Why no single platform?

[Anonymous]

18:57, my guess is that MCPS read DCUM and saw all the “experts” who claimed that it was just a bad cold, the flu kills more people, and our top-notch medical system meant we’d never have to shut down.

Meanwhile, Miami gets hurricanes.

[Anonymous]

Try working for Mcps. There are at least 7 different platforms I need to use to access student data. There isn’t one platform where I can access a student’s schedule, DOB, parent email address, MAP scores, PARCC scores, course registration for next year, IEP/504 information, current grades, past grades, etc. I must use several different platforms to get all of that information.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:High school teacher here. I hate My MCPS Classroom and did not use it before all of this. However, I've been pushing a few things out on that platform since all of this happened because it seems that parents can see those items more easily.

Bottom line is that MCEA, our union, worked with MCPS to let teachers use the platform they are most comfortable with, which makes complete sense given the extraordinary circumstances we're living through right now.

If you're getting information on multiple platforms, it's probably because we're trying to cover our butts and make sure everyone has access to the information we're putting out there.

No it’s not it’s because we have multiple teachers and they are all doing something different. It’s clusterf**k and it took them nearly three weeks to roll out this worthless piece of crap. Blah blah it’s unprecedented etc etc. Well how is it that practically every other school district in the country, or maybe even world can get their act together and not take nearly three weeks to do it?

I have friends in LA, Chicago, NYC, as well as DCPS and FCPS and they wouldn't agree that their schools systems have their act together.

DCPS and all the DCPCS launched online learning immediately. I don’t know about the other locations you mention but I could counter your anecdotes with cities and states all over the country and others all over the world who didn’t wait three weeks to get a system in place.

Launching immediately doesn't mean quality or done well. That was my point. My kids former DC charter seems to be doing well. My friends in DCPS complain about the quality of online instruction

And my point is that if we have crappy quality then why on earth did we have to wait nearly three weeks for it? Handling this gigantic mess three weeks ago would have been infinitely preferable. By now it would have been sorted out. Like all the other school districts which have now worked out their teething problems.

They didn't "handle this mess" three weeks ago for several reasons:

1- the closure was only officially for two weeks and if students indeed went back in 2 weeks, they wanted to be able to have them "make up" the two weeks in "regular, face to face" lessons. If the teachers were "working" and teaching during the initial two week closure, they would have to be paid more to do "make up" days. Their contract is for a number of working days. Easy to say in hindsight, but at the time some still thought there was the possibility of going back (some still do, the current order is only until 4/24)

2- legal issues and meeting the needs of all students in a new platform. It is against federal regulations to provide instruction that is not accessible to all, that's why the work initially provided was all "enrichment" and nothing new.

3- Available technology to students and staff - not only hardware, but software as well. Licenses had to be reviewed, many increased or updated to include students not being on the school network or onsite. New services purchased (MCPS did not have a ZOOM account previously that I know of- there was little need, and other priorities to spend $$)

4- Teacher training and adjustments to curricula -- Central office worked the two weeks to review what had been covered and what needed to be covered as well as adjust curriculum from longer class times and more teacher directed, to abbreviated meeting times and more self-paced and independent work. Training modules were also developed once the union and leadership decided on expectations and what teachers could be required to do in a situation that is not covered by their contract.

I'm sure there are other reasons not outlined above, but it's not as simple to take into account the needs of thousands of staff and almost 200,000 students and stay within state and federal guidelines as you may think.

Excuses, excuses. No one literally NO ONE believed that they would be back at school in two weeks. Give us a break. They screwed up big time. What a mess.

MCPS leadership has proven to be incompetent over and over and over.

Whether it is handling an emergency or keeping kids safe, or offering a strong curriculum. MCPS fails consistently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
MCPS leadership has proven to be incompetent over and over and over.

Whether it is handling an emergency or keeping kids safe, or offering a strong curriculum. MCPS fails consistently.

And the Board of Education just renewed Smith's contract earlier this year.

In June we have elections for the BOE. Lots of good candidates on the ballot this time, because the redistriting/boundary analysis debacle made people actually sit up and scrutinize what MCPS is doing and realize the situation. Vote for change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
MCPS leadership has proven to be incompetent over and over and over.

Whether it is handling an emergency or keeping kids safe, or offering a strong curriculum. MCPS fails consistently.

And the Board of Education just renewed Smith's contract earlier this year.

In June we have elections for the BOE. Lots of good candidates on the ballot this time, because the redistriting/boundary analysis debacle made people actually sit up and scrutinize what MCPS is doing and realize the situation. Vote for change.

What boundary analysis debacle? The one where affluent parents from Bethesda and Potomac showed up to holler, boo, and heckle about stuff that nobody is even proposing?

I'll note that MCPS's capital budget has probably just gone kablooey. MCPS is not going to have the money for new schools. So if your kid's school is over capacity, and you want something to happen, boundary changes are going to be the only way to do it.

[Anonymous]

Kablooey. When is the last time you saw/used that word in a written sentence?!?

Thanks for the *smile* this morning!

[Anonymous]

I’m not going to read all 6 pages but here is the answer:

MCPS wanted to use one platform: MyMCPS classroom. But lots of teachers who have been using Google classroom for years pushed back, and their union pushed back, so now they have a choice between the two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not going to read all 6 pages but here is the answer:

MCPS wanted to use one platform: MyMCPS classroom. But lots of teachers who have been using Google classroom for years pushed back, and their union pushed back, so now they have a choice between the two.

And what a glorious mess this has become because MCPS gave tecahers the final say. Can I, as a parent, choose to opt-out of this holy mess without my kids being penalized?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not going to read all 6 pages but here is the answer:

MCPS wanted to use one platform: MyMCPS classroom. But lots of teachers who have been using Google classroom for years pushed back, and their union pushed back, so now they have a choice between the two.

And what a glorious mess this has become because MCPS gave tecahers the final say. Can I, as a parent, choose to opt-out of this holy mess without my kids being penalized?

I'm feeling the same way. I did notice in one of MCPS emails they said they are working out how quarter 4 grading will work. I'm hoping it will be flexible enough that we can stop worrying about this. We are doing the best we can but I am afraid we are missing things, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not going to read all 6 pages but here is the answer:

MCPS wanted to use one platform: MyMCPS classroom. But lots of teachers who have been using Google classroom for years pushed back, and their union pushed back, so now they have a choice between the two.

Op here- thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not going to read all 6 pages but here is the answer:

MCPS wanted to use one platform: MyMCPS classroom. But lots of teachers who have been using Google classroom for years pushed back, and their union pushed back, so now they have a choice between the two.

Do you have a sense for why MCPS wanted Canvas? I find Google Classrooms much more intuitive and obvious in terms of "what is due" and "where are my documents."

Does Canvas have more flexibility for the older grades or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try working for Mcps. There are at least 7 different platforms I need to use to access student data. There isn’t one platform where I can access a student’s schedule, DOB, parent email address, MAP scores, PARCC scores, course registration for next year, IEP/504 information, current grades, past grades, etc. I must use several different platforms to get all of that information.

4th grade teacher here - almost all of that is easily found on Unify/Performance Matters. Might not help with course registration for next year though.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I have a middle Schooler and an elementary school child. For middle school I noticed that some assignments are on my MC PS, some are on Google classrooms and there is no unity which makes it hard for finding assignments. I apologize if I’m confusing the name of the modules but that’s how confused I am that I don’t even know which is which. Is there a reason why there is no standard teaching or communication module? It seems like it’s up to each teacher. I’m not criticizing I am trying to understand.

Hello --

MCPS did not give adequate training on myMCPS classroom when it first came out. Depending on the school and subject, some teachers were told that they had to switch platforms, and then had to learn on their own time how to make it work. As they have transitioned, some have found Google Classroom to be easier for their particular subject, others have found myMCPS Classroom to be easier. This is not surprising given the wide range of grade levels and subjects that we teach.

I agree that one teaching and communication module would be wonderful. It would be nice to have things streamlined. MCPS is planning some sort of a transition next year to make things more streamlined, but for now this is what we have.

MCPS always likes to receive feedback from parents. As we continue to move through this year, and begin to plan for things next year, some good things to suggest to the BOE include:

1. One platform that integrates communication, assignments, grades, attendance, and documentation.

2. One to One devices for students (at least at high school level) similar to Frederick County. In Frederick County, students can choose to use their own device or check out a chromebook from the school at the start of the year. The students then bring their device / chromebook to school each day. That way the student has access to a computer at home in order to complete assignments. At the end of the year, students return the chromebook to the school. Students will also have access whenever their is a snow day or other emergency closure without the rush to provide.

Can anyone think of other ideas?

The problem with Google Classroom is that Parent Access/Share is not turned on. There is no notifications, announcements or communication coming to parents through that Platform. If teachers are able to choose, there needs to be communication that explains that and identifies for students and parents which platform the teacher has choosen.

This Google Classroom is easier from a teacher perspective. MyMCPS has a lot more communication tools baked in. I hated MyMCPS, but these tools are critically important right now and I forced myself to switch over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try working for Mcps. There are at least 7 different platforms I need to use to access student data. There isn’t one platform where I can access a student’s schedule, DOB, parent email address, MAP scores, PARCC scores, course registration for next year, IEP/504 information, current grades, past grades, etc. I must use several different platforms to get all of that information.

Ok, this seems so unnecessary. Couldn’t MCPS find a really amazing Comp Sci intern or two from UMD who could build a dashboard and simplify some of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try working for Mcps. There are at least 7 different platforms I need to use to access student data. There isn’t one platform where I can access a student’s schedule, DOB, parent email address, MAP scores, PARCC scores, course registration for next year, IEP/504 information, current grades, past grades, etc. I must use several different platforms to get all of that information.

Ok, this seems so unnecessary. Couldn’t MCPS find a really amazing Comp Sci intern or two from UMD who could build a dashboard and simplify some of this.

Yes we have the platform for this - Unify/Performance Matters.