Service-Learning - remotely, but not virtually

It is remote, but not virtual.  Because of the social distancing, we cannot bring the kids to our campus, we cannot go to their school, the kids cannot even go to their own school, and we certainly cannot go to the kids’ homes.  But both us, and the school, want to persevere with the project.  Hence we are doing it on line, remotely.  

But this is not virtual.  Our teaching team has gone to great lengths to design the kits for the STEM projects, and manufacture them in vast numbers, using laser cutting machines from all over campus.  Then we send them to the school.  The teacher sat outside the school to distribute the kits to the parents, without physical contact.  They even set up a distribution point at a shop that one of the parents own.  Such admirable ingenuity and determination. 

On Wednesday, the moment of truth.  Most of our students came back to campus to conduct the service, where we can support them the best.  We booked many rooms so that each small team of 2 students can have a room and computer to themselves.  Some students have to work from home in collaboration with their partner on campus.  

Our students show the kids the lives of horseshoe crabs.  They guide the kids through a virtual reality tour of the facility at Ocean Park for the study of dolphins stranded in the waters of Hong Kong.  We had previously manufactured the 3D glasses and distributed to the kids to make it happen.  

Using another kit, our students help the kids assemble a hydraulic robotic arm.  Again, another kit designed, manufactured and sent to the kids earlier. 

There is another robotic car driven with an elastic band through an elaborate set of gears.  

The kids are having so much fun.  The teacher and the parents are so happy with the result.  We are so proud of our students and teaching team.  

The corona virus is truly annoying.  The social distancing is so so constraining.  But we are determined to overcome all of these, to deliver something fun as well as educational for the kids.  Their joy in learning, their questions, their laughter drive us on.   Our students’ enthusiasm, effort to do a good job and improve, patience in guiding the kids, all drive us on.  

The projects are real, the fun is real, the learning is real - for both the kids and our own students.  The school, the teachers, the parents, us - we are all also learning.  That if there is a will, there is most likely a way.  Never give up.