Virtual "Stations" Online
What are the benefits of virtual stations?
There's a reason why so many teachers use this instructional model. First, it allows teachers to use data to strategically group students and differentiate instruction. Second, teachers can teach and reteach small groups, allowing for more guidance and feedback. Finally, students practice a skill in different ways — on their own, with peers, and with their teacher — which is engaging and supports different learning preferences.
Planning your virtual stations
Planning a virtual station rotation can feel like a heavy lift, but the model's benefits make it worth it. Trying this online is new for everyone, which means learning while doing — if it feels messy at first, that's okay.
Backward plan your rotation by considering: what you want students to know and be able to do, what tools you have for virtual learning, what skills students need to use those tools independently, how many stations you'll have, what type of learning happens at each station (collaborative, individual, or teacher-facilitated), what activities students are familiar with or enjoy, what routines and procedures you need for smooth rotations, and how you'll hold students accountable and assess progress.
Use a slide deck as your rotation home base — somewhere students can access it the same way they access other resources and assignments, whether that's Google Classroom, a class website, or email. This is where you outline routines and procedures, provide directions for each rotation, and include resource links.
Timing and transitions
How you time your rotation depends on your schedule. You can use your virtual instruction time, or ask students to complete collaborative and independent work on their own and join you at a designated time for their teacher-led rotation. If using virtual instruction time, leave plenty of time for transitions as groups move between rotations, especially with breakout rooms. If students only join live for their rotation, include a formative assessment for the other rotations to help hold them accountable.
Collaborative rotation
Students work together, but how do you support that when they aren't in the same place? Collaborative tools like Google Docs work well here. Link an introductory video in your slide that explains the instructions.
Try it out
Because this is "learning by doing," it's okay if everything doesn't go according to plan. Ask students for feedback, reflect on the experience, and don't hesitate to make changes to improve the system. Be transparent that this is new for everyone — celebrate small wins along the way.
Women wellbeing
Over many decades, the definition of "health" in population studies has expanded beyond the notion of "absence of disease or infirmity" to include a more comprehensive and positive view combining physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Both women and policy-makers define women's wellbeing mainly in terms of physical health and fitness, though other factors are considered too, and the definition varies with personal circumstances.
Evidence points to a mismatch between women's priorities and government wellbeing programmes, and while women say they actively manage their wellbeing, evidence often shows otherwise — with higher-income groups more likely to take an active approach to health management, and women in developing countries acting as more active information searchers than women in developed countries.