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Educator Temporary School Closure for Online Learning

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This group is for international educators who are on prolonged online learning due to school closures for COV19. It is hoped this will be a short term community support group for the next few weeks

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This is a good graphic walking teacher through the process of instructional design. It includes great reflection questions.

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Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing

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Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, conference, huddle, and training rooms, as well as executive offices and classrooms. Founded in 2011, Zoom helps businesses and organizations bring their teams together in a frictionless environment to get more done.

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Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions

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Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions

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Here is a list of useful resources for those in MS/HS who are teaching virtually.

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When we're working on a virtual team, it can be extra challenging to get to know our teammates. This can leave some employees feeling disconnected and lead to loneliness in the remote workplace. In order for a team to thrive together, it's important that they also jive together. Building trust and camaraderie amongst co-workers will help foster a sense of community, which in turn, will help teams flourish. That's why we've created an extensive list of icebreakers for virtual teams.

Don't let distance get in the way of bringing your team together

With the right setup, online meetings aren't difficult and they are a great way to bring everyone together. Although it might take a little extra planning at first, there are plenty of activities that will help remote teams feel more connected.

Virtual icebreakers are mini team-building exercises that help us get to know our remote colleagues. They're quick and fun questions, intended to lighten the mood, spark conversation, and get everybody talking and participating from the very get-go.

Why use icebreakers for virtual teams?

Icebreakers are useful for a variety of reasons:

1. They create an opportunity for everyone to speak at the start of the meeting, which, science shows, greatly increases the chances of everyone speaking up again DURING the meeting.

2. They give you insight into your teammates' personalities or moods.

3. Over time, icebreakers can help you get to know people and add a layer of fun that helps the team bond in a very unique way. Suddenly "Bob from engineering" is "Bob from engineering whose favorite food is pizza, whose favorite smell is the rain and who wants to build a canoe."

Although virtual icebreakers can be a lot of fun, they're not appropriate for every meeting. It's important that you identify your audience first.
Types of Virtual icebreakers
CHECK IN PROTOCOL
The Jim and Michele McCarthy check-in protocol allows meeting participant to say how he or she is feeling, e.g. "I feel one or more of mad, sad, glad, or afraid." Or my traffic light is "red, yellow, or green". Anything that indicates how someone might be feeling.
PERSONALITY TESTS
There are a variety of personality tests that can give you insight into how each personality operates.

Myers & Briggs uses four psychological preferences to analyze personality.

How to Fascinate shows what strengths you would use to market yourself.

WorkStyle is an online tool that measures employees' personalities and then generates profiles for each employee and the team as a whole.

VIRTUAL TEAM ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS

If you're looking for a fun way to start a remote meeting, try any of the following icebreaker questions (listed in no particular order):

1. Tell us about a favorite moment of [insert any time frame]?

2. What was your first job?

3. What is your favorite food? Drink?

4. Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?

5. Do you have a favorite smell?

6. Have you got any pets?

7. What is your favorite color?

8. Show your home on google maps and describe your environment: do you live near the city center? A park? A climbing gym? (courtesy of Morgan Legge)

9. What is your favorite movie?

10. Do you have a favorite music group, era or album?

11. When I dance I look like _______.

12. Share a favorite memory that includes food (courtesy of Sarah Baca)

13. Is there a story about your name? (courtesy of Dr. Clue)

14. Take a picture from your window and have people guess where you are.

15. Show any photo from your life and tell the story behind it.

Want more ideas for icebreakers to try out with your teams? Download our virtual team icebreakers list below to get access to hundreds of icebreaker ideas!

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When we're working on a virtual team, it can be extra challenging to get to know our teammates. This can leave some employees feeling disconnected and lead to loneliness in the remote workplace. In order for a team to thrive together, it's important that they also jive together.

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Following Twitter hashtag #teachingduringcoronavirus

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Covid 19 has educators and educational institutions worried about and preparing for possible school closures. What happens if students have to stay home for days or even weeks? How can we keep them learning remotely? What strategies and technology tools can teachers leverage to take their traditional classes online?

I have fielded multiple questions about the best ways to engage students and leverage online learning tools if schools close for a period of time. Despite the fear and anxiety that accompanies a health emergency or a natural disaster, both of which have the potential to close schools, learning does not have to stop because kids are at home.

bit.ly/PrepOnlineLesson

Everyone is in a different place when it comes to lesson design and navigating technology. I have recorded a video overview for each stage of the 5 Es instructional model for teachers who need additional support in designing an online lesson. I also include quick introductions to some of the technology tools that pair nicely with each stage of the 5 Es.

Below is a template that teachers can use to create their online lessons using the 5 Es instructional model. I encourage teachers to visit the Hyperdoc website and check out the templates and already-created lessons available for teachers. Lisa Highfill, Kelly Hilton, and Sarah Landis are the authors of The Hyperdoc Handbook and have created a website full of free resources for teachers.

The beauty of building an online lesson using a Google document, like the one pictured above, is that teachers can create different versions of the same lesson. This allows them to subtly differentiate the content of the lesson. Readings, videos, and activities can be customized for learners at different levels, and the various versions of the lesson can be shared quickly via Google Classroom.

As teachers face uncertainty, I encourage them to leverage the power of technology to keep students engaged in inquiry, collaboration, and learning online.

This entry was posted in Learning. Bookmark the permalink.

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Tips for Designing an Online Lesson Using the 5 Es Instructional Model

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Covid 19 has educators and educational institutions worried about and preparing for possible school closures. What happens if students have to stay home for days or even weeks? How can we keep them learning remotely? What strategies and technology tools

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How would you feel if someone said you need to change your whole approach to teaching immediately? Imagine if, instead of interacting face to face with students in your classroom, you had to create and deliver a virtual program.

Perhaps you'd feel nervous? Overwhelmed? Excited? Unqualified? Inspired? Or perhaps plain lost.

Online learning is fast becoming a reality for hundreds of millions of students worldwide. Teachers, students, families, administrators, departments, and whole communities are being forced to respond and adapt quickly.

Referring to COVID-19 (coronavirus), UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay recently announced,

...the global scale and speed of the current educational disruption is unparalleled and, if prolonged, could threaten the right to education.

Perhaps your school is already closed or planning to close. Maybe there are no signs of school closures but no one has a crystal ball to predict the future. It's never too soon to calmly plan and prepare.

Think there's no chance your school will close? In mid-February, China was the only country mandating school closures. By March 13, 61 countries have implemented school closures. Things are changing rapidly and exponentially.

Want a live update on school closures across the globe? Check out UNESCO's tally.

What's In This Post?

Our guide will give you insights into how educators around the world are approaching school closures.

Thousands of teachers worldwide are currently sharing snippets of their experiences via social media or their blogs. We've compiled, curated, and built on some common themes and ideas to create this extensive guide.
Click on the links in the menu below to help you navigate the post.
This post also includes a range of useful graphics to help you that you're free to use and share. Here's a sneak peek of some:

Let's dive right in to the resources!

Daily Structure Options

The first question educators might be asking themselves is what does a "school day" look like when it's no longer happening in a school?

Let's talk about timetables, hours, and the overall structure you might implement.

In most cases, your school day will have to be based on technology although some departments, such as New York, are open to the option of mailing out work the old fashioned way. This is a good fallback if technology can't be used but you may not want to get into the habit of only handing out packets (worksheets) if you can avoid it.

📌Note: It's important to find out about students' technology/internet access at home and we have a Google Form survey you can adapt to survey your parents towards the end of the post.

The old fashioned approach can also work well to complement online learning and is important for younger students. Check out the fabulous "Learning Boxes" staff in Vietnam put together for their young learners.

We'll discuss many useful technology tools further on.

The issue of daily structure and timetables is a major consideration and some schools are constantly tweaking their approaches.

Do you stick to your regular school timetable? You could, but many schools are finding a modified approach is more realistic.

Lessons can take longer for students to complete at home for many reasons including:

Technology difficulties

No teacher guidance to keep students on track, engaged, and informed

A busy household (multiple family members and responsibilities)

Varying degrees of parent/caregiver involvement (there can be barriers like language, competence with technology and the curriculum, parenting younger children, or trying to keep up with work responsibilities)

Illness (let's not forget the reason for the school closures)

Some teachers are finding what they could get done in one period of class requires two periods when it's online.

Consider a "Percentage" Approach

Most teachers who have some experience with online schooling realize that the pace is slower and expectations need to be reduced.

Some teachers provide and expect a certain percentage of the normal student workload. For example, an elementary student might have a 50% workload, although a senior high school student may be given a 90% workload.

Suggesting a percentage might give teachers and families a ballpark if they're wondering what to expect.

Synchronous or Asynchronous Learning?

A question that may come up a lot as you plan and tweak your approach to online learning is whether your program will be synchronous or asynchronous. That is, whether it will be conducted in real-time or whether students will complete tasks according to their own schedules.

Here's a quick comparison:

You might find a mix of both is a useful strategy. Your own unique situation, including your students' age, might have a big impact on this decision too.

For some families, asynchronous learning can be more convenient: if parents are working, they may have more time to support/supervise student learning outside of business hours.

Other schools are finding synchronous learning is a powerful way to keep the class connected.

If your teaching and learning program involves video then you'll once again face the question of synchronous (e.g. live conferencing) or asynchronous (pre-recorded videos or screencasts).

We'll dive in to the video options further on, however, let's take a quick look at how some teachers are weaving conferences and recorded videos into their weekly schedules:

Examples of how Video Conferences are Being Used:

A 10 minute video conference to begin the day.

A whole class video conference at regular times during the week (e.g. 30 minutes every Monday and Friday afternoon).

A whole class video conference to introduce important lessons or projects.

A video conference to check in with each individual student each week.

On-demand video conferencing - students can sign up during a teacher's "office hours" if they want to book a session.

Small group video conferences for students with similar needs.

Optional "live recess" to allow students to connect and hang out.

Examples of how Screencasts or Recorded Videos are Being Used:

A video introduction or screencast for key lessons (might not be possible for all lessons).

A short welcome video each morning and/or reflection video each afternoon.

A screencast to offer feedback on student work and progress.

Student created screencasts to demonstrate learning.

Let's look at some specific options for daily timetables.

More Flexible Option: Distribute a Daily "To Do List"

When schools decide on expectations, they often need to consider whether they should give lesson guidelines that can be completed at any time, or stick to a traditional structure.

For example, if you were offering a flexible program, you could build on a checklist like this:
Today you need to complete:
It's optional whether you give an actual time requirement (e.g. 30 minutes) or just a task, however, a time suggestion can be helpful so students don't spend either all day working, or not enough time on task.

More Structured Option: Distribute a Timetable

Alternatively, students might be issued with a structured timetable that all students will complete at the same time, e.g.

9am - 9:45am reading

10am - 10.45am writing

10.45am - 11.30am recess

11.30am - 12.15pm science

12.30pm - 1.15pm math

1.30pm - 2.15pm lunch

2.30pm - 3.30pm catch up/specialist subjects

Factoring in time for catching up seems to be proving extremely useful for many schools. You might schedule learning activities in the morning and leave the afternoons free for catching up and offline pursuits. Alternatively, you could schedule one day a week for completing unfinished work or even have a weekly "screen-free" day.

Rather than a daily approach, some schools are taking the whole week into account and giving projects or assignments that need to be completed or worked on over 5 days. Based on progress, a new plan might then be made for the following week.

Example: Kindergarten

Ashley in the middle east is not doing any live teaching via video conference due to cultural and religious reasons.

Ashley's team sends a weekly plan to the parents of their kindergarten students along with a suggested timetable. There are no expectations that the timetable is followed exactly due to parents working and a variety of family situations.

The planners are given out two weeks in advance to help families plan ahead. The links to learning tasks go to YouTube videos and Ashley's Office 365 cloud account of activities or readings. Ashley's kindergarten class also uses Flipgrid.

Example: 5th Grade

Laura Faulk at ASIJ (American School in Japan) is a 5th grade teacher who has recently started teaching online.

Her team created a daily planner using Google Docs. They share it each morning on a website that was created for their new distance learning program.

They are currently surveying families to find out whether they'd like to have the planner in advance.

The Google Doc planner has links to all the students' classroom and specialist work. The students are given a guide as to how long to spend on each activity.

The ASIJ team adapted their ideas from the work of Hong Kong International School (HKIS have a fantastic home learning website that is worth checking out too!).

You can follow Laura and her team on Twitter (@asij_g5).

Help Students Plan Their Day

Some teachers, especially those who are giving out ongoing assignments or projects, encourage their students to plan out their own days. You could give them ideas or a template.

Here is an example which you're welcome to copy and adapt,

People seemed to like the student planners a non-twitter teacher created for our #continuouslearning students, so here is blank version. Feel free to make a copy and make your own! https://t.co/3ZzKKpUA2F
- Rebekah Madrid (@ndbekah) March 5, 2020
Instructions for use:

1. Click here to open the Google Doc

2. Go to File > Make a copy

3. Type a name and choose where to save it

4. Click Ok

5. You'll then find an editable copy of the Google Doc in your Google Drive

How do you Plan an Online Lesson?

Once you have ideas on how your school day will be structured, you might start zooming in to the planning of actual lessons.

What do lessons look like when they're online rather than face to face?

Despite being physically distant from your students, you still want to be as present as possible virtually. Online teaching and learning isn't a "set and forget" situation.

Like all lessons, you may want to start with learning outcomes, and possibly success criteria (your school might already have a framework for this). The delivery of the lesson will be the part that might just look a bit different.

Remember, there's nothing wrong with keeping your lessons quite simple, and in many cases they'll be similar to what you'd do in the classroom, perhaps with more autonomy and technology.

For example, your normal lesson structure might involve a warm up, revision, an explanation, student activity that aligns to outcomes, then reflection. The same sort of structure is possible with virtual lessons.

5E Model for Creating Online Lessons

Have you heard of the 5Es framework? It's an instructional model that's been around for 20+ years. Using the model, teaching and learning progresses through five phases: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.

Author and educator, Catlin Tucker has published a post called, Tips for Designing an Online Lesson Using the 5 Es Instructional Model.

In her post, Catlin provides a simple framework that shows how the 5Es can be used to create online lessons. Catlin has also recorded a video for each "E" that explains the model further.

While the 5Es approach is far from the only way you can go about designing online lessons, it may be a useful framework for those who don't know where to start.

💡 Catlin also shares a good tip about using Google Docs to share lessons with students. Google Docs are easy to copy and edit. That means teachers can create different versions of the same lesson with minimal work. Any suggested videos, readings, or activities can be differentiated to meet the individual needs of learners.

Useful Online Tools

For some teachers, the technology part of virtual learning will be the scariest obstacle. Before we dive in to useful options, take a deep breath and remember:

Less can be more: you don't need to be using a huge range of different tools.

Start with tools students and teachers are already familiar with: there are probably some technology tools, apps, or platforms you've used in class that can be useful.

Remember, despite technology being a crucial tool for most closed schools, teaching and learning isn't about the technology. Try to focus on the core business of schools: relationships and learning.

Virtual Home Base or Online Platform: 3 Step Approach

There are some awesome tools out there for learning and creativity but first consider what you'll be using as your home base. When your classroom and school assembly halls aren't in use, your virtual hubs are more important than ever.

What will communication look like and where will learning take place? Here are three common steps you might see:

1. Communication will probably begin with information from the school district or state education department.

2. Then a school website might provide an overview of your plan for the whole community. (Need a better school website? CampusPress can help with that!).

3. From there, you could have individual class blogs or other approaches like a learning management system (e.g. Moodle, Canvas, or Google Classroom), a Facebook group (for older learners), Slack, or Seesaw.

Read on for more information and examples of this three-step approach.

1) District/State Education Department

Let's zoom out for a moment. When a school is to be closed and learning is transitioning to online, the first step is often clear communication from the top level - your district or state education department (if your school falls under one of these authorities).

Here's an example from Northshore District School in Washington state. They published a blog post on their district website to inform everyone in the school community of school closures.

It's an honest and dynamic announcement as they're still figuring out arrangements. The beauty of blog posts is you can keep publishing as more information is made available.

Of course, a blog post or website update may be followed up with a direct notification to families to ensure the news is received (e.g. SMS or email).

2) School Website or School Blog

A school website (or temporary site) can be an important next piece in the puzzle. It can provide an overview of your plan for the whole community to ensure everyone is on the same page, knows what to do, and knows where to seek help.

Website Example: YIS Continuous Learning Plan

Yokohama International School (YIS) in Japan has been closed since early March. They're becoming leaders in the community of global educators scrambling to find out how to approach school closures.

YIS has created a website to communicate a clear approach to their changed schooling format,

Although campus is temporarily closed, "school" continues as we engage students with experiences that continue the planned learning program and help them to stay connected with teachers and classmates. These learning experiences offer authentic opportunities to focus on key concepts, knowledge, and skills. They emphasize interaction and creativity, and involve a balance of on-screen and off-screen tasks that help connect to previous learning and the current curriculum.

Vice principal, Rebekah Madrid, explains the choice of the term "continuous learning",

For the first day, people weren't sure what we meant by "continuous learning". But now it makes sense for us. We didn't want online (because not always online) and we didn't want distant (because that's not the vibe we wanted). So continuous worked for us.
- Rebekah Madrid (@ndbekah) March 3, 2020

3) Classroom Hub: Blog, LMS, or Other Online Community

The third step is an online hub where you can distribute student learning tasks, share resources, gather feedback, and keep everyone in the loop.

While you could just email out assignments to students, there may be better options (emails can be better for one on one communication; they can get lost and can be hard to refer back to.).

You might already be using a learning management system or other platform (e.g. Seesaw, Slack, Google Classroom) at school that you can continue to use after your school closes. If so, there is probably no need to reinvent the wheel! Go with what you and your students know.

But maybe you don't have a place set up already where you can post learning tasks and resources that students can use on a daily basis.

A blog is a free, basic, and flexible tool to choose.

Here are some reasons why you might consider a blog as your online classroom while your school is closed:

A blog is a space you can own (you don't have control over some online spaces like social media).

It's a place where all the bits and pieces you create and explore in the online and offline world can be housed.

Blogs aren't just text and images, you can include videos, slideshows, infographics, podcasts, posters, polls, charts and more. Here are just six tools that allow you to create interactive learning content for your blog (online worksheets, games, and so on).

Blog content can be organized in a systematic way and searched for as needed.

Comments and forums allow two-way interaction.

Blogs can be public or private (learn more about the pros, cons, and options in this article).

💡 We have a post that compiles some examples of class blogs from a range of age groups and locations. You'll notice that there is a lot of flexibility in the way blogs are used.

Class Blog And/Or Student Blogs?

You might be only interested in having a class blog to share learning resources and so on. Alternatively, you might want all students to use their own blog to complete learning tasks, publish online, reflect on their experience privately, or even connect with the world.

My Class is a free management tool from Edublogs that brings a class blog and all your student blogs/accounts together. It makes it easier for teachers to set up and monitor their classroom blogging program.

Learn more about My Class in this post.

Example: Art Blog

Here is an example of a fantastic blog with lessons for home art activities by Chris Gadbury.

One of the great things about the blogging community is you cannot only make your own blog but benefit from other educators' blogs as well!

Want To Start Blogging But Not Sure How?

Check out our Blogging 101 page. It includes a 15-minute tutorial video and all the help guides you'll need to get going!

Educators and students can set up as many blogs as they need using Edublogs for free (no ads or time limits). Compare all the features here.

The Student Blogging Challenge Begins March 15

Since 2008, the Student Blogging Challenge has run twice a year. It's a way for students around the world to learn about blogging while connecting with a global audience.

The challenge is like an online course that you can assign to students (minimal work for teachers!). It runs for 9 weeks and is free, flexible, and fun.

If you have students aged between about 8 and 16 and you're interested in finding out more about the challenge, check out this post.

Latecomers welcome! Registrations close April 5.

Videos And Online Learning

You can come up with fantastic tasks for students to work on at home but your program will run so much better if students can still feel your presence as a teacher. Videos are such an important part of online learning and a great way to maintain relationships.

Your familiar face will grab students' attention while building engagement and understanding.

Nervous about being on camera? Don't worry! Just start small. It will be worth it. Many teachers are nervous to start and want to re-do their video over and over (some students are like this too!). It won't take long for you to realize your videos don't have to be perfect and students will appreciate your efforts.

Let's take a look at some options.

Synchronous or Asynchronous Videos

There are two main options for sharing videos with your learners:

Synchronously: That means real-time streaming. It could be a live stream (like on YouTube) or an interactive video conference (like on Zoom).

Some synchronous videos can be recorded so they can be viewed again at a later date. This is useful if students can't attend the live stream, they have technology issues, or need to revise the content.

Asynchronously: That means you record videos that can be viewed (and reviewed) when it suits the student. Your videos could be a simple "piece to camera" or a screencast.

Screencasting is where you narrate a video recording of your computer screen. Sometimes it's just audio and sometimes you can see your face in the video as well.

The benefit of asynchronous videos is there are no time pressures, however, the connections that can be formed in synchronous video conferences can't be underestimated.

Popular Tools for Synchronous (Live) Video Conferences

There are many tools out there that allow you to connect with students via video. This can really help to unite the class.

Three of the most popular video-conferencing options for teachers and schools include:

Zoom - Robust software designed exclusively for video conferencing.

Google Hangouts Meet- The evolved version of classic Hangouts that's part of G Suite.

Microsoft Teams - Communication and collaboration platform that's part of Office 365.

They are all simply ways to have a video conference with screen sharing capabilities.

The teacher can start the conference and share the access link with the students.

Students can access the conference at the specified time using any device (e.g. laptop or tablet).

Some users like to use external microphones, headphones, or webcams, however, the camera and microphone attached to your device are probably fine for getting started.

Here is a quick comparison of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Hangouts Meet:

Notes on Live Video Tools:

Principal at International School of Dongguan, Todd Brink, suggested that, "One-on-one, small group, or whole group sessions are a must. Just like the classroom!" Video conferencing software allows these sorts of options.

One teacher mentioned that they find Google Hangouts Meet offers students too much freedom, for example, students could mute or remove other participants from the room. Apparently, the workaround is to invite your students to join using the invitation link instead of directly adding them to the meeting.

Some teachers are also experimenting with live streaming on YouTube. For teenagers, it's a platform they're already really familiar with and they can comment in real-time.

Example Video Conferences From Teachers

Teachers at American International School of Guangzhou are doing a fantastic job of setting up engaging video conferences using Zoom.

Here are two examples that were recently shared on Twitter,

Using #zoom_us to create a collaborative story this morning ... once we had our order, can we work together to build a story one word a time? A myth about an earthquake that goes with our #unitofinquiry #howtheworldworks ? Even better! #AISGZ #onlinelearning #virtuallearning pic.twitter.com/W4EvYnGK2B
- Katie Robbins (@krobbins84) March 5, 2020

Another #zoom meeting with second graders. I think they only come to see a mess I make doing my science experiments. Today there were beans spilled all over my coffee table and the smell of vinegar is overpowering. Science #onlinelearning is still fun. #aisgz #pypchat #sciencefun pic.twitter.com/XSjc19ltCQ
- Inga Bela (@inga_bela) March 5, 2020

Popular Tools for Recording Asynchronous Videos and Screencasts

There are a number of tools available to record screencasts. Like many online tools there are free plans and paid plans.

Let's compare four of the most popular screencasting tools teachers are using for recording lessons.

This chart compares the features of the free plans (paid plans have more features).

Note: As of March 12, Loom Pro is now free for teachers and students forever. The chart below has been updated.

Notes On Screencasting Tools

I've written a blog post specifically about Loom if you want to learn more. There are no age restrictions so students can use Loom if you want them to make screencasts.

You'll remember that Zoom is a popular tool for video conferencing. To record a screencast using Zoom, you start a meeting with yourself as the only participant and record the conference. You can't record if you're using the Zoom iOS app.

Record a Piece to Camera

Your videos don't have to be part of a video conference call or a screencast. You can record a simple piece to camera using your phone or webcam.

That is, a video of your happy self teaching and talking!

In a previous post on The Edublogger, we outlined ten tips for recording a piece to camera. Read the full post (you'll find a PDF copy to download) or check out the summary below.

Video Editing

Made a video and want to edit it? Maybe it needs trimming, captions, or other effects?

For quick video editing on my phone, I love two free apps from GoPro called QuikStories and Splice. QuikStories puts everything together for you with music, transitions, and other cool effects. Splice is handy if you want to make more manual edits and don't necessarily want too many effects.

Try not to get carried away though, it can be a lot of fun creating videos but a raw edit is fine!

Example Videos from Teachers

Here is a short video from a dedicated kindergarten teacher in Tokyo, Japan.

@ThePedAgog demonstrating to Kindergarten 2 learners that Coronavirus and online learning won't interfere with promoting student agency and nurturing teacher student relationships @TISlearns @ibpyp pic.twitter.com/kmjO5uJQ0P
- Christopher Frost (@FrostChrissy) March 5, 2020

This year 1 teacher also from Tokyo International School demonstrates a wonderful reading lesson,

@Ms_SarahVaughan nurturing 'reading as thinking' remotely. #distancelearning keeping @tcrwp as alive as possible during this #peskycoronavirus @holleytcrwp @clemenkat pic.twitter.com/cWeCWnUBIX
- TokyoIS (@TISlearns) March 5, 2020

For older students, here is an example from two creative art teachers.

E-learning commenced today @TISLearns worried that Middle School Art & Design teachers Sara and @mandurubell Andrew might 'make it' as the next celebrity YouTube stars! If they earn their fortune and leave us what would happen to our Arts department and staff room giggles?! pic.twitter.com/ZQYpvpTLvR
- Christopher Frost (@FrostChrissy) March 4, 2020

For more tips on using live or recorded video in your online teaching program, check out this article from Richard Byrne. He has some great suggestions such as keeping your webcam on, using check-in questions, and using a $20 whiteboard.

Other Online Tools to Consider

So you have your home base set up, you've considered recording some videos to share with students, now what other online tools can you use to engage students and fuel their learning?

Here are some suggestions with a very brief summary of each. This list is far from exhaustive Leave your own ideas in a comment!

Create fun learning games for your students called Kahoots. Classes can play live against each other or students can complete the quiz at their own pace.

*Premium features are currently free for schools facing closures. Learn more.

A free tool that allows students to study information via learning tools and games (flashcards, quizzes etc). There's also a collaborative classroom game called Quizlet Live but it requires participants to physically see each others screens. The free account has advertising.

*Learn how to use Quizlet for remote learning here.

These short educational videos are fantastic for online learning. There's also BrainPOP Jnr. for K-3 and BrainPOP ELL for English language learners.

*Currently free for educators affected by coronavirus school closures. Learn more.

Online tool that allows you to make all sorts of graphic designs (perfect for communicating with students and families). Learn more about Canva in our guide on The Edublogger.

*Educators can get a premium account for free (not just during school closures).

A popular tool to create interactive YouTube videos to check students' understanding. Basic plans are free for teachers and students.

Design lessons with interactive question s, polls, quizzes, and formative assessments. Works with Google Slides.

*Pear Deck Premium is free for 90 days for schools affected by closures. Learn more.

Anchor.fm is a popular free service for recording, hosting, and distributing podcasts. Check out our guide on The Edublogger to learn more about using podcasting with students.

Create grids to facilitate asynchronous video discussions that are very engaging for students. This tool is totally free.

Padlet is an online bulletin board where you can display text, images, video, and more. Padlets can be embedded in blog posts. It used to be free but now there is a limit of three Padlets before you need to upgrade.

Students at the International School of Buscan recently used Padlet for a virtual art show!

Today's Grade 3 Virtual Art Exhibition on @Padlet is brilliant! #ISBlearning pic.twitter.com/rqJqwiN5Nt
- Simon McCloskey (@SimonJMcCloskey) March 5, 2020

Simple tool for younger students to create books or learning journals that combine text, images, audio and video.

*Schools that are closed for COVID-19 can get 90 days free of the premium plan. Learn more.

Cloud based video editing tool that allows students and teachers to get creative. Students could have fun responding to some of learning tasks as a video and can collaborate with peers on projects.

*WeVideo For Schools free for schools affected by COVID-19. Learn more.

Real world texts at different reading levels with built-in activities.

*Free for schools affected by COVID-19 closures until the end of the 2020 school year. Apply here.

A curation tool that allows you to save, organize, tell stories, and share content from around the web. See the example Wakelet embedded below.

Read all about how to use Wakelet in this post.

More Ideas for Online Tools

To stay up to date with more useful online tools that teachers are using as they switch to online learning, follow this Wakelet by Erin Flanagan (@erintegration).

There's also a Google Sheets spreadsheet that lists the tools that are being offered free due to school closures but be warned, it has been unavailable at times due to heavy traffic!

A Note on Students and Books

What's a classroom without books! If you're going to be teaching virtually you might be wondering where to find reading material for your students. Some students might be lucky enough to have a lot of reading material at home. No doubt, many will not.

Here are a few ideas:

Local libraries often offer free access to eBooks and audio books (e.g. OverDrive, Tumblebooks, Libby, BorrowBox etc.). Find out what your local library offers and tell families how to become members if they're not already.

Newsela - Great real world texts presented in different reading levels (currently free for schools).

Rivet - Free app that families can download with thousands of leveled readers.

Epic - Digital library of books aimed at children under 12. Always free for teachers and librarians (and students can access it during school hours).

ReadingIQ - Similar to Epic. There are thousands of digital books for readers under 12. Access is free for closed schools - learn more here.

Project Gutenberg - Don't be put off by the "old school" design of this website. There are thousands of eBooks that can be downloaded for all ages.

Open Library - Catalogue where you can download books for free (lots of options for older students).

Many teachers are keen to read aloud to their students using video, however, remember there may be copyright issues. Pernille Ripp and Kate Messner have both written about other places to find online read alouds (my favourite has always been Storyline Online).

10 Tips for Virtual Teaching and Learning

Transitioning to online schooling is a learning journey for everyone. While everyone's circumstances are different, these tips might offer you some food for thought. Chime in with your own tips in a comment!

1) Encourage Fun, Play, and Activity

In the traditional classroom setting, many teachers plan physical activity breaks for good health and productive learning.

A New York Times report on school closures explained,

At least one school in Hong Kong requires students - in gym uniform - to follow along as an instructor demonstrates push-ups onscreen. Each student's webcam provides proof.

Using a more engaging approach, these PE teachers in Vietnam are sharing daily "Get Up and Go" videos with students. No doubt students love seeing their teachers on screen.

A PE teacher in China is using Flipgrid to teach dancing. Great to see parents getting involved too!

This made me smile. Mother and daughter working together on @flipgrid to learn the dance. It is great to see her mum supporting her during this unique e-learning time. note: this video has been posted with permission from both dancers #aisgzhpe #physed #elearning #movementmatters pic.twitter.com/KGqjx8Hky3
- Adam Tomassen (@AdamHPE) February 28, 2020

If you haven't yet tried GoNoodle or Cosmic Kids Yoga (free on YouTube) I highly recommend them for elementary-aged students.

The only problem is, they still involve technology so you probably want to consider some options that give students a break from devices.

Minimizing screen time is becoming a big concern for parents and teachers.

Perhaps you could publish a daily challenge to keep students active and off screens? Take it a step further by asking students to send in a photo of their experience.

Here are some ideas. You're welcome to use this resource however you see fit.

📌 Download a PDF copy of the poster

Depending on quarantine situations and family circumstances, some students may be able to go out in the community. In this case, you might suggest trips to the library, museums, play dates, study groups, or exploring nature.

Many teachers are also trying to set learning tasks that are offline (such as "hands-on" math for younger students - baking, measuring objects, shape hunts and so on).

British International School in Hanoi ran a LEGO Challenge and asked students to send in photos of their creations. What fun!

This teacher asked her students for their own ideas of how they like to spend their time offline.

Grade 4 came up with ideas to stay balanced and get offline sometimes during these days of #virtuallearning. They connected their tips to the #pyp #learnerprofile. They were thoughtful, funny, realistic and relevant. Thanks for the idea @ALMcCloskey #isblearning pic.twitter.com/fe2g4K56kE
- Laura-Claire Corson (@LauraClaire_C) March 3, 2020

2) Communicate Clearly and Frequently

When the school community is scattered, clear and ongoing communication is essential!

Ensure everyone knows how messages will be communicated and what channels they should be checking in on (e.g. email, LMS, blog, school website).

Make sure students and parents know how they can contact teachers for learning support and how they can get tech support. Some teachers are holding "office hours" (e.g. I am available for email support from 10am to 2pm daily; or "I am available for Google Hangouts Meet sessions from 12.30-1.30pm each day").

You might err on the side of overcommunicating to ensure everyone feels connected, supported, and confident.

Make instructions as clear and concise as you can. Effective communication will really pay off.

3) Seek Feedback Regularly

On the flipside of communicating, it's important to also seek feedback from students and families.

The team at Google recently made a suggestion that many closed schools are already trying out,

Using Google Forms, create mood check-ins for students to share their emotional state on a daily basis. Within the Form, students can request a conference with the teacher if they need extra support.

This situation is new for most schools and families. Engage in a cycle of continuous improvement and refinement based on feedback from families, teachers, and students.

4) Give Choices

There's never been a better time to empower learners and offer choice. Online learning can offer a lot of flexibility so it's a great idea to take advantage of that.

By giving students some choice in the demonstration of their learning, you can also naturally differentiate and cater to a variety of learning styles and needs.

You've probably heard of a choice board? It's a graphic organizer that allows students to choose different learning activities. They're set up in a grid, perhaps with a choice of 9 activities. Some teachers like to include one mandatory activity.

Kim from Seoul Foreign School created this photosynthesis choice board for her 8th grade students.

5) Set Up Guidelines

School guidelines are an important part of the transition process to online learning. These guidelines can be established even before your school has closed.

Not sure where to start? Check out this advice and examples from International Schools Services. You'll find online learning policies, parent guidelines and more.

Guidelines for students are also important but for a lot of students, a simple PDF with slabs of text won't be an effective way to communicate.

Yosef Tewolde in China shares a clear overview in a student friendly format.

VS basic ⁦@ncpa_china⁩ . Sending out tips for students each day in our VS daily bulletin. #onlinelearning #issedu #pulaoproud pic.twitter.com/R8bkTeZOHo
- Yosef Tewolde (@YosefTewolde) February 12, 2020

American International School of Guangzhou shared this appealing resource on Twitter about videos.

Here's another great example from teachers at Seoul Foreign British School,

#virtuallearning guidelines for primary students collab with @emcslack and Becca Cook. https://t.co/XCoRPuWNq7 #onlinelearning #sfs1912 @SFBritishSchool pic.twitter.com/zVH2jvtV1W
- Jill Zappia (@JillZappia) March 5, 2020

6) Ensure Teacher Wellbeing

This meme inspired by teacher Nancy Breau sums up online teaching pretty well,

It's crucial to consider teacher wellbeing. Teaching is hard enough in the traditional sense but moving online with minimal preparation or planning can be very stressful. In addition, some teachers are also trying to teach their own children whose schools have closed.

Effective leadership and communication are key. As a teacher, try to take care of yourself. Go offline at the end of the day, take breaks, keep moving, eat well, drink water, get fresh air... you know the drill!

Perhaps you could set up a little routine for yourself at the end of the day, This checklist for health care workers in the UK might give you some ideas.

Will Arnold is a teacher in Guangzhou, China, who wisely told me via Twitter,

My perspective from week 6 is that "how will teachers/staff be supported" should move to the top of the list. It's like putting your own oxygen mask on before you help others.

Touche, Will, touche.

7) Consider Student and Family Wellbeing

Switching to an online schooling program presents many challenges to students and families. Listening to families and sharing tips to ensure their wellbeing is very important.

There are many ways to go about this. You might be able to get the help of school counselors or welfare officers. Or, you might invite students and families to share their own tips on what they're doing to stay happy and healthy during this challenging time.

The International School of Busan shared a short video on their Twitter account with basic tips for families.

Staying healthy in a virtual learning environment. #ISBlearning pic.twitter.com/HdcwWWlxol
- International School of Busan (@ISBLearning) February 29, 2020

It's also important to remember that it can be hard to predict which students might struggle with the virtual school program. For example, students who generally thrive in the classroom may find the adjustment very difficult. Keep the lines of communication open and don't make assumptions!

Rebecca Barrett-Fox wrote an article called " Please do a bad job of putting your courses online " (hat tip: Raymond Rose in the comment section below). Rebecca does a great job of stressing that students and teachers are currently facing enormous and diverse pressures. The article is designed for higher ed but can definitely be extended to K-12. Show as much empathy as possible and keep things as simple as possible.

8) Embrace the Online Community

School closures are fast becoming a global issue. You might have a million questions racing around your head but you're not alone. There has never been a better time to connect with the online communities of teachers who are keen to offer tips, support, and examples.

There is a Facebook Group set up by Kirsten Durward that is very supportive and helpful. It's a new group but its growing in popularity and already has thousands of members.

Click here to find the group and remember to answer the questions that pop up when you request access.

You'll also find some fantastic posts from community minded teachers on Twitter. Many teachers are using the hashtags #schoolclosures #virtuallearning and #onlinelearning. At this stage it looks like #schoolclosures is the leading hashtag?

New to Twitter? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Twitter to get started. It'll be worth it!

A number of teachers are creating Wakelets that curate useful information. Here is another useful Wakelet from Justin Ouellette.

9) Keep Your Class Connected

Keeping your class connected can be a challenge when students are scattered around the community (and around the world in some areas).

As we've mentioned, video conferences are a good way to overcome this. While most video conferences would be lessons, consider adding in some fun conferences that are either structured (e.g. play a game together) or unstructured (e.g. live recess where students can just hang out).

If you're not using conferences, consider a tool like Flipgrid where students can respond to each other with short recorded videos.

You might be able to come up with ways for students to work on group projects together. This can add a layer of stress for students who might be struggling so of course, you'd gauge whether group work is a positive option.

Maybe you can hold a virtual assembly for your whole school or year level, just like these folks in South Korea,

Today's virtual learning highlight - The PYP Assembly! Puppet shows, dance-offs, jokes and shoutouts. The PYP team broadcasting live to the Elementary School. What a fabulous way to end the week! I'm lucky to work with so many wonderful educators. #ISBlearning pic.twitter.com/JHFu0SA0zX
- Simon McCloskey (@SimonJMcCloskey) March 6, 2020

10) Keep it Simple 💓

The message you'll hear over and over from school leaders and teachers who have been at this for a while now is clear: keep it simple!

Don't overthink things and create complicated lessons.

Don't invest in expensive technology or reinvent the wheel.

Don't expect that you will be able to cover as much as you would in the classroom.

Just do your best. That is enough!

Obstacles and Issues Created by School Closures

The rapid school closures we're seeing across the world raise concerns for teachers, parents, students, and the wider community.

Some issues that are currently being navigated include:

Students/Families

Do all students have access to devices and the internet?

Who will look after students who are home from school? Are some students being left home alone?

How can parents manage their own careers? Do their employers allow them to work from home or have time off?

What about students who rely on getting free or subsidized meals at school? How can they be supported? What are the ramifications for farmers and food suppliers if orders are suspended?

Are there concerns with excess screen time and lack of physical activity?

How can students stay connected to peers?

How can students with disabilities or additional learning needs be catered for?

Teachers

How can educators juggle teaching if they have their own children home from school?

How can teachers maintain work-life balance?

Can teachers work from home or do they need to be on campus? Are teachers trusted and supported to work remotely?

Do teachers need PD? Can the transition to online learning happen immediately or does there need to be a bridge (for example, students are provided with work/a packet for a week while teachers set up the online learning program)?

What role will non-teaching staff take on?

Who will take classes if teachers become ill?

Schoolwide issues

Will testing and report cards need to be delayed? What other assessment and reporting concerns are there?

How is attendance monitored? For some, attendance or class numbers are linked to school funding.

Should teachers/administrators chase up students who aren't participating?

How should the school day be balanced with synchronous and asynchronous learning that's both online and offline?

How can individual students be catered for and work be differentiated?

How can you prevent all the student work from becoming a scattered mess? Are they going to publish items on a digital portfolio (e.g. blog) or something similar?

For private schools with longer closures, will parents continue to be charged full fees?

What will the transition back to online schooling look like?

What sort of "gaps" may need to be filled if students miss out on essentail learning or assessment?

Are their implications for senior students graduating and moving on to tertiary education?

Schools, teachers, and families may also face different issues depending on whether they are part of an international school, private school, or public school. Each situation is unique and throws up so many different variables.

As you can see, these issues are broad and complex. Perhaps at this stage there are more questions than answers.

Planning for a School Closure: Parent Survey

No matter where you live in the world, it's highly unlikely that you can now rule out the possibility of your school closing in the future.

Now is the time to plan. If you don't need that plan, great! However, many schools around the world are closing suddenly with minimal preparation. Teachers and staff end up scrambling to get their virtual learning programs together.

The first step in planning for a possible school closure may be to survey your parents and families. It's important to find out what technology, child care, and other resources they have available.

We created an example survey in Google Forms. You're welcome to use it or adapt it for your own school. You'll find instructions on how to make a copy under the Form below.

Instructions for Editing and Using the Google Form Survey

1. Click on this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1viFs7kqOmJOBs-vzVX6pCbhd8rgSda0K-00LAjqruLM/copy
2. You will be prompted to make a copy (screenshot below)

3. You can edit the Google Form to suit your own school

💡 Google Forms Tips:

Planning for a School Closure: Taking Home Resources

If your school hasn't closed yet and you're planning for an upcoming closure, you might be thinking about what you should take home with you.

Every situation is different but in some schools, no one is allowed on the campus once the school is closed. In other schools teachers are actually required to work from the school (while students are at home).

If you'll be working remotely, you might think about taking home:

Your laptop and charger

Headphones, microphone, webcam (if you have them)

Document camera

Textbooks, novels, picture books

Manipulatives you'd use on a video (e.g. blocks, counters, dice)

Charts or posters you'd use on a video

A small whiteboard and markers for teaching on video

Copies of passwords (teacher and students)

Classroom plants (or pets!)

General stationery (pens, paper, ruler, scissors, highlighters, markers etc.)

Student assessment records (if not digital)

Photos of anything in the classroom that you might be able to use (posters, class mascot, bulletin boards etc.)

Checklist for Administrators and Educators Facing a School Closure

This post has covered a lot of information and offered a lot of ideas and options.

The following checklist might be a useful starting point if your school is beginning to discuss an upcoming or possible school closure.

Of course, this is just a very simplified checklist for schools who are beginning to think about transitioning.

📌 Click here to download a PDF copy of the checklist

Over to You

We'd love to keep this post updated with practical information. Please leave a comment if you have any tips, questions, or examples. We want to hear from you!

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Resources For Teaching Online Due To School Closures

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This extensive guide will give you insights into how educators around the world are approaching school closures due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Learn about options for structuring the school day, using video, and using online tools. You'll also find a checklist for schools facing a closure and tips for virtual teaching.

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The BSD Teaching & Learning Department compiled strategies and educational activities that families can use to keep students engaged in learning in the event of a school closure.

Remote learning activities are organized by grade level and contain a combination of low tech and technology-based options across multiple subject areas, including consideration for student physical and mental wellness. English Language Development (ELD) options are also included.

Our goal is to provide a structure for at-home learning so families have some easy-to-implement activities to prevent regression and learning loss during an extended break.

Parent Letters

Waalidiinta iyo Masuuliyiinta Qaaliga,

Saraakiisha caafimaadku waxay hadda soo jeedinayaan inaan u diyaar garoowno xiridda iskuullada suurtagalka ah oo aan u qabanqaabinno sii waditaanka waxbarashada iyada oo la isticmaalayo waxbarashada qadka ah. Barashada qadka waxaa loola jeedaa in ardayga iyo macalinka ay kala meel joogaan sidaa darteedna kuma kulmi karaan fasalka caadiga ah. Haddii ay dhacdo in iskuulkeenu la xiro maalmo badan, degmadu waxay diyaarisay waxyaalo iyo tilmaamo si ay ugu sii wataan barashada guriga.

Waxyaalahaa waxaa laga heli karaa bogaan: bit.ly/BSDremotelearning

Waxaan rajeynaynaa inay waalidiinta naga kaalmeeyaan carruurta si ay u dhammaystiraan howlahaas. Qaarkood waxaa ku jiri doona in lagu barto aalad iyo teknolojiyadda, halka kuwa kalena aaney ku jirin; waxey la mid ah sida ardayga inta badan maalin dugsiyeedkiisa caadi ah tahay.

Waxaan aqoonsan nahay in howlahani aysan bedeleyn waxbarida fasalka. Ma jiraan waxyaabo cusub oo la tusi doono layligana lama sixi doono.

In kasta oo qaar ka mid ah waxyaalahaan hore loogu isticmaalay iskuulka, waxaan rajeyneynaa inay ardaydu haystaan fursado ay ku tijaabiyaan wax cusub ama wax lagu tuso qaab cusub oo barasho ah.

District Tools & Resources

Remote Learning Activities

Each day a new choice board will be posted with fun options to do at home.

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Remote Learning - Beaverton School District

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The BSD Teaching & Learning Department compiled strategies and educational activities that families can use to keep students engaged in learning in the event of a school closure. Remote learning activities are organized by grade level and contain a combination of low tech and technology-based options across multiple subject areas, including consideration for student physical and mental wellness.

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Civics and Social Studies Education Resources for Learning from Home!

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Civics and Social Studies Education Resources for Learning from Home!

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1

Bay of Fundy Informational Text - STUDENT

Bay of Fundy Informational Text - Teacher PPT

Dinosaur Sue Informational Text - STUDENT

Dinosaur Sue Informational Text - Teacher PPT

Lunar Cycle Sub Plan - STUDENT

Lunar Cycle Sub Plan - Teacher PPT

Lunar Cycle Sub Plan Answer Key - Teacher PPT

Earth Science Responses - STUDENT

Earth Science Responses - Teacher PPT

Weather Map Inquiry Lab - STUDENT - Dependent

Weather Map Inquiry Lab - STUDENT - Modified

Weather Map Inquiry Lab - Teacher PPT

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1 Bay of Fundy Informational Text - STUDENT Bay of Fundy Informational Text - Teacher PPT Dinosaur Sue Informational Text - STUDENT Dinosaur Sue Informational Text - Teacher PPT Lunar Cycle Sub Plan - STUDENT Lunar Cycle Sub Plan - Teacher PPT Lunar Cycle Sub Plan Answer Key - Teacher PPT Earth Science Responses - STUDENT Earth Science Responses - Teacher PPT Weather Map Inquiry Lab - STUDENT - Dependent Weather Map Inquiry Lab - STUDENT - Modified Weather Map Inquiry Lab - Teacher PPT

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Raise a reader by getting the best book recommendations, reading tips, and discounts delivered straight to your inbox.

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FREE Resources with Registration

3 Free Coding Courses

Free Weekly STEM Projects

Free Hour of Code Activities

Free Project Templates

Free Coding Tools (Block & Text)

Unlimited Student Accounts

Student Progress Metrics

Free Professional Development

Available for Purchase

Standards and Compliance

Tynker courses comply with 1st-8th grade Common Core standards to ensure coding can be integrated into any subject area. To track alignment with skills in each area and grade level, browse by Common Core Mathematics and Common Core ELA standards.

Scope and Sequence

Tynker courses provide students with a solid computer programming foundation. Browse courses by grade level to see the programming skills developed in each lesson, as well as the Common Core Mathematics, Common Core ELA, and CSTA Computer Science standards they meet.

List of Programming Courses

(NOTE: swipe to see details)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tynker?

Tynker is an online platform that easily and successfully teaches students how to code through the activities they already love: games and stories. Students learn the fundamentals of programming and design through Tynker's intuitive visual programming language without the frustrations of traditional syntax.

Tynker's goal is to provide every child with a solid foundation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) thinking abilities to prepare them for 21st century degrees and careers.

How can I use Tynker at my school?

Tynker is a flexible platform that is being used in lots of ways across 90,000 schools. Schools are using Tynker's grade-specific lesson plans to teach programming in formal Computer Science classes or to support project-based learning across all subject areas -- science, math, ELA, social studies and more.

Schools can use Tynker to supplement classroom teaching with 21st century skill-building or roll out a comprehensive and progressive programming curriculum across all grades.

Do I need coding experience or training to use Tynker with my students?

Not at all! No coding experience and no training is required. Teachers love Tynker because the self-paced curriculum gets students started on their own. Tynker provides a rich set of resources to answer student questions, such as videos, guides, tutorials, and the very helpful Tynker Troll that provides contextual help for students. We've found that teachers can also learn alongside the students, and in a collaborative environment, students can also help and inspire each other.

Tynker has lots of innovations to empower any teacher, regardless of experience, to teach programming to their students. With interactive lectures that teach programming concepts, step-by-step tutorials that walk students through programming projects, and hands-on coding exercises with instructions, students learn at their own pace. Teachers can spend more time with students who need extra help and less time preparing lessons.

Is it easy to monitor what my students are learning?

Absolutely! We understand how busy educators are, which is why we have a whole suite of educator tools. Tynker has a built-in assessment framework that tracks student progress, individually and at the class level. You can use the concept map, grading and metrics dashboards to easily track how your students are learning. Tynker's Classroom Management Tools eliminate much of the "work" involved in teaching and lets you focus on your students.

Do my students need prior experience?

Tynker provides a fun and easy introduction to programming for all students. Early elementary students can get started with Tynker through the engaging Tynker tablet app (iOS and Android) in preparation for Tynker's project-based programming courses starting in 3rd grade. Grade-specific programming courses allow students to develop skills year-after-year with the gradual transition to traditional programming languages like JavaScript.

What are Tynker courses like?

Each of our 100-, 200- and 300-level courses consists of 16-17 lessons. Lessons are designed to last one class period (45 min to 1 hr). As students progress through a lesson, they'll be working through different types of learning modules:

Interactive Lectures - set the lesson context and explain the concepts that students are about to learn

Tutorials - Step-by-step instructions that guide students to build the project in Tynker Workshop.

Puzzles - A scenario is presented with some code blocks. Students are challenged to program or debug to make this code work and solve the puzzle.

Projects - An open-ended activity with instructions. Students apply what they have learned and build a project.

Quizzes - A set of fun multiple choice questions around concepts learned in the lesson. Student quiz scores are available in the Grading Dashboard.

Can I use Tynker with my entire school?

Absolutely! Tynker's grade-specific curricula teach programming through activities that students love! 1st graders solve fun puzzles using Tynker's tablet app, while 3rd graders are creating exciting stories and animations. Upper elementary students learn the basics of game design to create a fun side-scrolling obstacle game while middle school students start experimenting with the advanced Physics Engine for physics-based projectile games before transitioning directly to JavaScript.

How does Tynker support learning in other areas?

Tynker easily lends itself to supporting all areas of learning. Schools are using Tynker as a way for students to demonstrate their understanding of other subjects such as science and math. And as students work on Tynker projects they acquire a deeper knowledge of the subjects they are studying.

Tynker's lessons support and enhance Common Core State Standards. View Common Core mapping here.

What do my students learn with Tynker?

Tynker's curriculum is designed to teach students computational thinking and core computer science concepts. Through Tynker, students learn the fundamentals of programming found in all object-oriented programming languages. Tynker lessons not only make it easy for students to understand abstract programming concepts, but also allow them to apply concepts to different projects, games, and scenarios. Students learn programming concepts such as loops and variables, repetition, conditional logic, functions, computer drawing, and music. Students also acquire critical skills, such as problem decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, algorithmic thinking, and automation. Once students have a strong grasp of the fundamentals, they can transition to any mainstream programming language, such as JavaScript.

What are students creating?

Students are creating all sorts of amazing projects. Check out some of our favorites in our Kid Creation's gallery.

Have additional questions?

We have answers! Contact us to learn more about teaching programming at your school with Tynker.

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FREE Resources with Registration 3 Free Coding Courses Free Weekly STEM Projects Free Hour of Code Activities Free Project Templates Free Coding Tools (Block & Text) Unlimited Student Accounts Student Progress Metrics Free Professional Development Available for Purchase Tynker courses comply with 1st-8th grade Common Core standards to ensure coding can be integrated into any subject area.

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(only for users with CSUSA O365 accounts):

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we know you want to make learning a priority even when schools are closed. We are here to help you learn, teach, and grow-safely!-anytime and anywhere. If your school or district is closed due to the , we want to help you continue your students' education without interruption. Our programs and solutions include digital components, so you can keep teaching and learning no matter where you are.

Your school or district will have a plan for learning during school closures. If you have questions about your school's plan, your first step should be to check with your school for more information. Explore this page to find HMH-specific support, links to HMH platforms and programs, and resources to help your students learn remotely.

For tips on how you can stay healthy and safe, visit the websites of the CDC or the WHO.

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Free Learning Resources | Coronavirus School Support

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we know you want to make learning a priority even when schools are closed. We are here to help you learn, teach, and grow-safely!-anytime and anywhere. If your school or district is closed due to the , we want to help you continue your students' education without interruption.

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Week 1 | Places and Spaces

From soaring skyscrapers to sprawling parks, campers will be inspired to design using their environment as a guide.

About Design Camp

Is your child a designer, tinkerer, or creative thinker? Cooper Hewitt Design Camp offers week-long immersions in the latest advances in design. Guest designers share their problem-solving strategies and engage campers in fun, real-life design challenges. Campers will receive special access to the museum's permanent collection and enjoy exciting collaborations.
Learn more at cooperhewitt.org/designcamp
Why Cooper Hewitt Design Camp?

At Cooper Hewitt Design Camp, we equip students with the tools necessary to tackle age-appropriate challenges, work collaboratively, and think creatively. Campers master a four-step design process-defining problems, generating ideas, prototyping/making, and testing/evaluating-through a series of fun exercises and design challenges. Each project is carefully crafted to introduce children to design vocabulary, techniques, and processes unique to Cooper Hewitt and applicable to future school assignments and personal explorations.

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Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

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From soaring skyscrapers to sprawling parks, campers will be inspired to design using their environment as a guide. Is your child a designer, tinkerer, or creative thinker? Cooper Hewitt Design Camp offers week-long immersions in the latest advances in design. Guest designers share their problem-solving strategies and engage campers in fun, real-life design challenges.