Online Learning Network

Online and Blended Learning Extravaganza

Candace Girard

Candace@CandaceGirard.com

@CandaceGirard

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature with Technology

Candace Girard

“Instructional Continuity”

That Sounds Serious…

It does NOT sound fun!

But it really just means keeping your class on schedule during disruptive times (this might mean weather events, or it might mean widespread illness – anything that keeps the students from coming to class).

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Snow’s Coming!

Get Your Bread And Milk!

Just as you would prepare your home and family for a snowstorm, you can also prepare your class. Plan ways and learn tools that allow you to do things remotely so that Mother Nature will not wreak havoc with your schedule.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Your Schedule Is Slipping…

Better Tuck That In!

It’s hard enough to stay on track as it is. It’s really hard to do if you are missing multiple days. Use the data analytics from previous classes to determine what areas to really focus on with remote content.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

There Is More Than One Way To Skin A Cat…

Or To Learn From A MOOC

You can enroll in a MOOC class, not just to learn about that topic, but to see how they structure the content for online delivery. Go through a few from different organizations and see what you like.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Blend ItFlip It

Snow Day It

If you are already incorporating ‘blended learning’ or ‘flipped classroom’ concepts and technology into your classroom, then you are already well on your way. Snow day learning is really very similar (you have permission to play with your phone for the rest

of this presentation).

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Content:

Be Seen, Be Heard

There are various ways to deliver content remotely. There are free tools to help you record video or audio for the students to watch or listen to. Just keep it short and digestible (a few minutes for each clip).

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Interaction:

Give And Take

There are ways to generate remote interaction. You can set up a webinar with breakout rooms and white boards – and have the groups come back together and share their work with the virtual class.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Assessments:

Assess The Situation

There are online quiz tools that allow you to configure for timed or untimed exams, with multiple attempts, and instant feedback.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Submissions:

Take It All In

Have students email their work on snow days, or use collaboration sites to post papers and projects. You can set it up so that they can see each other’s work, or not, work together on presentations, or not.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Learning Management Systems And Class Websites:

A Little Or A Lot

You can have a single page with announcements or you can do a class that is fully integrated in the LMS with all of the bells and whistles, or somewhere in the middle.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Classroom Response Systems:

Interaction From The Couch

There are tools that allow you to take attendance remotely, deliver questions synchronously or asynchronously, anonymous or not, or take a poll like we are doing at this conference.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Communication:

Everybody On The Same Page

This is key. The students need to know what is expected of them. If you want them to do something on a snow day, then they need to know that, so set the expectation. Make sure the parents know as well.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Technology Coaches:

Let Them Inspire And Guide You

That’s what they are there for. They have all this expertise and access to tools - and they are bursting to share it with you. They want you to be successful. They can get you deals. Lean on them.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Teacher Practice:

Let’s Not Embarrass Ourselves

Vendors will often give you a 30 day free trial period. Use that time to get used to a new tool. Don’t try to wing it with new technology in front of the class (that doesn’t always go well). Practice ahead. Avoid stress.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Student Practice:

Do A Dress Rehearsal

Just like you need to practice with new tools, so do they. If you want them working remotely on a snow day, declare a fake snow day, and have them do all their work in school that day on their devices, with you right there to assist if necessary.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Be Flexible

Stick With What Works,Toss What Doesn’t

The technology should make it easier, not harder. If a tool is more trouble than it’s worth, ditch it. If you waste the first twenty minutes of a webinar fighting with audio, it’s not worth it.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day

Your Snow Day Plan Won’t Be, Either

Take time now to start thinking about it, while it’s hot and sunny –

don’t wait till the snow is piled up at the door and the students are at home.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Don’t Use Technology Just For The Sake Of Using It

Use It To Solve A Problem

Where have we heard this before? Ms. O’Brien made this same point in her keynote yesterday – and it bears repeating, especially as we make our way through that big expo hall with all the shiny products and convincing salesmen.

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard

Takeaway:We Can Outwit Mother Nature…

We Have The Technology

Snow Days: Outwit Mother Nature With Technology @candacegirard