With everything that has happened over the last month, but particularly this past week, many districts have or are considering using online learning while buildings are closed due to the Coronavirus. As a middle school teacher, I worked in a school that used blended learning and had one experience in which we had to use online learning for several days due to weather concerns. So, I thought I would share my thoughts and tips for those that are about to be in this position.
1. By and far my largest concern was for those students who did not have consistent access to technology in order to complete assignments. I made packets for students and let them know they were available if needed. In middle and high school this is more easily done to give students an opportunity to choose their own needs and not feel like they are put in the spotlight in front of peers. I let it be known they could pick up a packet anytime that day and offered to anyone who felt more comfortable using paper copies over online, not just those without access. I would say about 90% of my students completed their assignments at home between online and paper copies and left me with only a handful to catch up in class.
2. Videos are your best friend. You can find videos that cover standards for practically anything. YouTube and Google are the easiest way to find them, but BrainPop is pretty awesome too. If you cannot find anything useful already created, now is the time to become a star. You can use flip videos or even upload videos on YouTube using a Google account. There is a way to share videos with individuals or groups without making the video public. All you have to do is mark the video as "unlisted" from the dropbox when you upload. Once the video is uploaded, you can share the link provided however you plan on sharing online materials with your students. If you have further questions about YouTube, please feel free to email me at info@impossibledreamers.company
3. Find ways for students to interact through technology. Students need the opportunity to share what they learn. Setting up a discussion board and requiring students to respond to at least a few others is one option. They could also share their own videos they make.
4. Don't reinvent the wheel. Someone out there has already begun to compile resources to help you. My favorite go-to for one-stop resources is Cybraryman. He has a page specifically for remote learning: http://cybraryman.com/remotelearning.html
In addition, I did a video tour of his website a couple of years ago if you'd like to know more about navigating his website.
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