COVID 12 4/6/20

 Teaching and Learning Resources

These resources are available to directly load into Google Classroom and online learning platforms. There is some interesting stuff here/

PBS LearningMedia

WGBH and PBS have curated FREE, standards-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more just for Massachusetts teachers. Resources for PK-12. I had fun playing with this today.

Wide Open Classroom

Wide Open School is a free collection of online learning experiences for kids (from 25 partners) curated by the editors at Common Sense.

Boston Public School Website

BPS is publishing resources each week that you can pull into your Google Classroom. This is also parent facing so students can go directly to the website as well. I do not recommend directing them there. It will result in better learning outcomes if you choose activities and videos based on your knowledge of your students and your overarching curriculum plan for the year based on your unit development. 

Retention

The superintendent is anti-retention based on the research she has studied. There will be guidance forthcoming on this issue. This information may include how the district plans on strengthening our 5th Quarter Program. For now please do not plan on retaining any students until we receive further guidance

Chromebook

The district is winding down its Chromebook deliver model and moving to a pick-up model for Chromebooks for multiple reasons. Some delivery is still available.
The District starting to do repairs. There is a repair link on the website.
If a student needs a repair they will be getting an existing Chromebook that was received from schools. Their broken Chromebook will have to be quarantined for several days before repairs can start. 

Family Call-Center

The district is launching a family support call center. This call center will be separate from our tech support and BPS hotlines. Please do not give these internal numbers out.  The call center will be both technical support and support for all other family issues. The center is still in Beta Testing and the number is not published yet.
In the interim please have parents call 311 for technology support and other support that they may need. When they identify themselves as a BPS family they will be directed to the appropriate place. 

Comcast

Any family that had debt prior to March16th they are forgiving that debt and allow you to sign up for internet essentials. This is ONLY available over the phone. This will not happen if people use the internet to try and sign up. Hotspots from Verizon will be coming soon. The Comcast news should reduce the need for hotspots.  The best thing our students can have is broadband from Comcast. It will be more reliable than a hotspot. 

Zoom

Is BPS going to ban Zoom?

Zoom is getting bad press. It is unsafe when we do not use it correctly. 

No, we will only ban something that we think is unsafe. If Zoom is configured safely and correctly it is a safe tool. Mark Racine believes that it is safer than Google Hangouts. 

Activate Zoom through your Clever account. Mark strongly suggests that you use the training to get the safest experience for students. 

The BTU sent out a memo saying that Zoom was not in compliance with FERPA and Google Hangouts. They have since sent out a correction. 

This is actually a null argument and not a yes or no question. Using the comparison of traffic laws makes this easier to understand. A car can be technically compliant to drive on the road. This is Zoom. It is the driver's responsibility to follow traffic laws. We (educators) are the drivers and the traffic laws are FERPA.

Google Hangouts

New features coming. Teachers will be able to mute everybody and you will be able to end meeting for everyone when you leave the meeting. 

Technology Resources

How to Maintain Student Privacy Online