Resources for Remote & Hybrid Learning

Teaching online is still teaching. Many of the same engagement theories from in-person teaching still apply online. Student-centered active learning online still includes real-world problem-solving opportunities, experimental methods that guide students toward a conclusion, and thinking and discussing learning activities.

Unfortunately, not all students and teachers will be working in optimal, distraction-free environments. So one of the most important things to remember about engagement this fall is that students, their families and teachers will all need a little extra grace as they cope with other worries and stressors.

Find new engagement indicators. Classroom teachers have traditionally been able to capture a quick measure of student engagement by just looking at their faces. Are they curious, interested or passionate about class activities? While you may still be able to measure engagement visually during video-oriented synchronous online sessions, classes this fall will have many more scenarios where this won’t be possible. Much of the work students will be doing won’t be on camera, so educators may need to find new indicators of engagement.

Here are a few engagement measures to consider: Are students logging on often? Are they submitting their work on time? Are they reacting to the learning in some way, by asking question and seeking additional resources? Are they responding to feedback and is their voice apparent in classroom forums and boards? These are all indicators of how well a student is connecting with class topics.

Need ideas for engaging activities that are modified for online learning? Check out these ideas from Catlin Tucker an international trainer on blended learning.

Ask questions and empathize. During stressful times, social and emotional learning should be high priority, and conceptually the same principles that apply in the classroom apply in online or hybrid instruction. Many students are experiencing trauma, so community, connections and relationships will be critical in helping them meet the demands of online learning. Ask questions, listen with empathy, and reach out to students so they know you care. Create a safe space for students to talk about their worries or fears.

To get a quick check on your students’ needs, try using (or modifying for your own) this survey developed by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. A quick survey like this one will help you develop a personalized plan for what each student needs to feel safe, and create an environment where students can ask questions that matter to them. If your students are too young for surveys, try to scheduling 1-on-1 chats to ask probing questions and validate their emotions. Try using this template from CASEL to structure those conversations, and keep organized notes on each student afterwards so you can connect with them later on interests or monitor for concerns.

For more Social and Emotional Learning resources, check out Reunite, Renew and Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening School.

Hybrid or flexible online education. As they prepare to return this fall, some schools and districts are exploring hybrid or flexible models of online education.  Hybrid flexible education can include a combination of face-to-face and online components in your instruction, which provides maximum flexibility for schools and students. An example would be streaming a live lesson, during which students have the option to attend in person, livestream the class while it’s happening, or watch a video recording of the class at a later time. (For an expanded version of this lesson, check out design examples for 50-minute and 75-minute class) The hybrid learning approach gives students the flexibility to attend online synchronously, in person synchronously or online asynchronously and provides multiple pathways for learners to succeed.

In an excerpt from a blog published by Phil On EdTech, Dr. Kevin Kelly from San Francisco State University discusses how hybrid-flexible class design offers: 

1. Learner Choice: Provide meaningful alternative participation modes and enable students to choose between participation modes daily, weekly, or topically.
2. Equivalency: Provide learning activities in all participation modes which lead to equivalent learning outcomes.       
3. Reusability: Utilize artifacts from learning activities in each participation mode as “learning objects’ for all students.                      
4. Accessibility: Equip students with technology skills and equitable access to all participation modes.”

For more information on hybrid teaching and to learn about the pros and cons, read the entire article: COVID-19 Planning for Fall 2020: A Closer Look at Hybrid-Flexible Course Design. 

Technology is a key component of remote learning, and with more technology comes new student safety and data security compliance challenges.

Schools are mandated to ensure students are using their school-provided devices appropriately and safely, even when they are at home. In addition, off-site device management elevates vulnerabilities to hackers, data theft, online scams and other online safety threats. 

To protect students, Vision provides cloud-based web filtering that helps schools stay CIPA-compliant. Affordable and simple to set up, Vision Student Safety works seamlessly with or without Vision classroom management to keep all your Chromebooks users safe from harmful content.

To minimize cybersecurity risks and to protect data, our partners at ManagedMethods offer an affordable platform that manages security and detects student safety signals in G Suite for Education and Office 365. On their blog, they have more information on how to control third party apps in hybrid learning and student data privacy in remote learning.