If you are a teacher in Ontario, today you began to teach virtually. In fact, around the world, teachers who have never had a Google Classroom or used an LMS, or created a hyperdoc or even a hyperlink before are having to plan for teaching and learning in online environments. As a Teacher-Librarian, my role is to support teachers on my staff. I don’t need to imagine how overwhelmed teachers and students are right now. I am seeing it and hearing it. And in that spirit we need to focus on what we can control.
If you are worried about there may be technical hiccups or students misbehaving when they meeting virtually if they have never done it before, then co-create Responsible Use norms with your students. Use this Classroom norms template if you like. Modify it for tomorrow, if needed, based on how it went today. I heard from a few teachers today who said this did not go smoothly. We need to remember that kids have never been in a virtual meeting room and if you have never run a virtual class before, you can’t expect everything to be perfect yet.
If you have a million questions about Copyright and resources, then check out this awesome Copyright interactive decision-making tool shared by Peter Beens, or this one created by Melanie Mulcaster which I am modifying for our own context and which may be a good starting point for you. Or take a look at this resource by School Library Journal about Publishers and their policies during Covid19.
If you have never used technology before and are freaking out, then find a support person (colleague, teacher-librarian, digital learning consultant) to help you. This is their job and if they are like me, they truly want to help. Here is a podcast by Brene Brown about Anxiety +Calm and Over/Underfunctioning.
If you are looking for resources and don’t know where to go, then get connected to other teachers on Twitter or Facebook. There have been Wakelets shared and blogs written and sharing is happening at extraordinary rates. Check this out by John Spencer.
If you are a support person or teacher-librarian and are overwhelmed by the new demands on your time, then curate resources in one place which you can regularly update so as to not overwhelm teachers with emails AND protect your own time with office hours (try Appointment slots if using Google Calendar).
If you are trying frantically to get everything organized and to make perfect lessons, then take a deep breath and consider that less is more. Your students are as stressed out as you are and this is an imperfect journey you can travel together. I discovered these Medit-Oceans by the Monterey Bay Aquarium that have been so calming and helpful for me.
If you are worrying about your kids Mental Health & Well-being, then watch the live @GlobalEdSschat conversation by our student leads and psychotherapist Lauren Muriello of the Well Being Therapy Center. Watch on the GlobalEdSschatYouTube channel on Tuesday, April 7th at 1 pm ET (but available at any time after) Details here.
If you are wondering if anything you are doing makes a difference to your kids, then watch this by John Spencer:
If you are wondering if reaching out to others and showing them appreciation makes a difference, then check out this tweet by Chris Oriente
This goes out to all the teachers who have been tirelessly preparing for #distancelearning At BT I’m blessed to work with such incredible teachers. I miss you all and would like to share this with you #COVOD19 pic.twitter.com/ZqTa3jpYPR
— C.Oriente (@ChrisOriente) April 6, 2020
If you are looking for examples of goodness because you are feeling overwhelmed by darkness, then check out this post by George Couros or my post, Darkness and Light.
If you are healthy and have a enough supplies, have lots to do to keep you occupied during this crisis, then think about doing something for someone less fortunate. Check this out by Trevor MacKenzie.
If you have never had a Google Classroom or created a hyperlink before, then listen to this honest interview with Russ Richmond in my friend, Tisha’s Make Learning Magical podcast.
When all is said and done, if your students feel like you care about them and if you provide explicit and simple support for them, then this is more important than any content.
One day at a time. You’ve got this! We’ve got this.
Please share anything that has brought you hope, helped you plan, or made you smile in the comments. below.