Coronavirus: Coping in education: links, resources, tips and IT concerns

[elsiegee40]

This thread has been started to help with the practicalities of keeping things going in schools and colleges while the students are there and planning in case of enforced closure.

 

Please post any links, tips, resources and pleas for advice on on IT concerns in this thread.

 

The more general chat element surrounding coronavirus should be posted in this BTRD thread:

Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

 

Employment issues should, of course, be posted in the Employment Issues and Advice Forum

Edited March 18, 2020 by ZeroHour

[elsiegee40]

Coronavirus social story: a free resource to use with autistic youngsters

 

Might be useful to some...

https://theautismeducator.ie/2020/03/11/corona-virus-social-story/

 

...a FREE Coronavirus Social Story to help alleviate fears and anxiety many children may be experiencing at this time.

 

It seems inevitable now that schools will have to close in an attempt to curb the pandemic Coronavirus crisis.

 

I posted to my Instagram stories this morning querying if parents required a Social Story to help their children navigate the coming days.

 

I was met with a resounding yes.

 

I have been following Dr. Lisa Gutherie’s advices on her instagram channel where she has been providing essential advice and supports to the public.

Edited March 16, 2020 by elsiegee40

[Ditto]

There are a few Edugeeker's on here that are also school governors. Working operationally at one school whilst being a governor at another can create it's challenges and requires 'hat changing' depending on which role you are performing at the time. The National Governor's Association (NGA) have provided an information sheet which is available here. The key information with regards school closure is as follows:

 

· Closing the school is an operational decision taken by school leaders not governing boards

· School leaders will most likely have a discussion with the chair of the governing board before taking their decision to close the school

· The current advice from Public Health England is that no school should close in response to a suspected (or confirmed) case of Coronavirus unless directed to do so by Public Health England or under the advice of their local Public Health protection team

[ADMaster]

Several companies are offering free resources / extended free trials. This site has made the rounds at our school, I don't know how much is US / UK / specific or general.

http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/

[jmak]

Avid software is offering Sibelius licenses for students to continue working at home during coronavirus.

 

I think your institution has to have a license and then you can get a code for students to use.

[Andycat]

Avid software is offering Sibelius licenses for students to continue working at home during coronavirus.

 

I think your institution has to have a license and then you can get a code for students to use.

 

Have you a link for this please?

[elsiegee40]

Have you a link for this please?

 

 

https://www.avid.com/covid-19

[vikpaw]

Several companies are offering free resources / extended free trials. This site has made the rounds at our school, I don't know how much is US / UK / specific or general.

http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/

 

It's not bad actually. A lot is US companies and many are free anyway, but useful for staff to consider things they may not know about but are now having to find resources / tools.

[HC_Netman]

Sanako are offering Sanako Connect for free until June 2020.

 

Looks like it could be a good tool for online language classes and it doesn't require student log in.

 

Connect Free ? Sanako

[mikes]

not sure if this is the right thread but does anyone use IMPERO and MS DirectAccess? looking for a way to connect to machines that are off-site

[jamesleonard]

Hello Edugeek community. I hope all is well. I wanted to share some of the resources we have created to assist schools to deliver distance learning during COVID19.

 

Quick links to resources:

 

Google for Education COVID-19 resource hub - primary source of information for distance learning resources

Google for Education Blog Post on Distance Learning - strategies for distance learning, with and without Google’s tools

Google for Education Blog Post on Hangouts Meet premium features - details on new premium Meet features for free

Google for Education Blog Post on preparing students to learn from home with Chromebooks

Google Chrome Enterprise Help Center for e-learning with Chromebooks - step by step and FAQs

Google for Education Distance Learning tips - hours of training lessons and resources organized by methods

Google for Education Distance Learning one-sheeter - a PDF summary of top distance learning tips

Google for Education Distance Learning webinar - register to see the recording

Google blog post on how we're continuing to help - the latest update on Google-wide efforts

 

 

 

General Information - feel free to share

 

As many educational institutions are facing or planning for closures due to COVID-19, Google for Education is providing distance learning solutions, training and resources to help them stay connected. Today, Google supports schools around the world by providingG Suite for Education, a free range of productivity tools to enable teaching & learning. These cloud-based tools (which includeGoogle Classroom, Gmail, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms) are currently used by more than 100 million teachers and students, and can be used from any device. G Suite for Education is available in44 languages.

 

Here are some additional resources around our recent effort to support educators and students globally.

 

 

• Sign up for G Suite for Education. Schools can sign up forG Suite for Education (for free) to get access to Gmail, Calendar, Classroom, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Sites, Jamboard and Hangouts Meet, and many more to help with distance learning.
  
• Distance Learning resources: This resource hub,series of blog posts, as well as a recent webinar discuss tips and best practices for distance learning. We arecollecting and sharing additional stories and strategies through ourTeacher Center and social channels includingTwitter andFacebook.
  
• Providing information on how to send school Chromebooks home for distance learning: As school admins prepare contingency plans, we’re sharing how they can quickly and securely prepare their school's Chromebooks to go home with students, with our new Help Center article on how to prepare Chromebooks for e-learning days at home.
  
• YouTube Learning Hub: In partnership with education-focused content creators on YouTube we have also launchedthe Learning Hub which we’re in the process of expanding and localizing as a destination for safe, curriculum-relevant learning content.
  
• Best practices for Hangouts Meet: If using Hangouts Meet, find best practices for setting up Meet for distance learning here.
  

 

The Google for Education blog, theGoogle for Education page for our COVID-19 resources, and @GoogleForEdu on social media are the best places to check for updates.

 

If you have ideas or suggestions for supporting distance learning with Google tools, or stories of how the tools are helping, please submit them via this suggestion form.

 

We hope these tools can be helpful to you and your school community.

[elsiegee40]

Crick Software is offering free online access to Clicker (Primary) and DocsPlus (Secondary)

 

https://www.cricksoft.com/uk/clicker/covid-19-access

Edited March 18, 2020 by elsiegee40

[elsiegee40]

BBC stepping in if schools forced to close

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/bbc-keeping-nation-informed-educated-entertained

[GrumbleDook]

Please share with your schools a site dedicated to supporting home learning, pulled together from a range of leading educationalist/teachers/suppliers.

 

http://HomeLearningUK.com

[elsiegee40]

Scholastic resources for Primary

 

“In response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the UK, Scholastic Resource Bank have put together a range of FREE home learning packs for Early Years, KS1, Lower KS2 and Upper KS2 children to help parents and teachers prepare for all eventualities”

 

Download your free resource backs below:

 

Early Years Pack: https://resource-bank.scholastic.co.uk/resources/439122

Key Stage 1 Pack: https://resource-bank.scholastic.co.uk/resources/439121

Lower Key Stage 2 Pack: https://resource-bank.scholastic.co.uk/resources/439120

Upper Key Stage 2 Pack: https://resource-bank.scholastic.co.uk/resources/439108

[steve]

Adobe Cloud Connect

 

Starting today, we’re giving our higher education and K-12 institutional customers globally — who currently make Creative Cloud apps available to students who login through on-campus labs — the ability to request temporary “at-home” access for their students and educators. This will be granted through May 31, 2020 at no additional cost. To learn more and request access, please follow this link.

 

https://theblog.adobe.com/adobe-enables-distance-learning-globally-schools-impacted-covid-19/

[6Foot2]

Link 1: School Closure for Parents

 

Link 2: School Closure for Teachers

 

Information during COVID-19 school closures.

[caffrey]

Has anyone a good easy to use resource for using Gsuite for earlier years and parents with little to no IT skills

 

I really haven't got the time to write one

[Ditto]

As governors, we are using the schools Office 365. We are supporting the head and leadership team as much as possible. Does anyone know if I can work out which license we are on, as an end user. I will be able to find out from the school technician in due course, but we are giving the staff space to do a lot of planning right now, so trying to see if I can find out independently.

 

*** EDIT *** For anyone else, it's under My Account -> subscriptions. Tip to self - Google first, then ask!

Edited March 19, 2020 by Ditto

[mikeprice]

Has anyone a good easy to use resource for using Gsuite for earlier years and parents with little to no IT skills

 

 

I really haven't got the time to write one

 

See if this is of any use - from TES website - dunno if you need an account or not https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/covid-19-home-learning-pack-year-1-parents-teachers-carers-12267194

 

It downloads a free pdf - could it be printed - or make it editable and they could fill it in

[Ditto]

Has anyone a good easy to use resource for using Gsuite for earlier years and parents with little to no IT skills

I really haven't got the time to write one

I agree with @mikeprice, you need to get the teachers up to speed and let them drive it from their. I'd thoroughly recommend this EdTechTeam.

https://www.edtechteam.online/distance-learning. I think they are offering free courses - certainly worth getting everyone with little experience through the 'Basics' course.

[TMBS]

Has anyone a good easy to use resource for using Gsuite for earlier years and parents with little to no IT skills

 

I really haven't got the time to write one

 

These user guides are good, not aimed at early years but their parents:

 

https://support.google.com/a/users/?hl=en#topic=9296556

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/eduatgoogle

 

Personally, I wouldn't rush into setting up new systems for staff, parents, students who have not used them before. Stick to what you've got and what then know, otherwise you'll end up with a bunch of problems

[caffrey]

It's for parents too, why on earth they are asking me this today I've no idea - I'm frustrated with it all, it's not like this thing happened overnight....

 

Found some youtube videos like this one which could be useful

 

 

[caffrey]

These user guides are good, not aimed at early years but their parents:

 

https://support.google.com/a/users/?hl=en#topic=9296556

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/eduatgoogle

 

Personally, I wouldn't rush into setting up new systems for staff, parents, students who have not used them before. Stick to what you've got and what then know, otherwise you'll end up with a bunch of problems

 

 

I've already given that url out for people but apparently this has to be easier than that

[mikeprice]

I've already given that url out for people but apparently this has to be easier than that

 

put a link on the school website maybe??

 

if they can't manage to find the school website and click on a link then anything else is probably not going to work either

 

or they are just looking for any excuse to not have to do any parenting such as educating their kids - so it ain't gonna happen anyway!