationship Consultant Brittany Kessler assisted with questions posed during the webinar.
Flash Webinar Recording
How to Add Virtual Learning to Your Behavior Matrix
Teaching students to be good digital citizens has become a big part of the current distance learning environment. Without the routines and social cues present in a physical classroom, educators have had to adapt their behavior expectations. Topics covered during this webinar included:
- The purpose of MTSS in supporting the whole child
- Defining, teaching, and reinforcing expectations during virtual learning
- Seeking input from both teachers and students
- Adding a virtual learning component to your matrix
- The importance of giving and receiving respect for both teachers and students
- Developing a virtual learning agreement
- How often to reinforce each item in the virtual matrix
- Presenting the virtual matrix to the school community
- Involving and supporting parents
- Creating standards and setting goals for teachers
- Using data to see how things are going
- Using PBIS Rewards to help in a virtual environment
Webinar Resources
- Presentation Slide Deck (PDF)
- Virtual Learning Behavior Matrix (PDF)
- Reagan SOAR Behavior Matrix (PNG)
- Virtual Learning Prompts (PDF)
- Virtual Learning Agreement (PDF)
- Example PBIS Survey Language (PDF)
- Corwin Press Coffee Break Friday Webinar discussing Don’t Suspend Me
The Hannigan’s books
- The PBIS Tier One Handbook
- The PBIS Tier Two Handbook
- The PBIS Tier Three Handbook
- Building Behavior: The Educator’s Guide to Evidence-Based Initiatives
- Don’t Suspend Me!: An Alternative Discipline Toolkit
- The MTSS Start-Up Guide: Ensuring Equity, Access, and Inclusivity for ALL Students
A virtual learning environment can be a unique opportunity to teach and model behaviors specific to the digital world. As a digital token economy, PBIS Rewards can help you to recognize and reward students for meeting virtual behavioral expectations.
Need some ideas for distance learning? PBIS Rewards has curated lots of great distance learning resources! Have an idea you’d like to share? Share it with us!
For more information about PBIS Rewards, contact us! We’re here to help!