Home Tags Posts tagged with "blended learning"
Tag:

blended learning

Innovation challenges offer real-world problem solving through blended learning in a STEAM framework.
Blended LearningSTEM/STEAM

Innovation Challenges Provide Real-World Learning

by Brad Kaplan
written by Brad Kaplan

In our ever-evolving world, education must adapt to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the future. One effective approach to that challenge is blended learning, a combination of traditional classroom instruction and technology-based learning. When integrated with the principles of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), it creates an enriched educational experience. Student innovation challenges provide the perfect combination for student success.

How Blended Learning Benefits Students

Blended learning offers a number of advantages over traditional classroom instruction. 

  • It allows students to learn at their own pace. 
  • It provides them with more opportunities for hands-on learning. 
  • It gives them access to a wider range of resources. 

STEAM education complements blended learning by helping students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. An example of the combination of STEAM education and blended learning is the “innovation challenge.”

What Are Innovation Challenges? 

Student innovation challenges offer a platform for the development of holistic skills. Students gain a deeper understanding of core subjects where, often, traditional methods of instruction cannot effectively teach these skills. STEAM education encourages students to approach challenges from multiple perspectives, fostering a well-rounded skill set.

Innovation challenges enable students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems and give them the ability to adapt and innovate in various scenarios. Student engagement often suffers in traditional classroom settings. However, adding student innovation challenges to blended learning promotes active learning.

The Region 4 Innovation Challenge

In light of this, Texas’s Region 4 Education Service Center (@R4DigiLearn) has teamed up with industry and academic entities to develop a high school innovation challenge for students in grades 9–12. Region 4 is partnering with Houston Metro and the University of Houston’s Technology and Innovation Bridge to bring a real-world challenge to students — creating the bus shelter of the future.

A blue bus shelter with trees and a park behind it.

The challenge is to develop and innovate a new type of bus shelter. Teachers will act as facilitators to help teams (2–5 students) use design and engineering principles to develop the bus shelter of the future. This real-world challenge is an opportunity for students to use design thinking and an engineering design process to solve the problem. Eight teams of students will compete to present their ideas and innovations to a board of experts at Metro.

Students will become active participants in their education, taking charge of their learning journey. The innovation challenge requires hands-on involvement, where students research, design, and create solutions. This engagement will deepen their understanding and instill a sense of ownership and excitement about their learning process. 

Students brainstorming ideas for the bus shelter of the future for their blended learning innovation challenge

It also will bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. This connection to a real-world challenge will cultivate a sense of purpose as students see the direct impact of their ideas and solutions. Whether they are designing sustainable energy solutions or creating innovative bus shelters, students will understand how their efforts can contribute to the betterment of society.

The Benefits of Innovation Challenges

Foster teamwork and cooperation.

Innovation challenges often require collaboration among students with diverse skill sets. This blended learning environment fosters interdisciplinary teamwork and mirrors real-world work dynamics. Students from different backgrounds give unique perspectives, leading to richer solutions. This collaborative approach not only enhances students’ ability to work in teams but also exposes them to the importance of diverse viewpoints in driving innovation. 

Boost student familiarity with a variety of technology tools.

The modern world is driven by technology, and blending learning with innovation challenges prepares students for this technology-rich environment. By integrating online platforms, simulations, and tools into their learning process, students become comfortable with various technological tools. This familiarity not only aids their learning but helps them to be marketable. 

Connect and span multiple domains.

Blended learning offers the flexibility to integrate creative teaching methods, empowering educators to inspire students’ imaginations. The freedom to explore ideas, experiment with solutions, and think outside the box nurtures creativity. Students learn that innovation is not limited to a specific domain but can be applied across disciplines to develop groundbreaking solutions. This challenge will allow facilitators and students to use blended learning while simultaneously helping students learn to ideate and utilize people-first, empathetic research to better understand the challenge at hand.

Leverage the flexibility of self-paced learning.

One advantage of blended learning is the ability to accommodate different learning paces. Students have the opportunity to grasp concepts at their own speed, promoting a deeper understanding. This aspect is particularly beneficial in innovation challenges, where students may require additional time to research and experiment. Self-paced learning reduces the pressure of rigid deadlines, fostering a positive learning experience.

Prepare students for the future job market.

The skills acquired through this approach align with the demands of a rapidly evolving job market. Student innovation challenges prepare students for the careers of tomorrow. Students develop adaptability, resilience, and a proactive attitude—qualities sought after by employers. Additionally, the practical experience gained from innovation challenges can be a valuable addition to their résumés, setting them apart from their peers.

Colorful infographic with a picture of a bus stop and the 5 benefits of innovation challenges from the article.

Combining blended learning with student innovation challenges in a STEAM framework offers a multitude of benefits that empower students. From holistic skill development to real-world relevance, collaboration, and technological adaptation, the advantages are undeniable. As education continues to evolve, this approach stands as a beacon of effective, engaging, and forward-looking pedagogy.

Learn More About Region 4’s Innovation Challenge

Want to learn more about how you can create your own innovation challenges for 9-12 students? Register for TCEA’s Convention & Exposition, and attend Brad Kaplan’s session, “Innovation Challenge, Real World Applications By Innovating“. Sign up by January 12 and get the advanced pricing discount!

Register Now!
0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Image of Apple Classroom Teacher View
Apple

Apple Classroom: Streamlining Classroom Management

by Monica Napier
written by Monica Napier

One-to-one classrooms are becoming the standard in K-12 Education. And managing student devices can be a challenge, especially for teachers of young learners. As an instructional technology coordinator, I’m always looking for classroom tech solutions that quickly impact teacher productivity and student learning. That’s why I was so excited to learn about and implement Apple Classroom.

What Is Apple Classroom?

Apple Classroom is a native app that can help teachers manage student devices in a more efficient and effective manner. Apple describes Classroom as:

…an app for teachers, available for supported iPad devices and Mac computers, to hold classes in a schoolroom, remotely, or through a combination of nearby and remote locations (called hybrid classes).

Source

In this guide, I will discuss how to set up and use Apple Classroom in your classroom and dig into its features to help you maximize the use of Apple devices in your classroom.

How to Set Up Apple Classroom

Step 1: Download the app.

Apple Classroom can easily be found in the App Store on the iPad and Mac only.  If you don’t have access to the App Store on your device, check with your district technology department to request or utilize your local application management process.

Step 2: Set up your Apple Classroom.

Once the app is loaded, it’s time to open the app, name your class, choose an icon, and add a description if you’d like. If needed, this information can be edited in the future.  It’s important to give your classroom a unique name So that students know whose class they’ll be joining.

Step 3 – Invite students to join!

Now that you’ve created your class, it’s time to add your students. The process to add students is simple! After setting up your classroom, click Invite Students to get your classroom code. Share the code with your students, so they can join your classroom.

Here is a short video tutorial on how to get things set up:

How to Use Apple Classroom

Once students have been invited to your classroom the magic happens! Here’s a rundown of all the simple, yet powerful features available to you in your classroom

Get Started with Classroom Actions

Once students have joined your classroom the magic happens! Apple Classroom has many simple, but powerful actions available to manage student devices effectively. The best part is that these actions can be applied to the entire classroom or an individual student.

Image showing various actions and selections in Apple Classroom
A view of the various whole class actions, individual actions, and selections.

Here’s a rundown of what actions are available in your new classroom:

Open: Quickly send students to apps, webpages, PDFs, and EPUB books for activity completion. For added convenience, you can lock students into these applications to ensure they stay on task.

Navigate: Send students to your favorite webpages, PDFs, and EPUB books.

View Screens: This action allows you to quickly view students’ devices to make sure they are completing tasks as assigned.

Hide: Quickly bring the class back to the home screen to give your next set of instructions.

Lock: You can lock student devices to regain their attention. Did you forget to unlock student devices? No worries! The device will unlock automatically once it is out of Bluetooth range, 20 seconds after it loses connectivity, or when the Classroom session is ended. (This feature is only available to students in a nearby classroom.)

Mute: Regain classroom control by muting devices in a noisy classroom. (This feature is only available to students in a nearby classroom.

Apple Classroom Selections

In addition to these actions, you also have selections in the teacher dashboard on the left side of the screen. Here you can you can set up groups for reading, math, and RTI, and send students to different apps based on their needs. One of the newer features of Apple Classroom is a definite game changer called Agendas. Agendas can be used to organize and structure lessons, as well as automate tasks. Now you can have your morning routine mapped out, and ready to easily move from activity to activity with minimal transition time. 

How to Create an Agenda

Image of Apple Classroom Agenda
From Apple’s User Guide: Create Class Agendas in Classroom

To create an agenda, teachers simply need to open the Apple Classroom app and select the “Agenda” tab. From there, they can create new agendas or edit existing ones. Classroom Agendas can be used to automate a variety of tasks, such as opening apps, navigating to websites, presenting documents, playing videos, starting activities, and more. Once an agenda has been created, teachers can share it with their colleagues by sharing it through the Classroom app or through the Pages App. Here’s a quick video on creating agendas.

Transform Classroom Management with Classroom

Apple Classroom is an app that has the power to transform your classroom management. It’s a simple tool to learn and use and has the potential to instantly impact classroom learning. As an instructional technology coordinator, it has been one of my go-to tools to support teachers in managing their technology-enriched classrooms. It’s a free tool that supercharges your Apple teacher device, and it’s the app you didn’t know you needed. If you haven’t been using it, what are you waiting for? Let Apple Classroom revamp your classroom!

Monica Napier is one of TCEA’s presenters for the 2023 Elementary Technology Conference! Don’t miss her session, “Automate Your Daily Routine with Agendas in Apple Classroom” on Monday, June 12 in Galveston, Texas at the best summer conference for summer-loving educators. Check out all the fantastic sessions available, and register now!

6 comments
3 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Good Teaching

Modern Classrooms Project: How to Launch a Modern Classroom

by Jim Flanagan, The Modern Classrooms Project
written by Jim Flanagan, The Modern Classrooms Project

Have you heard about the teacher-led, grassroots, ed tech model growing locally and nationally known as the Modern Classrooms Project (MCP)? This nonprofit organization leads a movement of educators in implementing a blended, self-paced, mastery-based instructional model that is adaptable to all classrooms. MCP’s model is designed to support students with a high diversity of learning levels and social-emotional needs by leveraging technology to create greater personalization and connection in classrooms. Created by educators who saw the shortcomings of our system’s one-size-fits-all approach to education, the MCP model is structured in an easy-to-understand format that any teacher can implement in their classroom. 

What Is the MCP Instructional Model?

The best way to learn about the model is to watch this short explainer video and this five-minute video produced by Edutopia.

Any educator can discover MCP’s core practices by enrolling in the comprehensive Free Online Course that has already empowered over 45,000 educators worldwide. Those wanting to dive deeper and receive support from an expert mentor can enroll in the Virtual Mentorship Program (VMP). Individual enrollment is available, or schools, districts, or states can partner with MCP to offer the VMP to teachers who opt in. MCP also has Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter communities where questions are answered, and tips, techniques, and resources are shared among educators.   

A teacher working with a student at Game Development Design School (GDDS).

An Example of the Impact

In Texas, over 2,000 teachers have enrolled in the free course or VMP. During the spring of 2021, leaders at the Game Development Design School (GDDS) at Burleson ISD led a school-wide implementation of the model. You can read about their experience and results (teaser alert: STAAR scores improved!). According to Crystal Deaver, GDDS Principal,

“With this model, we’ve been allowed to take good teachers and make them great. And those great teachers move even higher. It also allows the administration and leadership team to grow and become better instructional coaches and instructional leaders on our campus. Ultimately, it allows our students to grow, and our scores show it.”  

MCP at TCEA 2023

I will attend the 2023 TCEA Convention & Exposition, along with Crystal Deaver, and we will be available to share more about the MCP model. If you would like to schedule a time to connect, contact me at jim.flanagan@modernclassrooms.org. For now, I’ll leave you with a few additional perspectives from educators and administrators, across all grade levels and demographics, on what makes the MCP model unique, accessible, and impactful.

Quote: “The Modern Classrooms Project has transformed my teaching practice and re-energized and inspired me to continue in the profession. If you've gotten ‘good enough’ at the I Do, We Do, You Do traditional model, but feel like it's not helping you meet the needs of all your learners .... check out the Modern Classrooms Virtual Mentorship Program.”
Quote: “This training is highly valuable and usable in the classroom. It combines elements of Culturally Responsive Teaching as well as standards-based grading to create a cohesive system to help students achieve.”
Quote: “The Modern Classrooms Project has changed my outlook on how innovative education can truly be. Implementing this model has allowed me to get to know my students personally and connect to them at a level that helps them thrive inside of the classroom and out. I am able to give students real-time feedback and they are mastering math content in ways that promote their own reflection, growth, and goal-setting.”
Quote: “The Virtual Mentorship Program was the most efficient way to educate a large number of teachers. This is the best professional learning that our teachers have received! The course has completely transformed instruction for many of our teachers.”
Quote: “This training is NECESSARY to meet the needs of all of our students. We as teachers always feel like we don't have enough time in the day, enough space at our small group table, enough patience, just ENOUGH to really make a difference to all of our students, especially during this pandemic when the variety of academic levels has increased so significantly. This program really allows us to do that in a way that is engaging and fun for kids.”

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Blended LearningGood TeachingPlanning and Preparation

Self-Paced Lessons Set Students up for Success

by Lindy Hockenbary
written by Lindy Hockenbary

What happens when you don’t feel confident in your abilities to complete a task? Procrastination? Anxiety? Low self-esteem? That nervous feeling in your gut? Every person reacts differently to this situation, but in general, a typical reaction leans towards disengagement. A big part of facilitating engaging learning and setting students up for success is creating personalized learning.

Self-Paced Lessons as a Strategy for Student Success

The ultimate goal of educators across the world is to personalize learning for each student. Different elements of the learning process can be personalized, including learning outcomes, pace, product, process, and content. (Source) A simple way to personalize the pace of learning is to create self-paced lessons.

A self-paced lesson includes everything a learner needs to complete a lesson on their own timeline. Imagine these lessons packages you wrap up and hand to your students. However, to put a bow on this package, I have found that adding specific elements helps ensure students are set up to both feel and be successful learning at their own pace, whether the teacher is synchronously and/or physically present or not.

Example Self-Paced Lesson

Before we dive into discussing the essential elements of a self-paced lesson, it is helpful to review an example. Become the Character is an example self-paced lesson designed for the intermediate-elementary ages. No worries if you teach younger or older students. Focus on the lesson elements and not the content. This example is created using Google Slides, although keep in mind that self-paced lessons can take on many forms.

Essential Elements of Self-Paced Lesson

What elements are critical to a self-paced lesson in order to set students up for success?

Learning Target

In order for students to buy-in to the learning, it is essential that they know the purpose of a learning task. Make sure the learning target (also known as goal, objective, outcome, or intention; adjust for the terminology you use) is clear and visible. I recommend beginning with only one learning target per lesson.

Overview of Lesson

Do you write on the board of your physical classroom what students will be doing that day, period, or block?  Instead of writing a lesson summary on the board, put it in the lesson so students can access it anytime, anywhere. I recommend using consistent language each time, such as “In this lesson you will . . . ”

Video Introduction

Using video is a great way to set students up for success. Video can be watched at any pace and rewatched as many times as needed. When it comes to self-paced lessons, I find it crucial to begin the lesson with a video of the teacher introducing the lesson. Why? Research regarding using video for learning indicates that the more learners see and hear their teacher, the more likely they are to engage with the content. (Source) In addition to engagement, teacher-created videos increase student satisfaction and participation, and they can also help develop a quasi-relationship between teacher and student. (Source)

Think of this as the introduction of a direct instruction lesson where you stand in the front of the class and say something like, “today we will be doing ___, and I want you to focus on ______.” The introduction video for a self-paced lesson is the same idea. Introduce the lesson. Explain anything that may be confusing. Give a little pep talk. 

Make this quick and informal. Don’t stress about it being high-quality. High-quality videos take hours to make. You don’t have time for that, and studies show that quality doesn’t have a direct impact on engagement. (Source) What matters more than quality is that you seem enthusiastic and upbeat. (Source) This doesn’t mean that you can’t use a video made by someone else for the content of the lesson. However, try to start a lesson with a short video of yourself enthusiastically introducing that lesson.

Learning Resources

This includes any resources that help meet the learning target.  Make sure to provide choices in various formats, if possible. I try to give at least one visual resource, such as a video, and one written resource, such as an article.

Learning Task

This is the assessment. How will students show proficiency in the learning target outlined at the beginning of the lesson?  It is important to provide choices here as well, and it is easy to integrate choice boards into self-paced lessons.

What Does “Done” Look Like?

This is also known as a checklist of completion. I find that answering the question “What does ‘done’ look like?” is extremely helpful to both the student and any caregivers who are potentially assisting the student. I find a simple checklist is effective as shown below.

Reflection

Adding a short reflection at the end is crucial to bringing the lesson together. The reflection serves as valuable feedback for you because what the learner shares in the reflection is usually a tell-tale sign of whether they met the learning target or not. 

Pacing Guide

Including pacing guides throughout a self-paced lesson is a crucial element to ensure student success. Pacing guides can be approached in two ways—approximate time of completion or minimum time of completion. I find it easier to gauge a minimum time of completion as opposed to trying to guess an average time across all learners and all choices provided.

Brain Breaks

Our brains need breaks from digital screens, so brain breaks are important for digital lessons. A brain break can be as quick as you want to make it and can be anything that gets bodies moving. A GIF is used in the sample lesson.

Choice

It is important with self-paced lessons to give students autonomy over their learning. If students have choice in their learning tasks, they are going to choose the option they feel they are most likely to be successful at. This is a great way to sustain engagement. 

Consistency

Creating consistency and routine is an important strategy in setting students up for success. Just as you create routine with logistics and agendas in your classroom, create consistency with digital learning tasks. The more you are consistent in the format of your self-paced lessons, the more successful your students will be.

Self-Paced Lesson Template

Using templates is a great way to create consistency. If creating self-paced lessons using slides peaks your interest, use the Google Slides Self-Paced Lesson Template. To keep in Google Slides format, navigate to File > Make a copy. If you would like to use Microsoft PowerPoint, navigate to File > Download > Microsoft PowerPoint. Either way the template is designed to be plug-in-play. Add your content, videos, and links and you have an instant self-paced lesson! The more lessons you create the faster you will become.

Self-Paced Lessons Come in Many Formats

Tools such as Pear Deck or Nearpod could also be used with the slides template to create self-paced lessons. Both Pear Deck and Nearpod add interactive elements to slides. 

Self-paced lessons can also be created using Google Forms or Microsoft Forms. If you use a learning management system (LMS), the elements of self-paced lessons could be created using the features of the LMS. 

Self-paced lessons can be used in face-to-face classrooms and are perfect for blended and hybrid learning. In my book, A Teacher’s Guide to Online Learning, I discuss using self-paced lessons for asynchronous virtual learning. 

When it comes to setting your students up for success with self-paced lessons, the sky is the limit!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Blended LearningBYODMicrosoftMicrosoft Tips and TricksWindows

Creating Equitable Opportunities to Develop Strong Literacy Skills

by Microsoft Education Team
written by Microsoft Education Team
microsoft reading tools

Microsoft recently announced the launch of new digital reading tools that will help learners reach their full potential. We are excited to share an expanded literacy portfolio designed to address a diverse set of student needs, help close achievement gaps, and empower teachers as they support their students in achieving their goals.

The new Reading Coach experience in Microsoft Teams is a reading practice tool for students that automatically generates individualized exercises based on each student’s specific needs. It works to increase reading fluency—the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and meaningful expression. It also provides guidance on correct pronunciation and syllabification, shares visuals to help vocabulary recall, and positively reinforces students to help build their confidence as readers. Reading Coach, available this summer, comes built into Immersive Reader, our free reading tool that supports equitable education. 

microsoft new digital reading tools

Microsoft also announced new updates to Reading Progress, the tool that helps educators create individualized reading fluency assignments with powerful insights easily used to inform instruction. Reading progress currently measures and identifies correctly read words per minute, accuracy rates, and challenging words, and the update will now also automatically detect prosody—the patterns of expression and intonation in a language. The updates also empower learners to work at their own pace in an encouraging environment while helping teachers provide just-in-time support. We’ll also be enabling teachers to see which phonics rules students are struggling with, providing more insights to help inform instruction. Guided by this data, educators will have the information they need to help ensure students’ emotional, social, and academic needs are being met.

With these updates, Microsoft is reinforcing its commitment to inclusive learning by providing real literacy solutions for students, teachers, and school administrators. Read more on the Microsoft Education Blog about how Microsoft is helping to accelerate reading fluency and creating accessible, individualized, and data-driven learning experiences.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Blended LearningGood Teaching

Tips for Implementing Blended Learning

by Christine Moore
written by Christine Moore

What Is Blended Learning?

Blended learning is defined as “any time a student learns at least in part at a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home and at least in part through online delivery with some element of student control over time, place, path and/or pace.” 

How Does Blended Learning Help Teachers?

What does this mean for teachers? It means we have OPTIONS! I am not going to talk to you here about the different models of blended learning. Instead, I want to address those of you who are interested in pursuing this model but may be intimidated or feel overwhelmed. 

What Are the Benefits of Blended Learning?

I won’t sugarcoat things– making the shift to blended learning comes with its own challenges. Blended learning is not a cure for discipline issues or low performance. However, blended learning can, in my experience, help with those things. Engaged students are less likely to cause disruptions in class. Additionally, students who claim ownership of their learning are more likely to learn more. 

Blended Learning

Where To Start

The key is to start small and start with your objectives. Never try to design learning around a technology tool. Always begin with your objectives. If you are unsure what tools and methods will help you reach your goals, ask for help. You are not alone. Other teachers are some of your best resources.

There is no single “right way” to use blended learning. There is just the “right way” for you and your students. The challenging part is getting started. It can seem like a lot, especially if you identify yourself with the words “I’m not a techie” or something similar.

Ready To Try It Out?

Here are some tips I have learned in my own teaching and have shared with the teachers I work with:

  • Talk to someone. Who do you know that has successfully blended their classroom? What did they do? Do you have a tech coach? Call them!
  • Start small. Pick one thing. For example, maybe you want to start with an interactive choice board or checklist. Remember KISS – Keep it Short and Sweet.
  • You don’t have to be a “techie.” Nobody knows everything and it is important to remind yourself and your students that we are all lifelong learners. 
  • Don’t be afraid to fail. Isn’t that how we learn? Let the students see that you tried, and how you dealt with anything that did not work. Sometimes they need to see an adult handle failure in a positive way. Then try again. 
  • Let the kids help. Tell them you are trying something new. Chances are, they will want to help. If so, let them! Nothing encourages learning like ownership. Some of my best moments in teaching have been when I gave my students the chance to teach me.
  • Learn to let go. This is one of the most important and challenging aspects of blended learning. Letting go and letting the kids take charge of their own learning is also one of the best parts of blended learning. It is also one of the most difficult things to do. We want to help. We are used to being in charge. Letting go not only helps them, but frees up your time to work with those who need it most.
Tips for Blended Learning

The biggest and best tip I can give you is this: be patient and kind to yourself as you embark on the blended learning journey. Prepare for wrong turns and flat tires, but it will be worth it when you reach your destination.

Christine Moore will be presenting Blooming with Blended: A Blended Learning PD Experience at TCEA 2022. Don’t miss her session TODAY!

Interested in learning more about blended learning? TCEA has a self-paced, online Blended Learning Course worth 12 CPE credit hours for just $29. Also, check out these additional Technotes articles on blended learning.

0 comment
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
blended learning
Podcasts

Blended Learning and Lessons from COVID | Podcast Ep. 83

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Dr. Stepan Mekhitarian, Interim Director of Innovation, Instruction, Assessment and Accountability at Glendale Unified School District, discusses lessons on blended learning, differentiation, and formative assessment learned during remote learning.

The Essential Blended Learning PD Planner: Where Classroom Practice Meets Distance Learning
Use coupon code TESHIP

stepanmekhitarian.com

@StepanMek

Extra credit

Check out the 2021 Elementary Technology Conference.

Send your questions and ideas about future episodes to podcast@tcea.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/tcea.org/

Twitter: @TCEA

Instagram: tcea_org

Pinterest: tceaorg

Music by Drew Banga

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
remote learning
AdvocacyDigital LiteracyEducational TrendsLeadership

Blended, Flipped, and Remote Learning: What’s the Difference?

by Jennifer Bergland
written by Jennifer Bergland

Words have meaning. The question is do we all have the same understanding of the meaning of a particular word or phrase. We have been using technology in schools for 40 years, and over this time, we have used different phrases to describe its use.

The recent pandemic has required schools to respond quickly to school closures to ensure the continuity of learning. In many instances, technology was used to bridge the gap from school to home. Therefore, I thought this was a good time to refresh our understanding of these terms, especially since this crisis has produced a new term (remote learning) related to the use of technology in education. 

A Short History of Ed Tech 

Tandy Color Computer 3

TCEA was founded in 1980 by teachers who were beginning to explore how to use computers in the classroom. At the time, computers for student use were usually located in a computer lab that was primarily used to teach students basic computer literacy.

In the late 1980’s, districts began to explore ways teachers could use computers and other types of technologies to support their instructional goals. In order to do this, the teachers first had to be trained on how to operate a computer and various software applications. When the goal expanded from basic computer literacy to integrating technology into the instructional process, teachers’ professional development changed from learning how to operate the technology to the best way to use the technology to support the student learning. 

Terms Evolved to Describe Technology Use 

Because technology has been used in a variety of settings and in different ways to support the instructional process, different terms and phrases have been used to express the different models of technology use. Sometimes these terms are misunderstood and misused. In order to try to provide some clarity, I would like to provide some descriptions for the different types of technology used to support student learning.

But I need to provide a disclaimer. Nailing down an agreed-upon definition has not been easy. I reviewed definitions used by associations and entities, as well as reviewed the Texas Education Code to see if some of these terms have a legal definition. And although most of the definitions are similar, there are some differences. 

I decided that the best way to understand these terms is to place them in a Venn diagram. On one side of the diagram are the uses of technology that are used within a brick and mortar building where both the teacher and student are present. The other side of the diagram is where the student and teacher are not in the same physical space. The shared portion of the diagram are the uses of technology that are often used in both face-to-face and virtual interactions between the teacher and student. 

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous 

Before you review the diagram, you need to know the difference between synchronous  and asynchronous learning. Synchronous learning is when the teacher and students participate in learning activities at the same time. Asynchronous learning is when students and teachers are learning the same material but at different times.

Definitions:

Digital Learning is any instructional practice that effectively uses technology to strengthen a student’s learning experience. It emphasizes high-quality instruction and provides access to challenging content, feedback through formative assessment, opportunities for learning anytime and anywhere, and individualized instruction. It is important to note that digital learning may be used in all of the other models except courseware. (Source: Digital Learning Day)

Courseware refers to any instructional software that is delivered on a computer. This is typically used to describe a self-contained course. A student receives all of their instruction via the computer and the software application. There is little to no personal interaction with a teacher. This could be done within the school building or at home. (Source: The Learning Coach) 

Blended Learning is an instructional approach that includes a combination of online and in-person learning activities which provide some element of student control over the time, place, path, and/or pace of their learning. At least some of the instruction is supervised in a brick-and-mortar location away from home. (Source: The Learning Coach, Raise Your Hand Texas, The Christensen Institute, and the Texas Education Code)

Flipped Learning is when students are introduced to the learning material before they come to class through video lectures, readings, or labs. Classroom time is used to deepen understanding through discussion with peers and problem-solving activities facilitated by the teacher. (Source: Advanced HE and Project Tomorrow)

Distance Learning occurs when students and their instructors are in two different locations. It usually involves a digital device and the internet. The learning can be synchronous or asynchronous. The following are types of distance learning: 

  • Online/Virtual Learning refers to a digital learning environment that takes place over the internet rather than a physical classroom. The teacher and student are not physically in the same location. The instruction delivery is primarily asynchronous, but could include some synchronous instruction. Courses provided by the TxVSN are an example of online or virtual learning. (Source: The Learning Coach)
  • Remote or At-Home Learning is a new term that describes distance learning, but has been closely associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Spring of 2020, this term described a school district’s attempt to help their students remain connected and engaged with the content while working from their homes. In a remote learning setting, a student receives instruction through online learning and/or via paper packets that are distributed to the students. People are now making a distinction between what transpired in the Spring of 2020 (Emergency Remote Learning) and what districts are preparing to offer their students in the 2020-2021 school year. Remote Learning is now being used to describe a class that intends to meet face-to-face in a traditional format, but may be transitioned (or started) online due to unforeseen circumstances. The difference between now and the Spring, is that districts have more time to prepare curriculum and teaching strategies to assist in this new learning environment. Remote learning is different from virtual or online learning. The latter typically refers to courses intentionally designed from the beginning to be delivered online. It was never intended for these courses to ever meet in-person, and students were never intended to work on these assignments in the same space. .

Update: This paragraph was updated on July 10, 2020 to reflect the changing nature of the term remote learning.

In Conclusion

These are not the only terms that have been used to describe the use of technology in schools. However they are the most popular terms that are in use today. 

Hopefully this helps clarify the different models of technology use as we grapple with how to plan for the future. Technology has never been and will never be a silver bullet that will fix the education system. However, if used effectively in the hands of a good teacher, it has the potential to assist students acquire a deep understanding of the content while preparing them for future careers that will be dependent on the use of technology.

This blog was updated with additional content on July 10, 2020.

Images:

1 comment
2 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
remote teaching
Educational TrendsGood Teaching

Five Resources to Help with Remote Teaching

by Dr. Bruce Ellis
written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Remote teaching has its challenges. Though you may be able to tweak many of your classroom lessons to work in a remote learning situation, you may discover that the learning activities have to be completely rethought.

Here are several resources for ideas and support as you look to make learning for your students meaningful and fun without driving their parents crazy.

TCEA Community – Remote Learning Resources

The Remote Learning Resources group is focused on resources, ideas, and solutions for enhancing student engagement in digital learning. Share best teaching practices, websites, apps, tools, and creative ideas for helping students to learn with technology. Access to this online community does require TCEA membership. Other Community groups include Student Engagement, Ask Your Fellow Techsperts, STEM, and Robotics, as well as others.

COVID-19 Parent/Teacher Learning Resources (SplashCircle)

The Parent/Teacher Learning Resources group is a Facebook group that has lots of ideas and support to help teachers and parents manage the shift to remote learning. You’ll find answers to questions, learning resources lists, daily schedules, interesting links, tips, and updates related to PreK-5 learning.

Educator, Parent, and Caregiver Resources

Cartoon image of owl and books

The Ohio Department of Education has provided a nicely categorized set of Parent and Caregiver Resources to help support engaging students in learning during the school building closure period. A separate but equally organized set of Educator Resources is also provided. Consider exploring both lists for helpful ideas and activities.

Scholastic Learn at Home

Scholastic Learn at Home contains four weeks of activities to help your child with day-to-day activities to foster reading, learning, and growing. Besides the grade-level grouped resources, you will also find a section for families, teachers, and tips and tricks.

Teaching Ideas Group

The Teaching ideas is a closed group on Facebook and averages about 75 posts a day. Even if you don’t post, be sure to look through what others are asking and the resources shared. If you are a “specialty” teacher, then here are some groups that may be a better fit for you: Teaching Theatre thru Remote Learning, K-12 Art Teacher Group, Teaching Choir Remotely, Early Years Remote Learning, and Remote ASL Teaching.

What other resources would you add to this list? Be sure to let us know in the comments below. We look forward to hearing from you.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
remote learning
ChromebooksContent AreasGoogle Tips and TricksMicrosoft Tips and TricksProfessional LearningWeb 2.0 Tool

Remote Learning Tools for Schools

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Remote learning providers are moving in a fast way to make their services more available in the wake of COVID-19. At the same time, K-16 educators and their organizations are working hard to put in place the ability to offer remote learning. In light of the prompted social distancing, this work is life-saving. Children who may carry the virus can infect vulnerable parents and grandparents. Providing at-home learning opportunities may lessen the exposure for immune-compromised individuals.

In this blog entry, we’ll explore over twenty resource links and solution providers. The goal of sharing these with you is to assist you in launching remote learning for your school or district.

This blog was last updated 08/2020 with new information and digital tools.

Resources and Assistance Abound

If you have additional resources, be sure to add a description and link in the comments section for this blog entry. In the meantime, you might want to check this School Closure Planning document via educator Nicole Zumpano. EduroLearning also offers a fantastic site replete with resources.

Social Distancing: What Is It?

The CDC mentions social distancing as one of the ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

The community can take measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Currently a vaccine or drug is not available for COVID-19.

The CDC points to community-based interventions such as the following:

  • School dismissals
  • Event cancellations
  • Social distancing
  • Creating employee plans to work remotely

Social distancing is “a term applied to certain nonpharmaceutical infection control actions” (source). Public health officials take these actions to stop or slow down the spread of a disease and thus reduce virus transmission. This happens when people increase the physical distance between persons. It can also happen when you reduce the frequency of congregation in certain places such as schools and/or workplaces. Per research studies, social distancing is effective at reducing disease spread. Many universities have taken this step. K-12 campuses and districts may follow as needed.

Students Need Home Internet Access?

If low-income students need Internet access at home, consider these solutions:

Hotspot Donations and $10/Month Wireless Access for Education – With nationwide school closures due to COVID-19, educators can request wireless hotspot donations at Digital Wish, then get Mobile Beacon’s unlimited high-speed 4G LTE mobile broadband service for only $10/month. Each donated hotspot ($70 value) has a 10 hour battery life and can connect up to 10 people to the internet. Use hotspots to set up a lending pool that will provide equitable internet access for students and teachers. A one-time $18 admin fee applies for a single hotspot and the $120 full-year service subscription must be paid in advance. Learn more and get your hotspots here.

Lifeline. “Lifeline typically provides up to a $9.25 monthly discount on service for eligible low-income subscribers.” Learn more about Lifeline from this FCC.gov website. 

Comcast is now offering “Internet Essentials.” Comcast is offering, effective Monday, March 16, 2020,  two months free to new Internet Essentials customers. Click here for more details. Xfinity WiFi from Comcast will be available as well.

Spectrum will also offer 60 days of free internet to households with K-12 or college students who lack a Spectrum account. Their WiFi hotspots will be opened for public use. Read this ABC News article for more providers.

Another great idea is equipping your school buses with Cradlepoint WiFi and park those around the District.

Just-in-Time Online Learning Support

Many individuals, businesses and non-profits are now offering free professional learning to educators. The professional learning focuses on how to teach online. Here is a quick round-up of some of those resources:

Flipgrid has curated a variety of resources for educators:

Wondering what to do about students taking home a school device? You may want to watch this March 18, 2020 (on demand after date) webinar, Preparing Your District for CIPA Compliant Device Take Home.

Services Listed

How do you reduce social distancing in schools? One part of the answer involves moving teaching and learning online. This can be a challenge for schools since students and/or teachers may not yet have learned how to function online. Below are some recommendations that Cary G. Hart gleaned from international educators:

  • Keep it simple
  • Use ONE method to communicate with parents, not multiple
  • Use already-introduced platforms as much as possible
  • Train teachers now while you can
  • Offer tech support for teachers, students, and parents

Getting up to speed in a short time may not be possible. That aside, online learning providers have rushed to make their solutions available. Many educators are compiling and sharing resources for online learning.

In the space below, you will find the most current list of services offered in alphabetical order. You may be aware of free or almost free services like Flipgrid, Seesaw, Wakelet. Each has a set of features that is available at no cost (e.g. Flipgrid, Wakelet, Seesaw). Others (e.g. Seesaw for Schools) have a cost associated for more features.

Other video conferencing providers, such as Zoom, while not designed for school use may very well be a go-to tool that offers some free services.  For example, Zoom is lifting limits for K-12 schools provided they complete an online form. Services offered include any or all the following:

  • Video conferencing (Google EDU, Microsoft, Zoom)
  • Learning management systems (Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Education Perfect)
  • Curriculum and training (Tynker, Microsoft, G Suite EDU)
  • Online teaching and learning assessment tools (e.g. EdPuzzle, PearDeck, Book Creator)

Explore the services below.

Achieve 3000

Message from Achieve 3000: “As many of you are moving to or have moved to a remote learning model, we understand that a sweeping change like this brings challenges. As your partner in literacy instruction, Achieve3000 has created the Achieve3000 Remote Learning site to support your at-home learning plans. Our site provides free resources to any school in any of our partner districts. We have created solutions that are accessible to all students in your district, including digital access for all and print resources for students without internet.

Please find the link to Achieve3000 Remote Learning that you can share with your students and families. On this page, you’ll find more information about each of the solutions available.

Adobe

Adobe is now offering free home access to their Creative Cloud apps. Access will be free of charge through May 31, 2020. Students can request it online. They are also offering free 90-day access to Adobe Connect, a web conferencing solution, until July 1, 2020.

Amazon Prime Video Free Family Titles

Whether you have Amazon Prime or not, a free Amazon account gets you and your child(ren) access to free family titles. These titles are age-appropriate, include PBS Kids Series titles. These are shows your kids are sure to love (mine did!) and will help whittle away the hours.

A&M System

The Deans of Education of the A&M system  would like to share some exciting news regarding free access to professional learning resources. After speaking with Veronica Calvo (Sr. Manager, Partnerships at Sanford Programs) we are pleased to announce, given the current COVID 19 situation, TCEA members are now in a position to access free educator professional learning opportunities. This access is made possible through the generosity of Mr. T Denny Sanford and the efforts of the team at National University .

Next steps

  1. Please access the courses via this link
  2. Once you click the access course link you will be asked to create a profile
  3. Please ensure you identify TCEA as your organization when creating your profile. This step will enable us to monitor the number and type of modules our members are accessing
    1. Note, when creating your profile, if your postcode includes letters please list the numbers as letters only as the registration software is not set up to accept letters in the postcode field.
  4. Once you have created a profile you can immediately access the modules and sign up for webinars.
    1. Sanford Harmony, is a PreK-6 social emotional learning program.
    2. Sanford Inspire provides educators and pre-service educators with online professional learning for creating inspiring PreK-12 classrooms.
      1. Each module ends with a self assessment and a certificate of mastery when the user successfully completes the assessment. This is a useful tool for teacher educators who are looking for innovative ways to supplement field based learning during school closures.Harmony at Home Toolkit
        Sanford Programs has also created the Harmony at Home toolkit to ensure that parents and children continue to have high-quality learning experiences during the period of school closures. Harmony at Home provides a variety of lessons, activities, and resources from our Sanford Harmony and Sanford Inspire programs to help parents navigate the social and emotional needs of children during this difficult time. You can access the Harmony at Home toolkit via this link  

        Next steps 

  1. If applicable,  share the Harmony at Home link with your local school districts and partners
  2. Watch the  Harmony at Home training video
  3. Review the annotated Getting Started Guide to navigating the Sanford Harmony Online Learning Portal and other materials.
  4. Explore Everyday Practices at Home
  5. Explore the Lessons & Activities at Home.
  6. Register for a live training webinar  

Watch this video about SEL for parents from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

Audible

We know listening to stories has the same benefit as reading with one’s eyes. Audible Stories is now offering, at no charge, a collection of audio stories. Stories are organized into a variety of categories, such as the following:

  • Littlest Learners
  • Elementary
  • Tween
  • Teen
  • Literary Classics
  • Folk & Fair Tales for All

Their stories are also available in various languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian and more. No login is required.

Book Creator

One of my favorite tools for creating ebooks and comics, Book Creator offers a free version. It is augmenting its free offering with a 90-day premium feature access. They are offering the following two features at no cost:

  • The ability to collaborate together on books in real-time
  • A list of ideas for using Book Creator for remote learning

Find the list of ideas online.

BrainPop

Need some instructional materials that explain the COVID-19 virus to children? Look no further than BrainPop’s multi-lingual resources (view Spanish version) on the subject.

Bulb

bulb Digital Portfolios offers their flagship education product, bulbEd, available at no charge to educational institutions around the world. bulbEd is free until the end of summer 2020. Per this announcement,

bulb Digital Portfolios is prepared to deploy and support remote teaching and learning needs at scale. bulb’s customer care team is ready and on-call to help train administration, educators and students. bulb’s robust library of resources includes access to grade and subject-specific templates and assignments, so virtual learning experiences can be up and running in a matter of days. Mr. Goldreyer said, “bulb is an all-in-one solution for remote learning. bulbEd is accessible anywhere, anytime on any web-enabled device, iOS, and Android.” bulb is FERPA, COPPA, and GDPR compliant; safe, secure, and ad-commercial free. It also integrates with Google and Microsoft education tools along with learning management systems.

Learn more online.

Buncee Learning

Get free access to Buncee Classroom if you are in an affected area.  Consider what Buncee offers:

With Buncee’s assortment of media options, creating a virtual lesson is quick and easy. Teachers can include text, video, audio, or even links to additional resources. Record your lesson using the video feature, or create an activity template for your student to complete at home. The classroom dashboard can then be utilized to share and track assignments. Teachers could also create a Buncee Board, so students can access materials, share their work, interact with their classmates, and participate in class discussions no matter where they are.

With Buncee and Microsoft Immersive Reader, teachers can ensure all students, regardless of their individual needs, can learn remotely as well. Students can use Immersive Reader to read the material at their own pace, and in a way that’s comfortable for them. Immersive Reader ensures learning is accessible for all types of learners both in the classroom and beyond. (Source: Supporting Remote Student Learning)

Canva

Canva has made available a free Education product with the world as teachers, students, and educational institutions transition to online learning during this time. This product is Canva for Education. You can check out a quick overview of C4Edu here:

Chemix Lab Diagrams

Chemix Lab Diagrams is now offering all their features for free for one month. And, they have extended their trial period for the Boost plan from seven to thirty-one days. Read this blog entry to find out how Chemix can assist you as a Physics/Chemistry teacher. Learn more about the COVID-19 related offer.

Classtag

Used by over 57,000 classrooms and 2 million parents/teachers across the U.S., Classtag is a free communication platform for schools that’s designed to boost parental engagement. Teachers can message parents directly (via SMS or web) and even translate their messages if English is the parent’s second language. Plus, it serves as a fully-functioning classroom management system.

It’s been especially useful to have during the transition to education going remote, as keeping parents and students engaged is priority number one for schools. Explore their Remote Learning resources.

Coding UnPlugged Resources

Need to teach coding but don’t have an Internet connection? Check out this Wakelet collection on the subject. You are welcome to make a copy and if you know of other resources, please share them in the comments.

Education Perfect

This New Zealand-based company offers a learning management system (LMS) at no cost to schools that is in wide use across many countries.

“As we finish our 4th week of online learning (thank you COVID-19) all I can say is EP has been a lifesaver… I can monitor students, comment on their progress and reassign tasks based upon their understanding. Brilliant.”

Learn more online at their website.

Educreations Pro

“We’re offering free Educreations Pro upgrades to teachers through May 1, 2020. You can take advantage of this offer by clicking the button below. This offer is not available for current Educreations Pro subscribers.” Want to take advantage of Educreations Pro account offer? Use this link. Note that their Pro features require an iPad. Some of Educreations Pro features include the following:

  • import documents, presentations, webpages, maps, and images
  • save unlimited drafts so you can work on multiple projects at once
  • 5GB of cloud storage, enough to store over 150 hours of lessons
  • use the pointer tool to direct student attention
  • export your lessons as MP4 video files for uploading to other platforms

Those are in addition to their features for free accounts:

  • record and replay your voice, handwriting, and drawings
  • add typed text in a variety of colors and sizes
  • import content from your Google Drive, Dropbox, or the Web
  • draw on top of everything with the drawing tool
  • edit out any mistakes with the built-in video editor

If you use an iPad with your students and they have the same, then Educreations will be useful to you. One key point is that you can save your lessons as MP4 video files. Those MP4 video files can be saved online via YouTube, G Suite EDU, and other places.

EdPuzzle

Need to connect with students or insert assessments into videos you create? Some of what EdPuzzle makes possible include:

  • Access to more than five million videos
  • Ability to create your own interactive video lessons
  • Add questions, audio, and notes
  • See detailed analytics on your students’ results
  • Get storage space videos

EdPuzzle makes that all available and more at no cost to affected schools. Apply online to gain free access.

EPIC!

Looking for a free source of books and audio books? Check out epic! which offers free teacher accounts through June 30, 2020. It’s easy to get setup as a teacher, then add your students. Creating the students’ accounts is as easy as copying-n-pasting their names into a text box.

You can find quite a bit of content online, and your students will have easy access.  Here’s some of the content, featuring audio and video books:

Flipgrid

This is a fantastic, FREE, and easy tool you can use with teachers and students to stay in contact. Above, you will find a list of some the remote learning resources Flipgrid is sharing. Flipgrid offers a one-page PDF that will help you set up Flipgrid for a remote classroom. Be sure to watch these FlipgridPD webinars to learn the basics of Flipgrid. Share this simple guide to “help the families in your community use Flipgrid to keep their children active, connected and engaged while they are home from school.”

Gale Resources

Gale is offering educators, librarians, student and parent free access to digital content and resources to enhance instruction and learning. Resources include: Interdisciplinary, curriculum-aligned resources to support online learning from pre-K through undergraduate; Live and on-demand training materials to help you optimize your existing resources; Professional development eBooks to help transition to and strengthen virtual learning and Authoritative Gale resources on health-related topics and global issues.

Access Gale resources here: https://www.gale.com/covid19support

Get More Math (GMM)

Get More Math® (GMM) is offering complimentary use of their program across the state of Texas. Teachers can assign work, monitor students in real time, send personal messages to kids as they are working online. They can also track progress. GMM is TEKS aligned grades 4 through 8, Algebra 1 and Geometry. Alignment for grade 3 and Algebra 2 is not complete. Despite that, there is quite a bit of content already available. Need a contact person? Reach out to Shelly Pelton, Account Manager, via email at spelton@getmoremath.com. You can register for a Get More Math® account.

GoNoodle

GoNoodle created a free online resource GoNoodle: Good Energy at Home. It includes premium content and learning materials including movement and mindfulness videos as well as downloadable learning resources and ideas for off-screen activities – and if you sign up for email updates, they plan to send new ideas, activities, and tools to you weekly. There’s also a Good Energy channel on all GoNoodle home apps (iOS, Android, AppleTV, Fire, Roku) where all the best GoNoodle videos can be used by kids directly. Whether it takes the form of a family dance party, a song and activity that reinforces something kids are learning at school, or a mindfulness or yoga video to help us all relieve stress and get a break from the intensity of it all – let’s all work to create Good Energy with our kids during this stressful time.

Goosechase

Goosechase is now offering free-of-charge upgrades to the Educator Plus tier of the GooseChase EDU platform until September 1, 2020 for all K-12 educators. If you are a teacher looking to utilize this upgrade to engage with students during school shutdowns, please complete the form linked here.

Grammar Check

Grammar Check offers a free, safe, and secure online tool to proofread any English text with a simple “Copy & Paste.” All texts get processed instantly and deleted immediately after processing your text. You might combine this with Hemingwayapp.com to improve your writing (or as a set of tools to share with your students).

G Suite EDU

Google is now offering free access to advanced Hangouts Meet videoconferencing capabilities. This free access will be available until July 1, 2020 and is available to all G Suite and G Suite for Education. The feature includes the following:

  • Support for larger meetings (up to 250 participants per call)
  • Live streaming for up to 100,000 viewers within a domain (e.g. Ardent ISD domain or your district)
  • The ability to record meetings and save them to Google Drive

The last piece is important since it makes it easier for schools to share content. G Suite EDU admins may find this walk-through helpful. This enables asynchronous sharing of content. This free access is rolling out now for Hangouts Meet and Google Classroom.

Internet Archive – National Emergency Library

Heard the announcement? If not, here it is:

During this unprecedented time in history, access to printed books is becoming difficult or impossible. COVID-19 is forcing students, educators, and everyday readers to rely on digital books more than ever before. That’s why the Internet Archive has temporarily suspended all waitlists, allowing you to immediately check out any of the 1.4 million books currently in our lending library. Until June 30th or the end of the US national emergency (whichever comes later), every borrowable book will be immediately accessible by anyone—creating, in effect, a National Emergency Library.

You can check out to ten of anything, “whether you need classic literature, science textbooks, genre fiction, or even just bedtime story material.” Start browsing here.

Kami App

This online services seeks to make transitioning from paper to digital easier. To achieve this, it suggests you can load any document into their system. This can include assignments, book reports, team projects, website research, homework, and surveys. Once loaded into their system, you can type, write, or draw on the document(s). You, as teacher, can share the document, embed images, comments, audio, or video clips to instruct.

To claim a free school-wide license, send an email to support@kamiapp.com. Each school license will be valid for seventy days. This license will extend Kamifor so long as schools have shut down.

Khan Academy

This provider is offering student schedules. Explore this Google Doc online.

KERA Programming

KERA is offering a new curriculum-based television lineup offering free PBS programs and digital resources aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards. The new At-Home Learning schedule will air weekdays from 6am to 6pm on KERA TV with specific blocks of time for pre-K through 12th grade levels. This special programming block also will stream live on learn.kera.org, expanding access to this free educational content and enabling students to watch the programming on mobile devices. You can find the program schedule and more information at learn.kera.org.    The weekday television lineup is segmented by target grades:

  • 6 a.m. – 8 a.m. – Programs for kids in pre-K to 3rd grade.
  • 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. – 4th through 8th-graders.
  • 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. – 9th through 12th graders.

In addition to the new on-air programming, KERA is sharing an At-Home Learning Toolkit, which includes a curated list of educational resources and a weekly calendar with fun and engaging KERA Kids activities for the entire family. The Toolkit includes links to subscribe to KERA’s two education email newsletters – one for parents of young children and one for educators. It also includes a link to PBS LearningMedia, a large, FREE collection of curated TEKS-aligned resources for teaching. Many of the videos, lesson plans, handouts and other materials come from great shows like NOVA, Nature, Masterpiece and Sesame Street.

Children can still watch all their favorite PBS Kids programs around the clock on KERA Kids 24/7 on digital television and channel 13.2 for over the air viewers. You can also stream PBS Kids shows anytime you want from our website. Find the KERA Kids schedule and the streaming link at kids.kera.org.

Kialo Edu

Kialo Edu is a custom version of Kialo (http://kialo-edu.com/), the world’s largest argument mapping and debate site, specifically designed for classroom use. Its clear, visually compelling format makes it easy to follow the logical structure of a discussion and facilitates thoughtful collaboration. Kialo’s mission is to promote well-reasoned discussion online, and to that end, Kialo is free for educators to use. Check out their Twitter page to hear what teachers have to say about Kialo Edu.

Legends of Learning

Legends of Learning offers 2,000 3rd through 8th-grade math and science games and simulations correlated to state standards.  Teachers create playlists of games based on standards and students work through completing each one, while the teacher receives real-time data from each student. Using our various assignment options, teachers can create custom playlists, or have a playlist built for them with a top-rated game.

The basic Legends of Learning site is always free.  We are offering free access to all premium features for schools closed due to the outbreak for the duration of their closure.  This includes assigning an unlimited number of assignments, creating customized assessments for students, and integration with Google Classroom, Clever, Classlink, or Schoology.

Sign up here: app.legendsoflearning.com

Logo Design

This site shares share “twenty-six of the most fantastic and productive graphic design resources that will keep the kids engaged when you can’t go out due the coronavirus pandemic (or otherwise). These will help them learn something new, and may enable them to develop a new hobby or think of a future career choice. Learn more online.

MackinVIA

MackinVIA has compiled free content, helpful videos, links, downloadable resources and more to help you with this distance learning transition. MackinVIA offers two main resources:

  1. Distance Learning Essentials page
  2. Distance learning – Digital content

Be sure to review their resources.

Merge Cubes

Students can print and build their own paper Merge Cube, then download Merge EDU apps for hands-on augmented reality experiences that kids and parents will love. Merge products are simple and easy to use, and even younger students can complete activities with accessibility features like Immersive Reader. With over 10 different languages, students from all over the world can continue learning wherever they are. Access Remote Learning with Merge online.

Microsoft

The Microsoft Teams for Education offering provides schools with an online classroom space that is free for schools and universities. What’s more, Microsoft has some on-demand webinars you can watch. Each showcases Microsoft Teams as a way to support student-teacher, student-student interactions. You will need to register to watch the recording.

To gain access, your school district will need to deploy Office 365 A1 license (which is free to education). Once your district enables MS Teams, you can access it at https://teams.microsoft.com. Learn more about Teams availability for schools and businesses.

MobyMax

MobyMax is offering remote learning guides and free webinars on how to teach from home. They are also offering:

MobyMax is offering free licenses for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year to districts and schools that would like to leverage Moby as a remote learning resource while their schools are closed.

Here’s the list of resources you can explore at no charge:

MobyMax hopes you find these resources useful during this time.

MyList

Teachers can create a personal list of the online learning tools they are using, add notes for each tool and publish it out to parents.  It is really simple to use: they search a library of 7,000+ edtech tools, click the “add” button, add any notes (optional), publish, and then share. See it online.

NearPod

Need access to a teaching, learning, and assessment platform? NearPod is another digital tool making itself available to affected schools. NearPod makes it easy to create interactive lessons, create quizzes, polls, and more. It integrates with Google Slides and you can synchronize lesson slides across all remote learners. It’s a must-have tool in your toolkit and one of my favorites. You can learn more about it online.

Northwestern University and Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research

Elementary educators looking for a free resource to teach students about the Coronavirus and COVID-19 will have help from a zany book character named Mrs. Can. Thanks to a grant from Northwestern University and its Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research, a free download of “The Class That Can: Coronavirus” will be available to teachers nationwide, along with a virtual resource to libraries and school systems by request.

The book features third graders from a fictional “Class That Can” who are learning from home because of the Coronavirus. The students are excited when their teacher, Mrs. Can, introduces them via computer to her friends, Dr. Kenneth Fox and Dr. Ruchi Gupta, both of whom are real-life, seasoned pediatricians.

“Teachers create meaning for students, and this resource can be a powerful part of their toolkit as they boldly innovate in the age of COVID,” says Dr. Fox, a pediatrician for more than 30 years and Chief Health Officer of Chicago Public Schools, the nation’s third-largest school district. “The Class That Can: Coronavirus is written in a fun, honest voice that kids can understand and that our times recommend.”

Get the book online.

OneScreen Hype with Zuni Learning Tree

Get free-of-cost access to the powerful distance and blended learning package, OneScreen Hype with Zuni Learning Tree. It is available to any public or private school in the United States wanting to take their classes online. The software allows teachers to conduct online video classes for their students ( just like Zoom), but comes with additional features and educational resources for educators.

OTIS For Educators

Need free professional learning on Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams? OTIS for Educators has made their professional development content available for no-cost to teachers on an individual basis or schools. Here’s their announcement:

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are making all of our PD courses FREE to help schools implement distance learning and online professional development.  Individual teachers, sign up for a FREE Basic account. You will be automatically upgraded to a full subscription for free.

Schools fill out the following information and we will assist you with setting up your free accounts. If you need immediate assistance setting up an account for your school, please call 877.455.9369

Learn more online.

PearDeck

PearDeck makes adding interactivity to Google Slides easier. It’s integrated with G Suite EDU already. This makes it easy to share and save work via Google Classroom. You can get free access to PearDeck online. They offer 30-days free to all new users. They extend that with a 90-day premium access offer. You can request individual or district access via their online forms. They are now hosting live, daily remote learning webinars.

PenPal Schools

PenPal Schools is offering free access for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. With schools closing around the  world, parents are scrambling to find online learning resources that are effective and engaging. Isolated learning software doesn’t cut it – students need to be connected to be engaged. PenPal Schools is so engaging that we have quickly grown to nearly half a million students in 150 countries. Teachers and parents are invited to enroll for free at
penpalschools.com. PenPal Schools connects students from around the world to learn together! Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology and social-emotional skills.

Promethean Online Learning

Promethean has free resources that they are offering teachers. Schools can use their free software, ClassFlow, to communicate and share resources with their students. See those resources online.

Ranger Rick Magazine

Need some exciting reading material? One of my childhood favorites was the Ranger Rick Magazine. They are offering three months of free access to all games, jokes, videos, awesome animal articles. This offer is good through June 30, 2020. Sign up online.

Seesaw

Seesaw offers incredible, age-appropriate tools that teachers can use with students and parents. Learn about their remote learning offerings.  Per Seesaw’s website:

Seesaw is a platform for student engagement. Teachers can empower students to create, reflect, share, and collaborate. Students “show what they know” using photos, videos, drawings, text, PDFs, and links.

Seesaw is easy to use and get started with. It offers many powerful features for free, even more at cost. Teachers can get started here. Here is a quick tutorial video for home learning codes for all students in your class.

Showbie

Showbie is a real-time application for communication and assessment tool. Showbie is providing free additional licenses to existing customers. These additional licenses cover all staff and students on Showbie Pro and Socrative Pro through July 31, 2020. For non-customers, free access to Showbie Pro and Socrative Pro will be provided through July 31, 2020.

To take advantage of this opportunity, please have your school or district administrator in charge of your COVID-19 response plan, complete this application form. Our team will get back to you within one business day with setup instructions and next steps.

This tool works on desktop/laptop computers, tablets,  iPads, and/or mobile phones.

Slido

“We have just launched Slido for Education (with new integrations with PowerPoint and Zoom Webinar) which will be free for all teachers and students until July 1st,” says Juraj Pal, Slido. Slido already integrates with Google Slides. What is Slido? It is a tool designed to assist lecturers. The goal is keep them connected during virtual or live classes. It powers two-way interactions. Learn more about Slido for Education, a new offering, online.

STEM Fuse

STEM Fuse is offering their entire suite of distance learning and training resources at no cost. All courses are CSTA aligned and very easy for teachers to use. Learn more about it in their guidebook. At this link, you will find a form that teachers can use to automatically get access to the course(s) of their choosing.

Texthelp

Texthelp is currently providing FREE access for students, teachers, and parents to Fluency Tutor for Google Chrome through the end of the school year. With Fluency Tutor  teachers can assign reading passages from over 500 built-in, leveled content pieces and students can practice reading aloud, building fluency and understanding, before submitting their recordings to their teacher. And because it’s web-based, it’s great for remote learning.

If you’d like to learn more about Fluency Tutor, you can visit them online.

Tynker for Schools

Need access to a how-to-code curriculum for your students to engage in at home? You will want to explore Tynker for Schools. They are making their offer available to all K-12 schools. You can read their announcement:

If your school or district is planning a closure for preventative health-related reasons, please complete this form to get full access to the entire Tynker curriculum and platform at no cost. This will give you and your students access to our self-paced, on-demand courses until May 2020, but we will happily extend this offer until your school reopens.

In addition to our existing free online professional development, we will be running a series of webinars to train teachers on how to use Tynker in a remote learning environment. Please visit our training page for details and schedules.

This is a generous offer of accessible curriculum and training for schools.

WriteReader Lesson Plan and Book Templates

WriteReader, which is free, is offering lesson plans and book templates. Teachers can use these to enhance how they are planning activities for students stuck at home during COVID-19.

Xtensio

If you want to make your teaching easy and streamline during COVID 19, use Xtension. Using this, you can create, manage, and present the course syllabus, and with ease sharing features, share it with every student.

Furthermore, to make studies intuitive and interesting for kids, you can create stunning presentations with images and videos using this tool.  Xtensio also allows students to study with their fellow mates under one team space.  The best part, its extremely secure, as its plans include 128 bit SSL encryption and backups. This means you can add passwords to turn on/off links.

Get started with Xtensio.

Vook

Teachers get a year free of access to Vook. This is also open to homeschool educators. From their website:

“Vooks brings children’s books to life with animated illustrations, read-a-long text and narrated story. The ad-free platform features a variety of titles that have been engaging students all across the world. Whether being used as part of the lesson or to wind class down, Vooks is a fun and versatile tool for the classroom.

Learn more about Vook content:

Learn From Home Club

Self-serve learning platforms Codecademy, Duolingo, Quizlet, Skillshare, and Brainly have teamed up to create the Learn From Home Club – a joint offering of free learning resources for teachers and students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (offer details for each company are available at the link provided). The offering was announced Monday, April 6, 2020 in a tweet by Codecademy CEO Zach Sims. The participating education companies have a combined reach of nearly 600 million users. The participating companies are as follows:

  • Codecademy is a platform for learning programming, web development, data science and other technical skills online. They have given away over 100,000 free Codecademy Pro scholarships to students so far.
  • Skillshare is an online learning community where millions come together to take the next step in their creative journey.
  • Quizlet provides free study tools including flashcards, practice questions and games for students and their teachers. Choose from 400 million study sets or create your own.
  • Duolingo is the world’s most popular language-learning platform, with the mission of making education free and accessible for everyone.
  • Brainly offers a free learning platform, where students and parents get homework and study help from peers and experts. Brainly is democratizing access to education and helps students answer questions. Students from anywhere can ask about their doubts and get a step-by-step explanation from others.

Powerful Tools At Hand

These are all powerful tools made available for educators. Whether COVID-19 prompts social distancing in your area, you should know what tools work best. Be sure to coordinate with other educators and school administrators and decide together how to best approach teleschooling and remote learning. Looking for more resources? Check out Loreen A. Sullivan’s Wakelet collection. You may also find Clay Smith’s collection of interest. Finally, this Google Doc may be of interest. It shows education companies offering free subscriptions.

“Everything we do before a pandemic will seem alarmist. Everything we do after will seem inadequate” -M. Leavitt

Note: This blog has been updated to reflect new services as of 3/14/2020. Check back since new services will continue to be added as we become aware of them.

12 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts