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Strategy 2: Communicate Early & Often
Strategy 2: Communicate Early & Often
When supporting students with distance learning, it is imperative to communicate early and communicate often. Students in OSD are already connected through our official systems and we suggest starting with these tools.
When supporting students with distance learning, it is imperative to communicate early and communicate often. Students in OSD are already connected through our official systems and we suggest starting with these tools.
If your school uses another communication system, like Seesaw or Remind, that may also be a place to start.
If your school uses another communication system, like Seesaw or Remind, that may also be a place to start.
Regardless of the tool you use, communicate consistently and share your preferences or expectations with your students. Establish a core tool, or maybe two, with which you would prefer to communicate, and let your students know.
Regardless of the tool you use, communicate consistently and share your preferences or expectations with your students. Establish a core tool, or maybe two, with which you would prefer to communicate, and let your students know.
Here are a few recommended apps/programs:
Here are a few recommended apps/programs:
Gmail:
Gmail:
We use Gmail for our primary messaging system so you are likely familiar with the basic tools. Email is a great system for messaging small groups or single students. However, unless you have a list of student emails saved in a spreadsheet or contact group, it may be difficult to use email to communicate with your whole class.
We use Gmail for our primary messaging system so you are likely familiar with the basic tools. Email is a great system for messaging small groups or single students. However, unless you have a list of student emails saved in a spreadsheet or contact group, it may be difficult to use email to communicate with your whole class.
Here is a link to the Gmail support page if needed.
Here is a link to the Gmail support page if needed.
Suggestions for Gmail:
Suggestions for Gmail:
Consider sending a weekly email with the main points for the week. You might even consider sending a daily email (Pro tip: consider writing these ahead of time and scheduling them to send in Gmail.)
Consider sending a weekly email with the main points for the week. You might even consider sending a daily email (Pro tip: consider writing these ahead of time and scheduling them to send in Gmail.)
Canvas:
Canvas:
For secondary teachers, Canvas is an excellent way to send messages to your full roster. Rosters sync nightly and ensure that your messages go to all students enrolled. In Canvas, consider the following options for communication:
For secondary teachers, Canvas is an excellent way to send messages to your full roster. Rosters sync nightly and ensure that your messages go to all students enrolled. In Canvas, consider the following options for communication:
Communicate With Students:
Communicate With Students:
Announcements: Send whole group messages to all students in your class about upcoming due dates or
Canvas Inbox: Send class and direct messages to students through Canvas.
Assignment Feedback: Give students feedback on their work while grading with the Speedgrader.
Message Student Who: is allows teachers to send messages to specific groups of students through the Canvas gradebook.
Suggestions:
Suggestions:
Schedule Announcements for consistent communication.
Leave media feedback in the Speedgrader.
Use the "Message students who" feature in the Canvas gradebook to send a direct message to student who are missing classwork or who scored at a certain level.
For detailed instructions for getting started with Canvas, see Strategy 1.
For detailed instructions for getting started with Canvas, see Strategy 1.
Google Classroom:
Google Classroom:
For Elementary teachers, Google Classroom is an excellent way to send messages to your students. Keeping your students informed is one of the most important things you do as a teacher. In Google Classroom, if you want to contact your entire class quickly without having to send an email, you can make an announcement.
For Elementary teachers, Google Classroom is an excellent way to send messages to your students. Keeping your students informed is one of the most important things you do as a teacher. In Google Classroom, if you want to contact your entire class quickly without having to send an email, you can make an announcement.
Communicate with your Students
Communicate with your Students
Communicate with Guardians
Communicate with Guardians
Suggestions:
Suggestions:
Use them to give notices to your students
You can draft and schedule announcements
You can control who comments or replies to posts
Google Chat:
Google Chat:
High school and junior high students do have access to Google Chat as another communication tool. Use Chat to keep in touch. Message students and hop on a conversation with one person or a group in the secure, tracked G Suite environment.
High school and junior high students do have access to Google Chat as another communication tool. Use Chat to keep in touch. Message students and hop on a conversation with one person or a group in the secure, tracked G Suite environment.
To get started with Hangouts Chat, please follow the link below to view our support page:
You can also view Google's support page here
Suggestions:
Suggestions:
Connect with other Educators
Connect with other Classrooms
Encourage students to work on projects together using Google Hangouts
Google Meet:
Google Meet:
Google Meet is a video conferencing tool that teachers can use to communicate with groups of students. You have the ability to live stream as well as record the meeting for viewing at a later time.
Google Meet is a video conferencing tool that teachers can use to communicate with groups of students. You have the ability to live stream as well as record the meeting for viewing at a later time.
For a more detailed guide to recording your meeting and sharing with students, see Strategy 5 or this guide on the district website.
For a more detailed guide to recording your meeting and sharing with students, see Strategy 5 or this guide on the district website.
Suggestions:
Suggestions:
Create and record a webinar for reviewing content.
Live Streaming is available for Educators and Students to collaborate. When students join a Live Streaming event, they get a view-only experience and can not interact with the teacher or other students.
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