Virtual learning if shutdown goes on?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a sense or inside information if virtual classrooms with student's teachers will happen if this goes past the two weeks? My 6th grader has almost finished the materials provided by MCPS. I'm trying to find other resources but I also need to work. Plus it would be great for kids to see their teachers and classmates, even if just through a computer screen for a couple of hours a day. Hoping it's in the works...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a sense or inside information if virtual classrooms with student's teachers will happen if this goes past the two weeks? My 6th grader has almost finished the materials provided by MCPS. I'm trying to find other resources but I also need to work. Plus it would be great for kids to see their teachers and classmates, even if just through a computer screen for a couple of hours a day. Hoping it's in the works...

I was told by someone in MCPS that they don’t want to do virtual classrooms because they can’t guarantee that every kid would have access, and it’s an equity problem.

[Anonymous]

Governor Hogan said today that he is unsure if students will be returning to school for the rest of this academic year. At some point, school systems will need to teach new material remotely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a sense or inside information if virtual classrooms with student's teachers will happen if this goes past the two weeks? My 6th grader has almost finished the materials provided by MCPS. I'm trying to find other resources but I also need to work. Plus it would be great for kids to see their teachers and classmates, even if just through a computer screen for a couple of hours a day. Hoping it's in the works...

I was told by someone in MCPS that they don’t want to do virtual classrooms because they can’t guarantee that every kid would have access, and it’s an equity problem.

If I understand correctly, DC public schools will be starting distance learning soon. If DCPS can figure out how to do this when some kids do not have access, then MCPS needs to get on it stat. I understand that kids need to be fed as well, and I have received about 20 emails about the available meals, so it seems that they have this in hand. I think MCPS needs to step up on the remote learning as well and demonstrate that they can be problem-solvers, not just wring their hands and do nothing for ANY of the MCPS kids in terms of adequate remote learning.

[Anonymous]

$100 says that they're just gonna call it and waive the rest of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a sense or inside information if virtual classrooms with student's teachers will happen if this goes past the two weeks? My 6th grader has almost finished the materials provided by MCPS. I'm trying to find other resources but I also need to work. Plus it would be great for kids to see their teachers and classmates, even if just through a computer screen for a couple of hours a day. Hoping it's in the works...

I was told by someone in MCPS that they don’t want to do virtual classrooms because they can’t guarantee that every kid would have access, and it’s an equity problem.

If I understand correctly, DC public schools will be starting distance learning soon. If DCPS can figure out how to do this when some kids do not have access, then MCPS needs to get on it stat. I understand that kids need to be fed as well, and I have received about 20 emails about the available meals, so it seems that they have this in hand. I think MCPS needs to step up on the remote learning as well and demonstrate that they can be problem-solvers, not just wring their hands and do nothing for ANY of the MCPS kids in terms of adequate remote learning.

+1

There are a lot of Chrome books at most of the schools. Can't they distribute them for use in households that do not have access to technology? My understanding is that Comcast is providing free internet access--including free self-installation kits--during this time.

[Anonymous]

If schools are closed the rest of the year, they will have no choice but to go online. There is no way the state will waive that many days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a sense or inside information if virtual classrooms with student's teachers will happen if this goes past the two weeks? My 6th grader has almost finished the materials provided by MCPS. I'm trying to find other resources but I also need to work. Plus it would be great for kids to see their teachers and classmates, even if just through a computer screen for a couple of hours a day. Hoping it's in the works...

I was told by someone in MCPS that they don’t want to do virtual classrooms because they can’t guarantee that every kid would have access, and it’s an equity problem.

If I understand correctly, DC public schools will be starting distance learning soon. If DCPS can figure out how to do this when some kids do not have access, then MCPS needs to get on it stat. I understand that kids need to be fed as well, and I have received about 20 emails about the available meals, so it seems that they have this in hand. I think MCPS needs to step up on the remote learning as well and demonstrate that they can be problem-solvers, not just wring their hands and do nothing for ANY of the MCPS kids in terms of adequate remote learning.

+1

There are a lot of Chrome books at most of the schools. Can't they distribute them for use in households that do not have access to technology? My understanding is that Comcast is providing free internet access--including free self-installation kits--during this time.

They should have enough chrome books for kids who need them when many of us don't. They could also provide a hot spot. Its really sad DCPS and other areas can provide virtual learning and we get nothing.

[Anonymous]

The problem is that if a kid needs a chrome book they probably don’t have internet access at home either. I am not even sure that chrome books work perfectly outside of a school. They are pretty locked down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that if a kid needs a chrome book they probably don’t have internet access at home either. I am not even sure that chrome books work perfectly outside of a school. They are pretty locked down.

Comcast is providing two months of free internet. It would be a challenge but it would have been easier if they distributed the chrome books and information while the kids were at school. My kid is in first grade and above level so I don’t really care. But for a lot of kids, it will be tough to recover from this, and the ones who will find it toughest are the least able to solve the access problem themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that if a kid needs a chrome book they probably don’t have internet access at home either. I am not even sure that chrome books work perfectly outside of a school. They are pretty locked down.

If DC can do it, so can MCPS.
If existing chromebooks don’t work, they can buy new ones in bulk to cover those who need it. They can buy wifi hotspots for those who need it.
There is no excuse for failing to educate students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that if a kid needs a chrome book they probably don’t have internet access at home either. I am not even sure that chrome books work perfectly outside of a school. They are pretty locked down.

If DC can do it, so can MCPS.
If existing chromebooks don’t work, they can buy new ones in bulk to cover those who need it. They can buy wifi hotspots for those who need it.
There is no excuse for failing to educate students.

They should have thought ahead on that one. At my kids’ school (overseas in Asia) they gave parents the option to checkout an iPad (we don’t use chrome books) on the day school was cancelled. For the day or two following cancellation, parents could come in to check out a device.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$100 says that they're just gonna call it and waive the rest of the year.

Nah. it'll be an "accessible" online program:

Packets of work available online, emailed, mailed, or picked up from locations
Return work via online portal, mail, e-mail, or drop off at locations
Non-interactive sessions on the web as videos and reading materials, and perhaps also made available other ways
Interactive sessions via video possible, but also by phone. Some may be small groups.


It's going to be CRAP. Time to reduce Superintendent pay by 50% until he can deliver a proper solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that if a kid needs a chrome book they probably don’t have internet access at home either. I am not even sure that chrome books work perfectly outside of a school. They are pretty locked down.

If DC can do it, so can MCPS.
If existing chromebooks don’t work, they can buy new ones in bulk to cover those who need it. They can buy wifi hotspots for those who need it.
There is no excuse for failing to educate students.

What is "DC" doing, specifically?

[Anonymous]

Is it likely that MCPS will follow DCPS and close through April? I’d rather just try to plan for that now with work then scramble in two weeks time.