COVID-19 On-Line Learning in High School

NJROTC-CC

NJROTC-CC

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My DS's public high school is going to on-line starting Monday March 30th while we all shelter at home. This week is a trial or learning week to get the students and faculty used to the system and to practice. Even though my DS is taking AP and honors classes, I was impressed that his first on-line assignment was from his Senior Chief in NS-2 (NJROTC.) The assignment was to review and comment on a PowerPoint about aerodynamics. Go Navy! And keep pushing the kids!!
 
I'm about to start "remote learning" teaching on Monday. I'm scrambling to come up with topics/assignments that won't overload the cadets, but at the same time will be meaningful. Sounds like SrChief has the right approach and similar to what my teaching partner (SrNCO) and I are going to do!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Here's another Senior Chief who has reached out and engaged students and am currently grading assignments that have trickled in since closing. We start online teaching 14 April using Blackboard Collaborate. Teachers have a virtual meeting Monday and we spend the rest of the week learning how to use the program.

For three years and since the arrival of Google Classroom, those who know everything, the all-knowing, have said we are "going away from Blackboard." My daughter is a senior bid manager for Blackboard and every time I mention that she says, yeah right. At the start of this school year at my department's first meeting, my administrator, one of the all-knowing, said we are going all in with Google CR as we are dropping Blackboard. Again I tell my daughter who tells me one of her proposal writers was currently working the contract renewal for the district, the 10th largest in the country.

As it turns out, Blackboard is the only IT program we have that provides the required student security. So, take that Google.
 
We're using Canvas and have uploaded assignments that they will respond/turn in through Canvas and then we will use Canvas to organize/assign peer reviews which will also come in through that platform. Canvas has WEBEX integrated with it but my wife and I didn't like it so much so we joined ZOOM and had ZOOM meetings with the classes this week and will continue to do so through the semester.
 
We had a few teachers reach out on Zoom and Google Meet and now we’ve been told email or official Twitter account only until we start on Blackboard Collaborate.
 
Canvas is our approved Jam. We were using Moodle and it is still on the server but they've been working hard to get people migrated to Canvas as that is where they want us. I have a Blackboard account at USNA and can see some of it from the user side but can't see the teaching side.
 
We're using Google CR and Webex. I have no idea what else others on campus might be doing "on the side."

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Now you have me curious about Blackboard and Canvas. Our District uses Google and Zoom. I just heard back from my last parent that they do indeed have internet. Out of all of my kiddos, I only have 1 without internet access. Way better than I was anticipating considering we are very rural and many have long commutes. One of my kids drives an hour each way to school. Lives out in the boonies.
Sending them all Google classroom assignments and an email over the weekend. Distance learning begins Monday!
Thankfully our district is being pretty mellow. Neighboring district not so much. They handed out chrome books to any who needed it, one of my customers today was so stressed out, and he is a mellow, even keeled veteran with a masters. His daughters are in 1st and 2nd grade. The 1st grade teacher wants students in video conferencing every day at 8:30. WHAT THE HECK???? Not every kid has a parent at home, or one who can figure out zoom, or a parent who can accommodate that time frame. I just really want parents and kids not to stress more than they already are.
Make a grilled cheese sandwich, color. Play go fish. Play dominoes, learn a new game. Read a book and play hangman. We are in extraordinary times and I don't think high pressure on 1st graders is going to make anything any better.
 
Heatherg21 said:
His daughters are in 1st and 2nd grade. The 1st grade teacher wants students in video conferencing every day at 8:30. WHAT THE HECK???? Not every kid has a parent at home, or one who can figure out zoom, or a parent who can accommodate that time frame. I just really want parents and kids not to stress more than they already are.
Make a grilled cheese sandwich, color. Play go fish. Play dominoes, learn a new game. Read a book and play hangman. We are in extraordinary times and I don't think high pressure on 1st graders is going to make anything any better.
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Not cool. I think we collectively should make a best effort toward covering the remaining curriculum and call it a year. No sports, no prom, and maybe no graduation means for the most part, high school kids ain't gonna put up with a lot of bull. Pressuring 1st graders is totally out of line.
 
I disagree somewhat. I think the more they attempt to treat it like regular school at that age, the more the kids will learn and the less decline they will have before Fall. I do agree that grades should be eased to relieve health or technology challenges or other stresses.

Even our local preschool teachers are trying to keep up the feel of school with daily "assignments" and such.
 
Well our county has done NOTHING so far and has no plans to do anything for the next 2 weeks. Very disappointed. My daughter is studying on her own, but it is taking them forever to put together a plan. We have lots of kids without access at home, and the county is trying to work that out, but it doesn't seem like it should take 4 weeks.
 
ProudMom7 said:
Well our county has done NOTHING so far and has no plans to do anything for the next 2 weeks. Very disappointed. My daughter is studying on her own, but it is taking them forever to put together a plan. We have lots of kids without access at home, and the county is trying to work that out, but it doesn't seem like it should take 4 weeks.
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That has been the complaint in my district. Teachers are just now getting started with figuring out how we’re going to proceed online. Parents say we should have already started. Students don’t start until 14 April after spring break. Yep, we’re still gonna do spring break. The biggest problem with our delay is assuring equity for all 190,000 students, especially SPED and ESOL.

We got a little more guidance by email a couple hours ago. Lots of people are about to get mad.
 
At this point I think we do a risk reward assessment and at the end realize meeting a state standard was more harm then good to the majority of kids and their affected families. Obviously I am not speaking to dual credits. Our parents and kids and teachers do not deserve to have this much angst.
 
@just me. I struggle with asking 7 year olds to conference. I want to move all students forward. But a 1st grade teacher in today's world asking or expecting a 7 year old to log on and when they don't emails the parents... seriously. I miss my kids. I do. But I know not all of my kids have a solid home. Not all of my kids have parents who are non essential or who in this case are essential. Demanding time slots for primary just seems to undermine the basics. Help kids. Help parents. Help kids help parents. Help each other.
 
As of 20 minutes ago, Arizona Governor Ducey has announced closure of schools for the remainder of this school year. I am sad. So sad. I was holding out hope I would see my students again, and that our son would experience a senior trip, cap and gown parade, prom and graduation. I realize it is small in the big scheme of things, I do. But I get my 10 minutes of pity and tears. Dang kid is handling it better than I am.
 
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