Our customers have been asking us: How are other teachers using RealCare Baby® in a pandemic? In this blog series, we’ll share the success stories of Family & Consumer Science (FCS) teachers who are finding creative ways to do exactly that, virtually and in the classroom. Keep reading to meet a Minnesota FCS teacher who’s making it work, even as she teaches almost entirely online.
Catch up: Read Illinois FCS teacher Melissa Priester’s story here, and South Carolina FCS teacher Amy Waddell’s story here.
Introducing Trude Sowada, Family & Consumer Sciences teacher in Sauk Rapids, MN
The 2020-2021 school year will be Trude Sowada’s twelfth year using Baby in her FCS class, and her first year using the infant simulator during a pandemic. A FCS teacher at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids, MN, Sowada taught much of her third trimester last year virtually. This fall, she’s conducting her child development courses in a blended environment (half online and half in person) as well as teaching a group of entirely remote students. And because Baby is such a popular – and powerful – part of her child development curriculum, Sowada has taken specific steps to make her infant simulators available to students in the safest possible way.
“I started by discussing it with our principal, because RealCare Baby is such an important part of our program,” said Sowada. “My students know about the Babies – they’ve seen their older siblings and friends take care of them, and they want the experience. And if they’re excited about learning, I didn’t want to deny them that opportunity.”
Balancing grades with safety
Sowada and her principal decided to make the Baby experience – a weekend caring for Baby at home – optional for all students. By making it an enrichment activity instead of a required activity, families who were uncomfortable could opt out without any adverse effects on grades, while those who were comfortable participating could still have the experience. Although participants will not receive points for the experience, Sowada will still provide feedback via a report and reflection piece.
“I think too often we tie grades to these experiences where it’s not really about whether you got 100% or 85%; it’s that you learned how to care for a Baby… you got to practice skills. That’s the learning we want students to have,” said Sowada.
Sowada anticipates that 80-90% of her students will participate in the Baby experience this year, including those who are learning entirely remote. Sowada plans to require all participants to turn in any missing assignments prior to taking Baby home, and adhere to specific safety practices.
Sanitizing and safe handling
“We’re being very specific about who can handle which Baby,” said Sowada, who will dedicate two class periods to practicing with Baby before the weekend simulation experiences begin. “Hand sanitizer is required before you touch Baby, and all clothing is watched after each class.”
Sowada shared that her biggest concern was keeping each Baby’s car seat clean between students. She worked with her administrators to determine a location at her school to keep car seats for 5 days at a time. Following their weekend simulation experience, students will drop off their car seat Monday morning and it will not be touched again until Friday afternoon. All hard surfaces will be cleaned with a solution that’s at least 70% alcohol.
“Otherwise, everything for the Babies is very washable,” said Sowada. “We can wipe down the Babies and bottles, and the wristbands are disposable.”
Creating teachable moments
Although Sowada is taking extra time to wash and sanitize her Babies, the extra effort is worth it.
“My students are really engaged in this experience. They take the class because they want to take Baby home,” said Sowada. “And although virtual opportunities work, there’s something to be said about having students hold the Baby, change its diapers, feed it at all hours… they’re learning actual skills, not just theory, by taking Baby home with them.”
Catch up: Read Illinois FCS teacher Melissa Priester’s story here, and South Carolina FCS teacher Amy Waddell’s story here.
Resources for continued learning
Check back soon to learn how other teachers are using RealCare Baby in a pandemic. In the meantime, you can use the below resources to learn more:
- Read the post that started this series: “Using RealCare Baby In a Pandemic: How Teachers are Making It Work“
- Blog: “3 RealCare Baby Lessons You Can Facilitate Online”
- Blog: “7 Steps to Successful RealCare Baby Deployment (Whether You’re Teaching Remotely or In the Classroom)”
- Free guide: RealCare Baby Implementation Guide
