As schools and organizations make the transition to virtual and remote learning, there is no shortage of resources. This guide is a quick start to navigating those decisions with advice and guidance from educators in the trenches.

1. Presented by Angela Maiers
angelamaiers@gmail.com

2. This guide was written with a genuine desire to help school leaders by
providing valuable and reliable information on leading and learning remotely
while protecting and maintaining your schools health, wellness and mission.
There are literally hundreds ideas, resources, activities tools and tips to make
sure every school, teacher, family and leader has what they need to succeed.
So much so the new information circulating online actually adds to the
overwhelm.
A school superintendent posted this today:

3. 1) Supporting people in the transition to virtual
working (tools, techniques for home working, manage
a team virtually, wellness, mindset etc);
2) Making sure people know how to access all the
virtual learning resources available;
3) Sharing learning best practices across the tools
and platforms.
4) Identifying resources that may be valuable for
families or friends of associates. Like those listed
above.
That is exactly what our goal is:
to clear the way so you can do what you do best:
The following pages will walk you through the basics of:
LEAD!

4. TOPICS AND SECTIONS
Safety and SECURITY
teaching and Learning
Support and tROUBLESHOOTING
TECHNOLOGY TOOLS AND PLATFORMS
On Going Communication

5. SAFETY
SECURITY
&

6. We cannot ignore the human impact of the present situation.
Whatever challenges are on the horizon, and whatever uncertainties
we face. The issue is not in finding the best resources to take
education digital, but in creating a new belief system in educators.
We need to believe that:
We can and do make an impact during hard times.
Doing education digitally is an extension of what
we do.
We are resilient and can give hope to all that the
future is bright.

7. Safety and Security
When the danger is invisible or incalculable, fear,
suspicion, panic and irrationality are threats to our
learning and lives.
When we are rattled by questions like:
“Am I safe?” “Could I die? Will I die?
“Will others I know and care about die?
“When will it be ok?”
Everything is impacted.
We need to help all our community stay informed,
calm and hopeful though this journey. Online
learning is all about connecting with others and
fostering and deepening the relationships we
have with our students, staff and colleagues.
Whether we are at school or in our homes; it is
crucial to keep relationships central to all that we
do.

8. •Center for Disease Control and Prevention
•Safe and Sound Schools:
•Guidance for Parents and Caregivers
•Guidance for for Administrators of US K-12
Schools and Childcare Programs
•TTalking to Children About the Virus via NYTimes
Resources for Keeping Everyone Informed and Safe

9. ON GOING
COMMUNICATION

10. People perform at their
best when they feel
connected, included,
empowered and
appreciated.
When unable to come
together physically,
maintaining a strong
sense of connection and
shared purpose becomes
mission critical.
HUDDLE UP!

11. Smaller gatherings can be more participatory so
that team members can ask questions and simply
feel more connected to one another.
Zoom Video
BlueJeans Events
YouTube Live
LiveStream
Twitch
Facebook Live
Google Hangouts/Meet
Here are some tools to consider:

12. TOOLS
PLATFORMS
&

13. There is certainly no shortage of choices when it comes
to hardware or software. The key is getting the tool to
serve you and your needs and not the other way around.
Are You Asking These Questions?
Does it encourage
broader engagement/participation?
Does/Will everyone have access?
Is it cost effective and sustainable?
Does it amplify what we want?
connection, collaboration, contribution
Does it integrate?

14. 1. List the tools your staff and
students are already using
2. Divide the tools up into categories
that have similar functions (Real time
communication, collaboration, etc…
3. Discuss how people feel using
these different tools
4. Create a pro/con list
5. Once the tools are decided create
a quick start guide to each
We recommend doing the following:

16. Offering Great Support and Resources
•Google Suite
•Office Suite
•Zoom
•Facebook Groups
•Slack
•Adobe
Commonly Used Tools

17. Teaching
Learning
&

18. Online learning is not about replication of
what you are doing in on-campus settings.
Rather, there is an opportunity to
reimagine learning
in unprecedented ways.
Educators may need a reminder from you
that it is ok to not get through all the content
that might have been covered in under
traditional circumstances.
Acknowledge and reinforce the exciting
possibilities for new learning spaces and
experiences. Encourage them to jump into
some of these new and fantastic
opportunities.

19. Teachers can still conduct live teaching sessions
with lessons they have already created or meet
with their students live through easy to use video
conferencing software.
Students can collaborate with other classes in
real-time or asynchronously. Teachers have full
control over how to run their classrooms with
features like screen share and video streaming
without ever leaving the platform.
LIVE INSTRUCTION
Zoom
Google Hangouts Facebook Live
WebX
Adobe
Skype

20. New Learning Adventures
Ask An ExpertWonder WithThe World
Tour
Museums
Virtually
Make
An
Impact
Learn From a Master Discover Your Strengths

21. • Brainpop
• Seesaw
• Scholastic
• Stemscopes
• Pebble Go
• Tumblebooks
• Capstone
• WeVideo
The following are resources that are available
for students and teachers at no charge.
• Khan Academy
• Udemy
• Adobe Spark
• Google
• Microsoft
• Kahoot
• Discovery
• Adobe

22. For teachers ready for more; the lists of online learning
resources compiled by teachers, home educators,parents
and supporting organizations is both stunning and
growing by the day!
Amazing Ed Resources FB Group.
International Educators Sharing
Mystery Science Resources
Everything Liiteracy
Best of Twitter: Resources for
Home Learning
Coronavirus Tech Handbook
Coronavirus Support Hub- TES

23. Trouble Shooting
SUPPORT
&

24. Consider staffing open video
conference rooms (with at least two
employees) for people to join for
technical help, instructional help, and
for general information.
Most video conferencing platforms
have an option to remain open, and
these could be used as the forum
room,
Understanding and establishing
norms in such spaces may take some
time, but it can be treated like an
open forum.
If a question or topic gets too
personal, then it may be helpful to
move a dialogue to a private room or
conversation.
Digital Support Rooms

25. Digital Support Rooms You
Might Consider
Technical support
Instructional support
HR support
Health support
Wellness support

26. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE

27. Facebook Group Educators Network:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/12230540441/
Facebook Group for Librarian: Step Up in Times of Crisis
https://www.facebook.com/groups/libcrisis/
Facebook Group for International Educators and Online Learning
https://www.facebook.com/groups/InternationalEducators
Facebook Groups for Teachers
https://www.weareteachers.com/teacher-facebook-groups/
Community Groups with Direct Support
Facebook Groups for School Leaders
https://www.facebook.com/pg/SchoolLeadersNow
Facebook Groups for EdTech
https://edtech4beginners.com/

28. More Education Hashtags:
https://www.cybraryman.com/edhashtags.html
“Staying Connected
Not Infected”

29. We are going to keep improving this guide based on your
feedback. Please send your stories, ideas and experiences of
using this guide and any methods and tips and tricks on how to
improve virtual learning and leading.
angelamaiers@gmail.com
#WEARESMARTERTOGETHER

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