As a leader in education since 1886, SABIS^® truly believes in providing an “Education for a Changing World^®,” and the strength of this belief was really put to the test during the unexpected fallout and disruption caused by the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

With schools shut down to help slow the spread of the virus, students the world over suddenly found themselves confined to their homes in the middle of the academic year. The ability for them to be able to access online learning, and have the discipline, focus, and confidence necessary to engage in learning, would be critical to their success. By and large, many education providers were simply not ready, leaving children struggling in a distraction-filled environment, parents reluctantly having to adjust to a new role as teachers, and as a consequence the learning suffered.

Unlike much of the rest of the world, for students in SABIS^® schools, the shut-down has been an opportunity to apply the skills they have already acquired, the learning approach they are familiar with, and the E-learning tools they have become accustomed to in a new environment – and the learning never stopped. 

The Infrastructure that Made it Possible

In order to move successfully from traditional classroom teaching to E-learning, the right infrastructure has to be in place.  That infrastructure includes a systematic approach to teaching, instructional methodologies that empower students to take an active role in the learning cycle and, of course, access to the technology tools that can facilitate the entire process.   These are all elements that SABIS^® has spent decades developing.

The SABIS^® teaching methodology is a well-structured, systematic, and efficient approach using the SABIS Point System^®. In every subject, in every level, SABIS^® has precisely identified measurable learning objectives, called “learning points.” During every class, teachers present one “point” at a time, then ask the class to demonstrate their understanding of the concept, actively engaging students in a community of learners. Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) lessons and SABIS^® E-books — all of which were already being used in SABIS^® classrooms around the world long before the current pandemic — reflect this structured and systematic approach.

The SABIS^® Digital Platform is also an essential element of the infrastructure that facilitated the smooth transition to E-learning. The SABIS^® Digital Platform is a new generation, web-based teaching and learning platform. Located on an all-new cloud infrastructure, the SABIS^® Digital Platform is capable of supporting thousands of users at the same time and can be accessed by any device (computer, mobile device, tablet, etc.). Long before the Coronavirus pandemic, students and parents were very familiar with the platform, accessing it for multiple purposes such as to practice questions on unmastered learning points, take sample quizzes to test their knowledge, watch On-Demand Tutoring videos, download exam material and homework assignments, and receive important communications from school, to name a few.

So, when the teaching and the learning suddenly had to move to a “remote” environment, the digital platform was already in place, teachers did not have to prepare new content as it was already available on the IWBs, and students already had their E-books that include interactive activities, audios, and animations that supported their leaning from home.

Watch this video about the SABIS^® E-learning solutions: 

A Standard SABIS^® Day

Today, SABIS^® students around the world, from the youngest preschoolers to the graduating seniors, participate in engaging and meaningful E-learning. Every morning, they log in to the SABIS^® Digital Platform from their tablets or computers at home to check their daily and weekly plans, detailed schedules, and download any assigned material.

In their daily routine, they attend a mix of classes, some that have either been pre-recorded by their teachers and uploaded on to the SABIS^® Digital Platform, and some that are given in a “virtual classroom” environment in real time.  Virtual classes are also recorded and uploaded on to the SABIS^® Digital Platform, which students can access to watch again should they need to.

Never participated in a SABIS^® Virtual Classroom? Watch this video! 

To ensure that the learning is in fact taking place, students have assigned homework and continue to take regular assessments to test their understanding. While students are working, teachers receive data on their progress and performance, and are able to follow-up with their students accordingly.

Despite the current pandemic and subsequent disruption, and regardless of their physical location, SABIS^® students are continuing their education without missing a beat. Thanks to highly-developed E-learning solutions, a structured and systematic approach, and incomparable learning habits, SABIS^® students have adapted rapidly to a changing world, and the learning has never stopped. 

SABIS^® E-learning solutions set the standards for online learning during COVID-19 pandemic.