Address Inequities

Best Practices

Resources

Teacher Training

Low Tech Tips

Things to Consider

Bright Spots

Introduction

During a time of distance learning, inequities become a huge hurdle that we have to identify and overcome. These can be inequities when it comes to access to technology, instructional gaps, staff preparedness, etc. We have identified the top 4 things that we think need to be considered when tackling distance learning so that it is fair and accessible to all students.

Best Practices

Know Your Landscape

Assessing which students do and do not have access to a device and reliable internet during a time of distance learning is a very important first step.

Restructure Instructional Time to Focus on Closing Gaps

Once you have developed a daily school schedule, consider when the gap-closing instruction (intervention, ELL support, related services time, re-teaching, etc.) will take place. Moving to a more standards-based grading system could also be a potential long-term solution to address increased learning gaps caused by the inequities of remote learning.

Check out our Accommodations page for suggestions.

Increase Engagement to Maximize Attendance

Consider what you as a district want "attendance" to look like and what you can do to increase student engagement.

Focus Efforts to Provide Access

Analyze the results of your access to technology survey and decide how you will provide equitable access for students who do not have devices and/or reliable internet.

Check out our Technology page for some suggestions.

Resources

Feel free to use any of these resources to help your school/district. Each template, document, or presentation you find below can be copied and used for your own purposes with original credit attributed:

Need a Starting Point?

Check out this Teacher Readiness Survey created by Purcell Marian High School to assess the needs and comfort level of their teachers.

Figuring Out Your Landscape

This example of a student survey was sent out to Purcell Marian High School students to determine which students had reliable access to the internet during distance learning.

Standards-Based Grading in Schoology

Great blog post from Schoology comparing standards-based grading to the traditional grading system.

Edulastic: Interactive Formative AssessmentOnline assessment tools with technology-enhanced items like SBAC, AIR and PARCC give you a complete, instant view of student learning and growth.

Edulastic

Great resource for assessing growth and identifying gaps.

Teacher Training

Check out the free training we offer to prepare your staff. We have even included a few videos from our EdgeU Badges program. For more information about our anytime, anywhere professional learning program visit forward-edge.net/edgeubadges:

Appy Hour: Equitable Access

This entire Appy Hour focuses on how to reach all students! Check out the recording here and access the slide deck here.

Appy Hour: Google Forms

Google Forms is a great way to check in and connect with families, monitor student progress, and track attendance! Check out the recording of this Appy Hour here and access the slide deck here.

EdgeU Badge: Nearpod

This video is from our Edge•U Badge program. Please ignore any mention of submitting evidence.

EdgeU Badge: Schoology Mastery

This video is from our Edge•U Badge program. Please ignore any mention of submitting evidence.

Low Tech Tips

Making phone calls using a Google Voice number is a great way to check in with students.

Checking in with students and families using Remind is another way to connect, answer questions, and offer support.

Consider pairing YouTube videos, instructional videos, etc., with a low-tech activity (i.e., paper and pencil to write a journal, complete a problem set, document findings, etc.).

Things to Consider

Teacher Training

How will teachers receive PD on the skills they need in order to feel comfortable in a remote learning environment?

Student Access to Technology

If students do not have access to technology, how will they meet with teachers, "attend" classes, and turn in work?

Attendance Requirements

What is required in order for students to be marked as "present"? Do students need to be submitting work and participating in virtual class meetings? How will students who do not have access be accounted for? How will attendance be collected and who is in charge of keeping track of that data?

Bright Spots

Mater Academy East is a part of the Verizon Innovative Schools program, which donates iPads with data plans to schools in order to help create equitable access for students and families. They developed a plan, executed it, and have had MAJOR success with attendance and student engagement.

On average, they are having 91.9% of HS students and 95.7% of MS students attend their online classes.

So what were their secrets to success?

A manageable schedule
Consistency
Flexibility (tech coach stepped up to be dean of students!)
Plan for discipline
iPad lock approach

Want more information? Click here!

Purcell Marian High School used a “Student Readiness Survey” and “Readiness Survey” to identify which students need help accessing internet, devices, etc., at their home and which teachers need training on the basic tools for remote learning. They also work with local officials to provide internet to those families either through the free internet plans offered by cable companies or by purchasing WiFi hotspots through cellular providers.

Joy Rosebrook, the resource coordinator at Sayler Park School in Cincinnati Public School District, collected devices from around the city from people who were willing to donate in order to give families access to technology. A community member volunteered to restore them to their factory settings and totally wipe them before giving them to families. Mrs. Rosebrook then wrote a grant and received even more devices!

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