QM Checklist

START HERE: Preparing for Success

Consistent Structure

• Quickly transitioning a classroom from face to face delivery to an online format is likely to modify the structure of a classwork in ways that students might find confusing. This is especially true for students new to learning online.

• Follow the tight and loose documents on how materials should be structured initially within your grade level so it is consistent for students and parents.

• Provide explicit directions and follow the district’s tight and loose document on how materials should be structured initially so it is consistent for every content area for students and parents to clearly identify where they can find subject components and what they should do to get started.

Teacher & Student/Family Communication

• Students and parents will not translate classroom communication expectations to the online format. Setting these expectations from the start, and modeling expectations in all communication, will help students engage and parent support in the online format more quickly and confidently.

• Clarify the best way that students should contact you (email, online office hours, etc.) and how often they should be getting into classroom activities in SeeSaw or Classroom to access class information.

Consistent Feedback for Students

• In face to face class, you meet with students and communicate with families regularly. You can bring this structure online by telling students and parents when they will receive a reply to a question, and when they will receive assignment feedback. Sharing with students what they can expect from you might also make them feel at ease in a time of transition and uncertainty.

• Tell students when they will receive an answer to an emailed question (e.g., 24 hours, 48 hours, etc.) and when they can expect assignment feedback.

Student Technology & Learning Supports

• Provide the information how students can receive support for technology and other learning supports.

• Technical and Student Support Information

  • If you run into any technical issues, please contact me or email homesupport2020@cfschools.org or leave a message at 319-553-3003. There are a team of people looking at those emails and will reply back to you as soon as possible.

  • If you need additional help accessing information or needing additional support please contact your child’s teacher, principal, or special education teacher.

NEXT STEPS: Guiding Students and Their Learning

Create Community

• It is difficult to create a sense of community with students within an online setting. This will be very important when the move to online is forced by circumstances. Synchronous discussions can be held via Zoom or Google Meet, or asynchronous discussions and collaborations can be done through Google docs, or Flipgrid.

• Create a sense of community by encouraging and guiding learners to engage in online discussions.

• Also refer to SEL section for additional ideas on creating community

Connecting Activities and Learning Objectives

• Explain to your students how the learning materials help them complete subject matter activities and achieve the grade level learning objectives.

• In class, students rely on your introductions and the context of instructional materials, and the same is true online. A short explanation of what material they’ll be interacting with that week, any particular areas of importance, and how they’ll use the material to do well on the aligned assessments will improve their ability to engage with the material.

Assignment Clarification

• Just as you would in the classroom, introduce an assignment using text, audio, or video by going over the instructions, providing relevant examples when useful/possible, and reminding students how the assignment is connected to learning objectives/outcomes. Include clear information, whether through an assignment prompt, rubric, or other means, about how the assignment will be completed.

• Specifically explain how each assignment is related to the learning targets and how you will provide feedback to submitted work.

Timely Feedback

• Provide learners with timely feedback to enable them to track their learning progress.

• When teaching remotely, it’s important to include acknowledgement feedback as well – let students know, for example, that their assignments have been received. Providing informative feedback in a timely manner, so that students can use it to improve future work is important. If possible, consider including “knowledge check” types of activities via creating low-stakes, simple quizzes or simplified online discussions that reflect the activities you’d already planned for in-class work.