Reply to Virtual Learning

Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

Reply to "Virtual Learning - Why Not MCPS?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]MSDE requires an advance plan for virtual learning to take place during Inclement weather.  It doesn't take a genius to come up with one.

1) It is my understanding that virtual learning must be synchronous for MSDE approval.  So, at the start of the year (or semester in the case of high schoolers), all teachers provide a snow day Zoom link to their students.  Schools provide a snow day schedule - going with the 2-hour delayed schedule is probably ideal.

2) All teachers provide a snow day packet with a designated number of lessons or activities (let's say 5 days of activities).  Think of it as much like the emergency substitute plans teachers are required to provide, in case of an unplanned absence.  These could focus on subject specific skills but wouldn't have to relate to what students are studying specifically at any point in the year.  (reading comprehension activities in English, skills practice in Math, a focus on famous artists in fine arts - these lessons could even be related to School Improvement Plans).

3) MCPS pivots to virtual learning using provided Zoom link and schedule.  Students who are able to sign in do so.  Attendance is taken. Teacher instructs on lesson designated as Snow Day 1 and provides support to students completing that lesson.  **Anyone who is having any sort of technical difficulty has the packet and knows to complete Snow Day 1 activity (this could come with the MCPS announcement of a virtual learning day, along with directions about how to be counted as present when experiencing technical difficulties).

4) ALL students are given a due date of one week or even ten days AFTER returning to school to turn in the Snow Day lesson(s) on time and for full credit.  This allows students to gain in-person clarification from the teacher and to work around any other issues.

I believe this could work at elementary, middle, and high school levels.  Realistically, most high school students really could just continue with their regular lessons in Canvas.  I'm a high school teacher in MCPS and I've been in communication with my students this week, encouraging them to get started with the first lesson of the new semester.

Is this an IDEAL plan?  Of course not.  Could it work for a few days on a week such as this one and does it beat adding bogus half days at the end of the school year? Certainly![/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics