PD Lighthouse Newsletter has evolved from my #SYD19 Google Innovator project. It is designed to help build teacher confidence to effectively engage in Twitter as a free PD opportunity to build expertise in technology which in turn will improve student creativity and learning.
In this month's issue I have collected a number of resources for you that have been shared on Twitter to support teachers, students and parents during school closure.
Online learning is about connecting with others and fostering relationships- build strong healthy communities so teachers, students and parents won’t feel isolated or disconnected.
A Reminder for Teachers
I think it is important to understand that as teachers we should not expect to get through all the content that we would offer on-site. Why you offer online learning it is more of an opportunity to reimagine learning in a new space rather than replicating how you teach in class.
Important questions to ask yourself are:
- What is the tech level of the staff? Schools whose staff have all achieved Level 1 Google Certificate have had no real issues connecting with students
- What are the core tools at each school? (Google Classroom? Moodle? Canvas? SeeSaw? Zoom? Loom? Screencastify?)
- Who are your tech savvy teachers the staff can rely on as potential coaches?
Contingency Plans and Tools
Adam Hill is primary teacher from the UK who is now teaching at Victoria Shanghai Academy, a bilingual PYP school in Hong Kong. He has not been in class with his students since late January. Both his latest blog posts deal with how his staff have converted their classes to an online environment. Read: Remote Learning: Tools and Principles and Remote Learning: Revisions, Reflections and Recommendations
Tips for Enabling Distance Learning are available through Google's Teaching Centre as well as Jennie Magiera's video (below) that provides comprehensive guide for Distance Learning
Lissa Layman in her blog Teach French outlines 10 Strategies for Surviving When Working from Home
In the video below, the Edufuturists Team offer tips for "Remote Teaching During the Coronavirus Outbreak with Google Classroom and Google Meet"
Dr. Jennifer Chang Wathall shares her top tips for F2F synchronous meetings in this infographic
Here's Rachel Coathup's recent Thinglink creation on ideas and resources for distance learning to support organisations with school closures and develop their culture for digital learning. Go and check out @GoogleForEdu Chromebook App Hub for more ideas from Rachel.
Students Working Remotely
Coronavirus has dominated the headlines recently, but what is it? Here is a just-for-kids comic and a simple video (below) that might help explain it a little more for your students.
In this video we learn from Sarah, a registered nurse, just how to wash your hands!
EdSurge shares tips on supporting students who are isolated at home. In this blog post: ‘Students Are Lonely:’ What Happens When Coronavirus Forces Schools Online.
Be proactive:
- set up a buddy system with your students to ensure that everyone in class has the phone number of at least two classmates.
- set expectations with students so they know what to do when they are absent.
- set up their devices so that they know how to access their online platforms, Zoom or Hangouts
Create some fun activities with BreakoutEDU breakout challenges and some motivating quizzes from Quizizz
Tips for Parents
Here are six simple tips from Saigon South International School that will help parents support their child while they attend school in our Virtual School environment.
The International School of Beijing published this support guide on their school website
Wanting more examples?
Here is my Wakelet Collection if you want more ideas from people I follow on Twitter
Check out GoogleMaps to see where the Lighthouse PD subscribers are shining a light on technology integration.
Credits:
Created with images by Dennis Duane Lau - "untitled image" • Campaign Creators - "untitled image" • Frank Romero - "untitled image" • Free To Use Sounds - "Best friends walking across the street. Probably one of my favorite photos from Hong Kong. " • Clay Banks - "We're better when we're united"