Distance Learning Ideas
RECORD ON YouTUBE
TEACHER - Create for a short video for instruction where you speak directly to the camera. Upload it to YouTube (log in with your school email address) and share the link with your students (or put it on a Firefly page).
STUDENTS - Get the students to make a video showing their learning and upload it to YouTube and share the link with you. (Always choose UNLISTED when uploading as this means it's not searchable).
YOU TUBE AND GOOGLE FORMS
TEACHER - Create or find a YouTube video that you wish your students to learn from. Add this as the first item in a Google Form. Set questions / or quiz questions about the video. Assign points and get the quiz to self mark.
20 BELLRINGER IDEAS
TEACHERS - Try this short lesson starters or even make a full lesson out of them.
http://ditchthattextbook.com/10-digital-bell-ringer-activities-to-kickstart-class-part-1/
PODCAST
TEACHER - Create a podcast where you read to the students. Online sites such as buzzsprout.com / Audacity / Zencastr are great for making and even sharing your podcast. Don't forget Garageband on you mac though! When you're done hit share and then export to disk. The MP3 you record can even be added to a Firefly page or shared through Google Drive.
Click here for a youtube video on how to podcast using Audacity
STUDENTS - Get your students to record podcasts and share them with you.
30 BRILLIANT IDEAS FOR GOOGLE SLIDES
SCREENCASTING
TEACHER - Tools like Screencastomatic, Screencastify, or my favourite - Loom - allow you to record what's on you screen whilst you talk. Great for giving instruction and sharing. Loom records and uploads automatically. It provides you with a URL that you share. Loom Pro is free for teachers and students. Quick and simple. (Quicktime on your Mac also allows you to do this
STUDENTS - Get the students to record their screen and explain their learning or understanding. Screen recording is also a tool that's built in to the iPad
COLLABORATION
TEACHERS - Everyone has a Google account! If the students are put in small groups, collaborative work can be a great way to get them motivated on a task. 3 students is a good number. If each group shares you in then you can monitor the progress and make comments.
EDPUZZLE
TEACHERS - Add questions / learning points to YouTube videos and track your students' comprehension
ONLINE MATERIALS
Teachers - Point your students to sites such as Khan Academy or https://thecrashcourse.com/. There's a ton of material waiting just for you.
Google Classroom
TEACHERS - Google classroom is designed for distance learning. It's easy for your class to sign up or join your class. When you add an assignment you can make sure everyone has their own copy of the doc and students can easily submit work to you.
There is a discussion 'stream' built in so students can chat and discuss the work, as well as allowing you to message them all.
RECORDED MARKING
TEACHER - Either using screencasting tools alongside highlighting tools OR use a tool like Kaizena to create a video as you mark student work. This is great feedback that the students can visit again and again.
USE PHONE OR TABLET TO MARK
TEACHERS - Need to mark written work? Why not record yourself marking, haglighting and giving feedback to the students.
USE TEMPLATES
TEACHERS - If you are creating materials for the students you can easily spice them up with slide templates. https://slidesmania.com/ is a great site witch lots of free templates.
TWITTER
TEACHER - Create a #hashtag for your class and begin a discussion. Ask your students to reply to questions or comments using the same hashtag every time.
STUDENTS - Give your students Twitter hashtags to follow and research.
COLLATE
TEACHER - Use a page on Wakelet to create a collection of resources for your students to learn from.
STUDENTS - Ask your students to create their own Wakelet creation to show their learning / understanding.
PADLET
TEACHER - Create a Padlet to start a discussion / gather student input.
QUIZ IDEAS
TEACHERS - Need I say more? Try a distance Kahoot!!!! or Quizlet
Have you hears of Gimkit? https://www.gimkit.com/. also https://quizizz.com/ is also fantastic
FLOWCHARTS
TEACHERS - Use tools and shapes in Google Sheets or Google drawings to create a flowchart / timeline.
STUDENTS - GET students to demonstrate their understanding of a sequence of events / events in a story.
FLIPGRID
TEACHERS - Try a Flipgrid. It's an amazing way to discuss ideas and get the students sharing feedback with each other.
MINDMAPS
STUDENTS - Get students to work alone on these or in groups, collaboratively. There are plenty of free mind mapping tools out there. Just search the web. Coggle and Mindmeister
QUESTION, QUESTION, QUESTION....
TEACHERS - Have a look at these questionnaire tools that are available online.
https://mopinion.com/top-21-best-online-survey-software-and-questionnaire-tools-an-overview/
MENTIMETER
TEACHERS - Use this to gauge your students' understanding or get their feedback. (Email me for the username and password)
UTILISE COMMENTS IN GOOGLE DOCS
TEACHERS - Give ongoing feedback to student by using comments. Use the 'plus symbol' within the comment to provide the student with an email reminder of the feedback also.
CHECK OUT THESE GREAT WEBSITES
FIND OUT FROM OTHER TEACHERS
TEACHERS - Twitter is a perfect place for you to learn. Follow these hashtags and you'll be amazed at what you'll find other teachers are doing. #coronalearn #VirtualLearning #OnlineLearning
DISCUSSION GROUPS
Free until the end April 2020. https://parlayideas.com/
ONLINE STRUCTURED LEARNING
TEACHERS - There are loads of great online learning tools. Seneca Learning allows you to set work for your students, monitor, self mark provide free and fun activities. https://app.senecalearning.com/courses
FREEBIES
Lots of tech sites are offering free access to schools during these challenging times. Check out the list here. https://wakelet.com/wake/8e074820-d496-4024-8cee-ad1a4321589a
BREAKOUTS (for free)
STUDENTS - Pretty challenging for most, but great to get students doing these in groups or with their parents. They might need some clues along the way though. https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome
FIRST NEWS
TEACHERS - If your school subscribes to this it is a great resource for students (Middle school and below).
BLOGGING / WEBSITES
STUDENTS - Get your students to write a blog / build a website. It can be about any aspect of learning, but ideally get them to research, find out and present.
LEARN MORE
A ton of resources and ideas are here. https://www.theedublogger.com/teaching-online-school-closures/#.XmWzFMYfq3y.twitter
YOUR GOOGLE TOOLS
Google gives you and your students access to a massive range of tools. These can foster collaboration, communication and team / groupwork.
Don't forget Google Keep (keep.google.com), Hangouts Meet (meet.google.com), Chat(chat.google.com)
These all have their own advantages and are great for remote comms.
THE STORY OF STUFF
Great collection of videos to find out about the world in which we live...especially environmental issues. https://www.storyofstuff.org/ Why not use this along side a self made quiz (ie. quizziz) to monitor student understanding.
ANNOTATE YOUR SCREEN
Preview on your Mac already has Markup tools built in, but if you want more, have a look here. https://apps.apple.com/id/app/screenbrush/id1233965871?mt=12
If you screencast and use MarkUp tools at the same time you can present really easily.....or get your students to do it.
KAMI
An amazing tool which integrates with Google Drive and Classroom. Amazing markup tools for both teachers and students.
USE AN ONLINE WHITEBOARD
Miro.com ........work together, even from a distance
Whiteboard.fi
Whiteboard.chat
ASSESSMENT/FUN QUIZZES
Socrative and Mentimeter.......both great assessment tools and fun for quizzes etc.
READING
STUDENTS - Poing your students to sites such as http://www.wonderopolis.org/ OR https://newsela.com/
https://newsela.com/about/distance-learning/ (for free access)
AudioBooks
Audible are offering free audio books for children. Loads to choose from - https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
FUN AND GAMES FROM CSM
Common Sense Media have an excellent list of activities / ideas that children can so at home. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/free-online-events-activities-kids-at-home-coronavirus
Google Slides
This is a long one, but worth jumping in and out of to find out more about slides https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oSTMEmx89M
PDF EDITS
Dochub online is probably the best solution for this. https://www.dochub.com
CSM
A million ideas from matt miller
If you don't follow Ditch That Text Book then you probably should. Here are a load of great ideas for online learning. https://ditchthattextbook.com/elearning/