Architecture  pathway

Top 5 Online Resources

•Padlet  https://padlet.com/ is great for gathering ideas, sharing them and modifying them later. It's almost like webpage. Students can add pictures, links, and videos. They can also move and arrange them in different ways.

•EdPuzzle https://edpuzzle.com/ is a tool for allowing students to watch and engage with videos while the instructor gathers data throughout the lesson. 

•Peardeck https://www.peardeck.com/googleslides is an interactive presentation tool to engage students.

•Flipgrid  https://info.flipgrid.com/ is a website that allows educators to create "grids" that are video discussions. Each grid is like a message board where teachers can pose questions and students can post video responses.

•Screencastify https://www.screencastify.com/ is a way to record a single tab in your web browser, capture all screen activity, or use your webcam to record or insert a video of yourself.

Best Practices

•A weekly agenda or syllabus should be provided for the students. This keeps you and the students organized. Students have consistency and are aware early on when items are due. You will have students that like to work ahead.  They will have the opportunity to do so if they know what is planned in the days ahead.  This also allows the teacher to make modifications early for future tasks if something arises in the previous week.  

•Assignments released at the same time and day each week (i.e. Mondays at 9:00 am) are very helpful. I found that students found it helpful to know when updates were coming so that didn't have to go into the google classrooms at random hours to find re-occurring tasks. This should also be true for tasks that are due.  Have assignments due at the same time and day each week to help students stay organized.

•Frequent communication to parents and students are a necessity.  Since I will not see students face to face, some may have a harder time staying motivated and organized. Using email, Remind application, https://www.remind.com/ , Class Dojo, https://www.classdojo.com/ etc., are a few ideas that could increase communication with parents and students.  Both Remind and Class Dojo can be downloaded to a mobile device. 

•Google forms/survey each week to allow feedback from students on what went well and what did not. Students and teachers in a traditional learning environment are all new to this way of learning and teaching and it's important to get honest feedback on how instruction and the format of the class is going. There is always room for improvement in everything that we do. 

•Google meets are a requirement where students must attend.  When students have a set schedule they know what to anticipate. Although this can't replace the face to face physical contact, this is the next best thing.  Virtual meetings allow students to gain clarification on tasks or item.  This is also their opportunity to connect with peers and participate in group activities. 

Working with Stakeholders

•Kent State advisory board meetings are held 4 times a school year.  The advisory board consists of local small business owners, architects, technical professionals, and professors.

•Spring career experience trips occur for sophomores, juniors and seniors.  Last year students had career experiences with Bridgestone, https://www.bridgestone.com/ , Hasenstab Architects Inc., https://hasenstabinc.com/ , CESO, https://www.cesoinc.com/contact/akron  and many more!

•Speakers from local business and parent experts come in to speak to students second semester.  They give students real world application to what they are currently learning in class.

•Skills USA https://www.skillsusa.org/  competition in various areas.  Skills USA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.