In the event of sudden closure forcing instruction into an online, distance learning format, these EdTech tools will simplify the process and offer an easy way to convert classroom activities into a virtual classroom. Considerations for virtual learning should include clear communication of learning intentions and success criteria as well as distribution of content and material, models of the learning expections, and a thorough plan for assessing knowledge gained and providing timely feedback.

Words of Wisdom: Building Instruction in Virtual Learning

Resources for Building Virtual Learning Lessons

Resources Recommended for General Audiences

Elementary Resources

Middle and High School Resources

Information Regarding Students with Disabilities

Course-Specific Resources

Words of Wisdom: Building Instruction in Virtual Learning

eInstruction: Thoughts and Suggestions.mp4

Michelle Harris

William Blount High School

Instruct Kirk.mp4

Stephanie Kirk

Heritage High School

Resources for Building Virtual Learning Lessons

Many teachers have asked for instruction on how to build virtual lessons that still teach and instruct rather than just asking students to complete a task on their own.

Would you like to learn more about blended learning? Try visiting BlendedLearning.org or consider reviewing some of the resources from ASCD's Blended Learning Course.
Catlin Tucker, author of a variety of books and blogs about Blended Learning, has built a step-by-step guide to creating virtual learning in a Covid-19 closure. See this guide to building online lessons here.
Consider the traditional Blended Learning Roadmap.
Bold School author Weston Kieschnick has created this list of guided questions to help.

Instructional videos and supporting materials are encouraged, and feedback is essential to student success. While some resources may work for general audiences, others may be better utilized with a specific grade level.

Resources Recommended for General Audiences

EdPuzzle

This resource will allow teachers to create a video or use a video from an existing source as a part of instruction. Once the video is selected, the teacher may trim the video and add questions or comments for participants. EdPuzzle fully intergrates with Google Classroom, and a variety of tutorials are available to help you out.

Find the EdPuzzle extension in the Chrome Web Store.

Flipgrid

This resource will allow teachers to create a video grid for students to respond to a given prompt in a specific amount of time. On the education side, teachers can score responses and provide video feedback to the student. If enabled, students can also watch the videos and engage in commentary with each other.

Flipgrid is not in the Chrome Web Store, but it is available on phone app stores. See a quick start video from Ashlee Ivens.

For a Quick Tips Cheat Sheet, click here.

Quizlet

This resource is a learning platform that allows you to create review games for your students.

Find the Quizlet extension in the Chrome Web Store.

Nearpod

This resource allows teachers to easily create interactive lessons on an engaging platform that can control the student's device, leading them directly to activities and content. Though tutorials are available, we have a Nearpod Trainer and Nearpod Pionears who can help you directly.

Find the Nearpodize extension in the Chrome Web Store.

NewsELA

Newsela is a resource for standards-aligned instructional content in all content areas.

Click here to see how Mrs. Jennifer Walker uses Newsela in class.

Screencastify

This resource allows teachers to create videos for students using the Chromebook's camera and microphone. There are a variety of tutorials available if needed.

The free version does have some limitations.

Find the Screencastify extension in the Chrome Web Store.

Elementary Resources

Recommended Learning Recommendations, according to the Tennessee Department of Education Best for All Campaign:

"K – 2nd grade learners should experience digital learning for 60 minutes or less for daily instruction. Other opportunities should focus on blended or packet-based learning. In addition, family supports need to be more prevalent when sending K-2 learning resources home, which should consider any additional supports that might be needed. Finally, learning opportunities should include play-based and exploratory activities."
"3rd – 5th grade learners should also have limited direct digital instruction each day. Students in grades 3-5 should have independent practice activities in all content areas as well as include exploration and inquiry opportunities with their family."

Seesaw

Seesaw is great for delivering online content to connected accounts. Parents and students will need to download the app and join through a code. Seesaw works both for communication as words, images, and resources and for building a learning portfolio for students in your class. Teachers can communicate to the whole class or directly to a parent; Parents may respond to the whole group or directly to the teacher.

To attend webinars for learning to use Seesaw effectively, please visit this site.

Discover Education

Discovery Education allows teachers to create virtual learning that helps maintain engagement and continuity of learning outside of the classroom with tools that allow you to still communicate with your students, facilitate group activities, provide feedback, track student progress, and create a lasting educational impact.

Great Minds

This website includes online lessons for Module 4 of Wit and Wisdom Curriculum.

iReady

iReady is an integrated teaching and learning system that gives teachers the insights and instructional tools to differentiate and support all students' growth.

Need a resource for parents? Consider this tutorial created by Tom Loud.

PBS: Teaching Tennessee

The East Tennessee Public Broadcasting Service has paired with Tennessee Department of Education to create educational programming for students.

PBS Learning Media also allows teachers to create a classroom and assign a variety of resources linked to state standards.

Readworks

Free reading comprehension instruction designed so students can highlight, annotate, and complete assignments online. Teachers can access progress reports & automatic grading.

Studies Weekly

This website contains great resources for sciences and especially social studies. It offers you a curriculum that you can use. This is state aligned to standards. The online component will read the articles to students, has videos, primary sources to be viewed, and assessments.

Middle and High School Resources

Recommended Learning Recommendations, according to the Tennessee Department of Education Best for All Campaign:

"Students in 6th – 12th grades should feel connected to their teachers whether a district chooses to continue learning through a packet-based approach, a blended set of learning opportunities, or launches fully digital content structures. Districts also need to consider that much of the content in these grades might be unfamiliar to family members. Offering digital resources or teacher virtual office hours will allow students to maintain support from teachers."

AP College Board

Attend free, live AP review classes that are hosted by College Board and delivered by selected AP teachers from across the country.

CTE Coalition

To provide the resources necessary to keep your CTE programs moving forward in these unprecedented times with many schools temporarily closed to students.

Edge Factor for CTE

To provide the resources necessary to keep your CTE programs moving forward in these unprecedented times with many schools temporarily closed to students.

Fiveable.Me

This resource will allows students to get free help preparing for a variety of Advanced Placement courses and SAT/ACT test prep, boasting a 92% rate of students who used Fiveable earning college credit on AP exams in the 2019-2020 academic year.

Teachers can create classess and assign free activities and resources or the students can use an account without a link to a teacher.

TEDEd

TEDEd offers free online lesson plans, instructional videos, and teacher resources

TI-84 Plus CE for Chrome OS

This app emulates the TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculator. This provides a temporary solution to support schools and districts that have closed due to COVID-19.

Vernier Software and Technology

Vernier Software and Technology have posted a variety of Science-related materials on their webpage. This includes full experiments with accompanying data files for students who are working on science classes from home can use (K-12). All students need is a free app of Graphical Analysis software to open and process the files.

Information Regarding Students with Disabilities

Students with Disabilities Information

IEP Procedural Guidance for School Closure

High school resource/inclusion

- Google Classroom and IXL online platforms will be used to provide ongoing academic instruction. For families that choose to have physical copies of academic instruction, copies will be made available via folders or boxes at the school site which can be picked up during school office hours. The choice of delivery service will be documented within EASY after phone contacts made by case managers.

High School CDC 1

- Google Classroom and Istation online learning platforms will be used to provide and push out academic instruction. For families that choose to have physical copies of academic instruction, copies will be made available via folders or boxes at the school site which can be picked up during school office hours.

High School CDC 2

- Google Classroom, and IXL online learning platforms will be used to provide academic instruction. For families that choose to have physical copies of academic instruction, copies will be made available via folders or boxes at the school site which can be picked up during school office hours. The choice of delivery service will be documented within EASY after phone contacts made by case managers.

Course-Specific Resources

BCS Virtual Learning Toolkit created by Tony Boring, Stephanie Kirk, Colleen Mattison, Jeff Nuchols, Jennifer Walker, and Chris Whitehorne; site maintained by Stephanie Kirk and Jennifer Walker.

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