We’d say the obligatory “we’re all in this together,” but the truth is that as an educator, you are helping to lead the way through this.
The rapid shift to a distance environment is dizzying.
To do our part, we’ve spent the last several months talking to educators on the ground to tell their stories, share their strategies, and laugh and cry collectively. The result is this page.
In a matter of days, millions of students across the United States transitioned to distance learning environments. And now, the 2020-2021 school years looks to be an amalgamation of online and blended learning.
As this transition happens, educators are completely redesigning curriculum and instruction and optimizing teaching practices for this new environment.
To enable educators to quickly set their class up for distance learning success, we spoke to digital communication expert, A. Lee Judge, and eLearning designer, Nicasia Anzalone Caires, who shared strategies on delivering remote instruction, engaging students, and reaching out to parents and families at a safe social distance.
To help you launch your distance learning plan, they addressed the following topics:
For an in-depth look at these strategies, download the distance learning guide, and if you are more an auditory learner, download the distance learning webinar.
With the transition to online environments, educators, students, and parents had to explore and adopt a wide range of tools and pick up on new skills quickly to help manage this rapid change.
In this article, learn about the tools already at your disposal to deliver synchronous and asynchronous instruction online. Plus, review tips for keeping your students safe and your online classroom in order.
⮕ Read: Configure Your Tech Stack: Distance Learning Basics Part 1In the physical classroom, teachers are able to easily interact with students, encourage them as they learn, and communicate to them how they feel. In an online environment, teachers don’t have the benefit of that face-to-face connection.
In this article, learn how you can foster that sense of community and support by developing an effective communication plan that is consistent, simple, and cohesive for students and parents. Plus, explore different methods and formats you can use.
⮕ Read: Develop a Communication Strategy: Distance Learning Basics Part 2To begin optimizing instruction for virtual mediums, it’s important to consider what differentiates a physical versus virtual environment.
Because of these differences, changing to a virtual classroom means evolving how you deliver instruction and the materials you use to foster learning. In this article, discover how you can redesign learning online for a synchronous or asynchronous environment, as well as the steps to set up a home video studio.
⮕ Read: Optimize Your Teaching Practice: Distance Learning Basics Part 3
Despite the immense challenges witnessed in the spring of 2020, the education community rallied in so many positive ways to keep students learning, to foster a sense of togetherness, and to keep the school spirit alive.
With schools closed, the traditional system of education ended abruptly. What does this new form look like? Some students joined classes remotely, others completed take-home worksheets, and many weren’t learning altogether. Here is a look at some of the different strategies as this ‘new normal’ took hold.
⮕ Explore distance learning approaches from across the country
Much like crises of the past, the coronavirus pandemic will leave a lasting footprint on society, causing us to rethink how we live, work, and learn. In fact, we need only look at other pandemics to see how deadly outbreaks recalibrated the economy and ways of life.
⮕ Learn how the pandemic will impact the future of work and what that means for education
With the importance of technology and the internet, access to these can mean the difference between finding and maintaining employment, completing homework, and building community. And a lack of access leads to marginalization in what is known as the access and connectivity divide.
⮕ Discover how this digital divide impacts equity in the face of a pandemic
In this article, an educator explains that we owe it to our students, especially now, to hand over the keys and redistribute power within the ‘classroom,’ even if it is virtual for the time being.
⮕ Reconsider equity in online learning
While educators are adjusting to distance learning, Jamboard is a great tool to deliver instruction, capture student learning, and collaborate with each other virtually.
⮕ Create a culture of support during times of uncertainty and change
While educators are adjusting to distance learning, Jamboard is a great tool to deliver instruction, capture student learning, and collaborate with each other virtually.
⮕ Start creating digital worksheets today
Into this complex scenario has stepped a ragtag group of volunteers who have mobilized in garages, dens, kitchens, and vacant classrooms to use 3D printers to create tens of thousands of pieces of protective gear for those caregivers who are risking their lives to care for others.
⮕ Learn more about the educators supporting frontline workers