ere are some more technology resources for teachers who are converting their classes to a digital format. This time, I’m including some homeschooling-type resources that teachers could use with their students online, but could also be used by students and parents who are confined at home. 

Let’s take this opportunity to dive deep into new ways of teaching and learning. Rather than being fearful and anxious with all the bad news out there, let’s take advantage of this situation to shake things up and try something new. I honestly think that a lot of good can come out of this bad situation.  So here goes.

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES:

1. Google Classroom – This platform is a very simple way to run an online class. It is free of charge and incredibly easy to use. The teachers themselves (or parents) set up their virtual classrooms and “invite” the students. You can then post assignments, links, documents, videos etc.  You can have virtual conversations with the entire class, one student, or a select group of students.  You can also grade assignments and then return them for further editing, all within the Classroom platform.
2. One of the simplest ways to convey ideas or to teach a lesson is to take a video with your phone and upload it to YouTube. Just prop up your phone on your desk and press record on the camera app!  Keep it short and sweet, then upload it to YouTube. Once it is there, copy the link to your video and send it by email to your students, or upload the link to Google Classroom as an “announcement” and they can access it from there.
3. EdPuzzle – with this tool, you find an interesting video online then create interactive questions and assignments at intervals within the video.  It also allows you to track their progress and to monitor their comprehension along the way. Students love the ability to learn at their own pace or repeat the video if necessary.  It encourages their independence and agency.
4. SeeSaw – This is an online digital portfolio website that is compatible with all operating systems.  SeeSaw is an incredibly easy to use, versatile platform for students to create their own digital portfolio of their work. Although the interface is simple and geared towards primary school children, it could be used by any age student to showcase their work.  Not only can they upload pictures, videos, text and links, they can also record a narrative on top of the post to explain its significance.
5. Desmos – this is a fantastic way to teach anything related to math. It is highly interactive, filled with teacher resources, graphing calculators, exercises, videos, challenges, simulations and more.

HOMESCHOOLING RESOURCES

By “homeschooling”, I mean anyone who is teaching or learning from home, including teachers, professors, students of any age, parents, grandparents and tutors.  

There are so many incredibly interesting resources to stimulate your creativity, improve your intellect and to advance your knowledge in any topic you can imagine, that I would never be able to list them all there. Here is just a sample:

1. The Learning Network from the New York Times is a free teaching resource that is invaluable to anyone teaching or learning from home.  Here are three of many, many tools they offer for free.  
   1. 1,000 Writing Prompts – Have students look over the topics and pick one that interests them. They can research it online, create an outline, then write a full essay on the topic. They can even post their finished result on the Times website if they want. 
   2. What’s going on in this Picture – Pick from one of many interesting images (that have no captions) and have students describe the image. Or get creative! Instead of just describing it, have them write an imaginary dialogue of the people in the photo or explain what happened just before or just after the photo, or even use the photo as a basis for an entire story, etc. 
   3. Film Club Documentaries – Film is an excellent way to start a conversation or interest someone in a topic. These documentaries are all under 10 mins and include discussion questions. 
2. Scratch / Hour of Code – Take this opportunity to learn to code!  Scratch is geared towards young kids and takes them step by step to learn block programming, eventually showing them how to create interactive stories, games and animations. Hour of Code is more geared towards adults or anyone who has one hour and wants to learn the basics of computer science and coding. It’s simple, fun and free!
3. Podcasts – With the popularity of podcasts these days, you can find them on any topic imaginable. You can find them on the Apple Podcast App, Google Play, Spotify or Pocket Casts.  My favorite podcasts are Serial, Radiolab from NPR and S-Town.  Have students find a podcast that interests them and then create their own podcast by recording a summary or analysis of the episode they heard. They can send the teacher their “podcast” by whatsapp, Google Classroom or email.
4. Khan Academy – Sal Khan started this website as a way to teach young kids how to do math, but it has since turned into a massive, free resource sponsored by the Gates Foundation to learn just about anything. It includes interactive questions, worksheets, videos, and a help section. Teachers can set up a “classroom” and monitor the progress of the students.  Topics include Math, Science, Foreign Language, English, History, SAT tutoring etc etc.  
5. Edutopia – This is more of a resource for teachers or educators. It is the George Lucas Foundation website with an innumerable amount of teacher resources, interesting articles, new and innovative ideas, technology suggestions, video testimonials of teachers trying new things, etc.  All to help improve teaching and learning around the globe.

CONCLUSION

Keep in mind that the goal here is to teach effectively online. We do not need to be super technology wizards, nor perfect teachers.  We just need to take steps each day towards improving our digital teaching methods and continue our children’s education online. As a specialist in Educational Technology, I can help your school to implement these new platforms and to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to change the paradigm of the traditional classroom. Contact me for individual, group or online training sessions. I would be happy to help.