Curriculum Connection
Updates, Information, and Ideas for DCSC Staff
September 25, 2019
In order to be respectful of everyone's time, I have broken the newsletter down into information that staff "Have To Know" and information that is "Nice to Know." In addition, I have tried to break things down further by grade level or subject area. Please ensure you read and/or respond to anything in the "Have To Know" section that applies to a grade level or subject area you teach.
If you find any ideas, websites, books, etc. that you think are worth sharing out, please send them my way and I am happy to include them!
Morgan Walker
Director of Academic Services
All Staff- Certified and Classified, PK-12
eLearning Day Guidelines
If you have not yet looked through the eLearning Day Guidelines, now is the time! Please don't miss out on important information contained in this document.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1smDkuphmls6-E_ovvSB5p2iLglGAV1Hbyxhm69QlfFw/edit?usp=sharing
ALL Staff, Certified AND Classified- will report to work on November 7th. For an overview of what is scheduled for your department, please visit this chart (also linked in the guideline document above). If there are any TBD spots for your department/area, your supervisor should be filling in the final few spots asap.
Please note the Alertus Training for most classified staff on November 7th. You may attend any building session that works in your schedule. All classified staff (with the exception of technology staff, bus drivers, and secretary/treasurers will be trained on November 7th). If you are not here on the 7th, you will need to make up this training. Certified staff, administrators and secretaries/treasurers will be trained on a later date.
Teaching Staff K-12
***Setting up Schoology for the November 7th eLearning Day***
This is where we will tell all students and parents to go to access directions for each course. It is imperative you add this folder. Feel free to go in and create the folder now and begin working on your lesson. You can keep the folder unpublished until the eLearning Day (or even November 6th after school). Remember, students will have until November 14th to complete the work, so do not shut down the folder until after that date. (See photo below)
Teaching Staff, K-12
Answers to eLearning Questions from PD on 10/24
Can you access this from home?
- Yes, Schoology is web-based and may be accessed from home on a computer or even on your phone (although the phone would be difficult to manage classes with in my opinion).
Will the 5th-grade students have assignments for both related arts classes and both science and social studies during eLearning Days?
- Students only need to complete the work for the classes they are missing on that exact day. (Ex: If a student would be going to a social studies class on November 7th, they should complete a social studies eLearning activity. If they would not have social studies on that day, they may have it listed as one of their courses, but a teacher does not need to add an eLearning Day folder or work.)
Will K-2 students be responsible for using a personal device to complete eLearning activities?
- If they are able to, yes. They may also use an older sibling's Chromebook at home. If they do not have a device at home (or do not have internet), we will need to either send home paper copies of materials or make arrangements so they can complete the work online in the five days following the eLearning Day.
What should the teacher do if he/she does not have internet access?
- Please contact me (Morgan) asap so we can make arrangements, please!
Would specials teachers need to copy the question to all courses? This would be 19 courses for some and 30 courses for Mark C.
- Yes, the assignments will need to be copied to each course. He could go through and just pick and choose only the classes that come to him on the day we are out, but the way classes are labeled it may be just as easy to add to all classes. It's really as simple as clicking the copy button and checking each class down the list. Luckily this feature is available so specials teachers don't have to go in and add content to each class separately!
I have some students who did not complete assignments simply due to forgetfulness. Are we able to open back up for submissions for tonight?
- The practice eLearning Weekend was simply a snapshot so we could get a general picture of any account issues students or parents were having. It also showed teachers, parents, and students what an eLearning Day will look like in simpler terms. I know there were a few students that just forgot to do it, but this is a decent indication of how many may not complete the work on November 7th so it's still good data to know. I appreciate all of the staff that worked with parents and students after the practice to ensure they are prepared for the next go-around!
Teaching Staff, K-12
Sample eLearning Day lessons
Elementary School
- 2nd-4th Physical Education
- 4th-grade math
- K-1 Physical Education
- Kdg Music
- 2nd-grade Music
- 3rd-grade Music
- K-4 Art
- Kindergarten
- Second Grade
- Third-grade reading
- Kindergarten
- Lots of eLearning Choice Board examples- all grade levels/subjects
Middle School
- Link to page with 5th-6th grade, all subjects
- 7th-grade math
- 5th grade math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Science
- ELA
- Health- Mindfulness
High School
Teaching Staff, K-12
1. Explore and reflect with brain breaks.
No one should be stuck behind a computer screen all day without visual and physical stretches, especially students. Just like we try to blend our learning activities in the classroom, an off-site location isn’t any different. We need to get our students moving in between the videos, research, and online assignments. Try building in an interview question where they have to go find someone in the house or actually make a phone call to ask it. How about finding an object in the house that aligns with an activity or analogy and have them take a picture to include in the response? Let them sketch the view from their window, upload a picture, and write in response. What about making a recipe in the kitchen, converting all the amounts to different fractions or metric? Lots of possibilities here... but just don’t assume it is happening. Find a way to ensure that it is part of the plan and there is a way to include in the produced work.
2. Share and model the learning first.
You should not attempt an eLearning Day without practicing it first. Just like anything else, we have to have time to attempt, fail, adjust, and ask questions before we are expected to perform as if it was part of our normal routine. As a teacher, take a day (or two), early in the year to operate as if it were a virtual day. Let your students practice finding their assignment, asking you or their peers questions online, and submitting things electronically. Let them move to a spot in the room where they would like to work and no face-to-face talking. Be sure to throw them a challenge - turn out the lights to signify a power outage. What would they do if they lost their wifi? How do they make the shift to complete the work? Let students think and share responses. Discuss your expectations and what “excuses” you will allow for unexpected interruptions or delays. Does everyone know the “helpline” to call if something goes wrong? Consider an off-site troubleshooting guide or tip sheet created by students to share with parents and faculty. They are amazing at backdoor solutions and workarounds when they want to use the technology. Capture that early in the year, model it, and keep building up your resource as you practice. This is an opportunity for some creative problem-solving!
3. Visually connect and collaborate.
Teachers, please don’t underestimate the power and comfort your smiling face and voice can bring to a stressful situation, like a change in routine or learning environment. They trust you and are inspired by you. Some of the best eLearning assignments can start with a video featuring yourself on camera! Explain the activity, just like you might do in your classroom. Parents are also reassured by this, knowing that the teacher is still providing and leading instruction. An informal and quick video can go a long way - and it doesn’t need to be a major production to have a major impact. Throughout the day, you can also visually connect the learning with online spaces where students can see others posting work and questions. Consider a Padlet wall, discussion board, or virtual whiteboard where you can provide feedback to the collective group, collaborate, and work out math problems live!
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DCSC Curriculum Connection
Contact: Morgan Walker, Director of Academic Services
Email: mwalker@danville.k12.in.us
Website: www.danville.k12.in.us
Location: 200 Warrior Way, Danville IN 46122
Phone: (317) 745-2212
Twitter: @walker8208
