Resources for Remote Learning

In response to our members who had questions about the resources available as K-12 schools in Missouri quickly shift to remote learning, we hosted a virtual brown bag huddle to discuss resources and tools, while sharing support.

Here are some of the highlights of that conversation:

How are students connecting with educators if they have low or no Internet at home?

• Some are using WiFi from the school parking lot to download assignments/upload homework.
• In districts where several students lack Internet, teachers are printing lots of lesson plans.
• One district said they gave teachers a PD day to come up with two weeks worth of plans to distribute work students.
• One educator created a Bingo activity where there are multiple options for completing assignments. This provided students with options- included were no and low connectivity activities, allowing more flexibility for students that are offline.
• Various organizations offer hot spots.
  • Some schools are talking about hot spots in busses, then parking them in strategic areas. (Mentioned on the call, but nobody on the call is doing that in their district.)
  • Charter will provide free connectivity for students or college students for 60 days: https://policy.charter.com/press-releases/charter-offer-free-access-spectrum-broadband-wifi-60-days-new-k-12-college-student-households/

Don’t Forget the Importance of cybersecurity!

• Be sure all devices are updated before sending home with students.
• Encourage staff/students to connect to your organization’s appropriate VPN when working from public WiFi. Need help establishing a VPN? Contact MOREnet at [email protected].
• SANS has a great new series about safety when working from home: https://www.sans.org/security-awareness-training/sans-security-awareness-work-home-deployment-kit .

Other Helpful Resources:

• COSN made a tool kit available as a courtesy, with a checklist of steps to take to ensure your faculty and students are ready to learn online: https://cosn.org/sites/default/files/COVID-19%20Member%20Exclusive.pdf.
• SETDA has released the eLearning Coalition, https://www.setda.org/main-coalitions/elearning/, in support of education leaders across the country as schools close per COVID-19 and to support ongoing eLearning opportunities.
• As educators share worksheets and videos online, what are the copyright rules? This website has some great tips about using information for education: https://www.copyrightuser.org/understand/exceptions/education/

What PD is needed

• Best practices for how to organize the online environment between teacher and student.
• Anything to help with online learning- how to use Zoom, Canvas, the online resources, Google Classroom.

MOREnet is actively working with our training team and speaking with other outlets to determine the best way to get this information to our members!