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

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Send them a download link to Open Office?

[caffrey]

Send them a download link to Open Office?

 

I've thought of that, and I've also advised installing the editing for office docs on Google apps - but they say the formatting keeps messing up

 

*edit* forgot to mention - this is a PE teacher

Edited April 24, 2020 by caffrey

[elsiegee40]

New DfE guidance: Safeguarding and remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

[elsiegee40]

New DfE guidance: Remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

[elsiegee40]

New DfE guidance: Managing school premises during the coronavirus outbreak

 

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures

[6Foot2]

Link: Paper Airplane Designs

 

A database of paper airplanes with easy to follow folding instructions, video tutorials and printable folding plans. Find the best paper airplanes that fly the furthest and stay aloft the longest.

 

 

There are video instructions for each design:

 

[elsiegee40]

Template AUP for Remote Learning and Online Communication

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/school-ict-policies/214999-acceptable-use-policy-remote-learning-online-communication.html#post1839537

[gilesrhysjones]

What3words has put together a free pack of educational and fun activities, worksheets and videos that you might like and find useful!

https://what3words.com/learning-activities/

Edited May 1, 2020 by elsiegee40

[6Foot2]

Link: Grants for schools [Kellogs.co.uk]

 

We’re offering your school the opportunity to apply for a grant of £1000 to help fund your breakfast club. A limited number of grants are available so priority will be given to those schools that have 35% and above of children in receipt of pupil premium funding. To apply for a grant click here.

 

UPDATE: During the Covid 19 schools shutdown, the Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Programme will prioritise schools who remain open to vulnerable children and the families of key workers. Please complete the form as usual and in the section ‘Tell us about your breakfast club’ please just give a brief overview of who you are supporting and what breakfast provision you want to make.

 

Please note that if you are a school who has remained open, the previous criteria does not apply.

 

[TMBS]

Amazon are now offering lessons for Computer Science students in coding:

 

https://www.amazonfutureengineer.co.uk/

 

I've had a play, it's a really good starter!

[6Foot2]

Link: Word Search

 

We have the best collection of word search puzzles online, with new ones being added regularly.

 

They are fun to play, but also educational, in fact, many teachers make use of them.

 

Every puzzle is 100% free to play and you can even go old school and print them to enjoy offline later.

 

Plus, if you're feeling a little more adventurous, why not create your very own with our simple to use Word Search Maker, and then share them with your friends.

 

To get started playing, just select a game from below. Best of luck.

 

[6Foot2]

Link 1: Kids Can Learn At Home with Read Along by Google [The Keyword]

 

With many students currently at home due to school closures, families around the globe are looking for ways to help children grow their reading skills. To support families, today we're sharing early access to Read Along by Google. It’s an Android app for children 5+ years old that helps them learn to read by giving verbal and visual feedback as they read stories out loud.

 

Read Along uses Google's speech recognition technology to help develop literacy skills, and first launched in India (where it is available as “Bolo”). After receiving encouraging feedback from parents, we’re excited to share this app with more young learners around the globe.

 

Read Along is now available in over 180 countries and in nine languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese and Hindi. Read Along will continue to improve as we receive feedback from families, expanding the selection of books and adding more features.

 

How Read Along works

 

Read Along helps kids independently learn and build their reading skills with the help of an in-app reading buddy named Diya. As kids read out loud, Diya uses Google’s text-to-speech and speech recognition technology to detect if a student is struggling or successfully reading the passage. She gives them positive and reinforcing feedback along the way, just as a parent or teacher would. Children can also tap Diya at any time for help pronouncing a word or a sentence.

 

Read Along keeps young minds engaged with a collection of diverse and interesting stories from around the world, and games sprinkled into those stories. Kids can collect stars and badges as they learn, which motivates them to keep playing and reading.

 

Parents can create profiles for multiple readers, who tap on their photo to learn at their own pace and to track their individual progress. Read Along will personalize the experience by recommending the right difficulty level of stories and games based on their reading level performance.

 

Safety and connectivity

 

Read Along was built with childrens' safety and privacy in mind, and has no ads or in-app purchases. And after the initial download of the app and stories, Read Along works offline without Wi-Fi or data—helping with worries about unsupervised access to the Internet. Parents can simply connect to Wi-Fi periodically to download additional stories.

 

Read Along is also easy to start and doesn’t require sign in. Even the voice data is analyzed in real time on the device—so that it works offline—and is not sent to any Google servers.

 

Families can download Read Along for their Android devices by visiting the Play Store. To help us continue to improve the experience, we want to hear your feedback at [email protected].

 

Link 2: Read Along by Google: A fun reading app (Early Access) [Google Play]

 

This app is in development. It may be unstable.

[6Foot2]

Link: Can You Save The World? by Martin Jacob

 

Go through a city while social distancing, and save millions of lives!

 

Have fun while giving a hand in our current crisis.

 

[jmak]

DfE guidance for schools opening for early years and KS1:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-early-years-and-childcare-settings-from-1-june

 

At least they gave everyone a full week to comply....

[Ditto]

DfE guidance for schools opening for early years and KS1:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-early-years-and-childcare-settings-from-1-june

 

At least they gave everyone a full week to comply....

Assuming they don't rest on Sunday and take the Bank Holiday off...

[bitznpcz]

DfE guidance for schools opening for early years and KS1:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-early-years-and-childcare-settings-from-1-june

 

At least they gave everyone a full week to comply....

There's no specific guidelines on cleaning keyboards, tablets, touch screens, mice etc. As we all know, these generally carry more germs than a toilet seat!

[Keith-Johnson]

There's a 10-page PDF on 'Timetabling for Social Distancing in Schools' at: Social Distancing & Covid-19 - TimeTabler

It's up to version-4 now.

[fiza]

Sorry if it's already been asked but has anyone done or been provided with a risk assessment for providing IT Support in Schools? We have a Primary School which we need to provide support for and it is not our main place of work. If anyone has an example would be much appreciated.

[GrumbleDook]

Sorry if it's already been asked but has anyone done or been provided with a risk assessment for providing IT Support in Schools? We have a Primary School which we need to provide support for and it is not our main place of work. If anyone has an example would be much appreciated.

 

Is this a risk assessment for physically being on-site, managing social distancing and dealing with objects that may transmit infection?

 

I'd strongly recommend review of the HSE guidance.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/index.htm#

[DrBeaker]

Has anybody got any links or resources for PowerPoints for Coronavirus resources e.g. showing on TVs around the school, student desktops etc? That they've used? Has anybody actually paid attention to them?

 

Social distancing, 2m apart, hand washing etc?

[Keith-Johnson]

The PDF on 'Timetabling for Social Distancing in Schools' at: Social Distancing & Covid-19 - TimeTabler

is up to version-6 now.

[MrBitey]

Come September we are going to have all of the (Primary aged) children back. Our Computing lessons are delivered in out ICT suite. 30 machines on 4 long benches sideways on to the IWB at the front. Side by side, The gap between each keyboard is about 30 cm. The two centre benches are facing each other but I can increase the width so that there is just over a 2m gap between the children who are facing each other. At the moment we are not quite sure how to get the room working safely in September. I'm particularly keen to ensure it is nice and safe as I teach most of the lessons and am on immunosuppressant drugs. How is it looking for the rest of you with regards to IT suits etc.? Any brilliant solutions out there?

[HarryMonkey]

We have a few rooms with PCs facing. Our DT dept are busy installing plastic screens between the rows.

 

[Ditto]

We have a few rooms with PCs facing. Our DT dept are busy installing plastic screens between the rows.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]58622[/ATTACH]

I can see that might offer some protection as it mitigates against face-to-face risk, but with the closeness of pupils sitting either side of each other, should there be screening there too? I note the DfE guidance doesn't mention screening (apart from Phonics screening, but that's another matter!). Shop guidance does, and describes it as a means to separate each other as part of the 'plus' on 1m+ guidance.

[Ditto]

Come September we are going to have all of the (Primary aged) children back. Our Computing lessons are delivered in out ICT suite. 30 machines on 4 long benches sideways on to the IWB at the front. Side by side, The gap between each keyboard is about 30 cm. The two centre benches are facing each other but I can increase the width so that there is just over a 2m gap between the children who are facing each other. At the moment we are not quite sure how to get the room working safely in September. I'm particularly keen to ensure it is nice and safe as I teach most of the lessons and am on immunosuppressant drugs. How is it looking for the rest of you with regards to IT suits etc.? Any brilliant solutions out there?

Do you mind me asking if you are on the 'shielding' list - have you been notified as vulnerable or extremely vulnerable? It sounds as though you have some options that are good for the pupils, but with the drugs you are prescribed, I think your employer needs to discuss your needs in detail. From a H&S point of view and duty of care, I think it appropriate to look at options for with your HR and/or business manager. For guidance, if you haven't seen it already, see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools. It you are in the extremely vulnerable group, follow the link in the document for further advice.