COVID-19 Response

BACI’s Covid-19 K-12+ Remote Learning and Online Resources

This page has been created to help support K-12+ Burmese (and Asian Americans) & immigrant communities, their parents and teachers in the US; however, we hope that any high school students, college students, educators in Myanmar, Southeast Asia, and around the world may find it helpful & informative.

#InThisTogether

Online Engagement Systems and Platforms for ALL

A curated list of resources that will support educators and students transition to digital spaces to communicate with students, develop content, and manage student progress

Educator Resources

Top 10 Free Training Courses for Online Teachers

1) TeachOnline: Michigan State University’s Virtual University Design and Technology website offers text-based lessons in topics including pedagogy and best practices, online course content, enlivening techniques, course structure and design, and hybrid courses.

2) Learning to Teach Online Video & PDF Lessons: The Learning to Teach Online project has been developed by COFA Online, an academic unit at the College of Fine Arts, the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. It is designed to be practical and easy to access for time-poor teachers. The video- and PDF-based episodes each examine specific successful online teaching strategies froxm many different disciplines, offering tips, guidance and pointing out the potential pitfalls to both novice and experienced online teachers. Best of all, the more than 50 lessons can be accessed for free through ITunes.

3) Thinking About Putting Your Class Online?: This University of Pittsburgh videocast discusses online course planning and design, interaction, giving students feedback, assessment, getting feedback from students, and new technologies.

4) Promising Practices in Online Teaching : Originally developed for Texas Woman’s University, this course includes modules showing how to design a course, along with explanations of best practices for distance education.

5) Visual Design for Online Course Content: Also from Texas Woman’s University, this course gives tips to help you successfully create the navigation, layout, colors and design of your course content.

6) Teacher Training Videos: This step-by-step video resource shows teachers how to use technological tools such as Blackboard, wikis, online surveys, podcasting and more.

7) Effective Online Teaching – Faculty Quick Tips: Seven Pace University online instructors give their best advice about being an effective online educator. Go to iTunes U’s Pace University page and select “Faculty Contributions” to access these videos.

8) MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching): MERLOT provides a large, peer-reviewed collection of online curricula and other resources, as well as forums and publications aimed at online educators. Search the MERLOT database for “distance learning” to find links to material to help you plan and design effective online classes.

9) Free Textbooks for Online Courses – Community Colleges Online: The Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources (OER) is a great site that assists faculty who are developing online courses for community or junior colleges in finding and utilizing free online textbooks, learning modules, and creative commons resources for distance learning courses.

10) Sloan Consortium Effective Practices: The Sloan Consortium studies and funds online education. The consortium’s Effective Practices site is a way for online educators to share techniques, strategies, and practices in online education that have worked for them. Practices are peer-reviewed before being put on the site.
Related Resources

GetEducated.com’s Motivating & Retaining Adult Learners Online: A Journal of Research Articles and Practitioner’s Tips

Guide to Finding Work as an Online College Instructor
Free Handbook for Online Teaching
Most Affordable Online Masters Degrees in Education and Library Science
Principles for Excellence in Online Teaching
Online Education and Online Instructor Jobs: Positions Available
Online Education and Online Instructor Jobs: Teachers Available

Computer Science

Dual Language Immersion

  • Panda Tree – Select Panda Tree materials are available to teachers and parents at no cost. Multiple languages are available, including Mandarin.
  • Learn Chinese Mandarin for Kids –  Lessons and activities to use with students enrolled in Mandarin Dual Language Immersion programs.
  • Migrant Literacy Net – Resources are provided in Spanish from grades 1-8. There are math, reading, writing, WIDA, and study skill lessons provided. Teachers can create a free account.
  • Salsa Georgia – Salsa is Georgia Public Broadcasting’s award-winning Spanish language series for young learners in kindergarten through the third grade. Puppets in familiar stories, digital graphics and animation teach the language. – grades K-6

English/Language Arts

  • Literacy Framework – Indiana Specific support for standards based instruction including access to digital resources – grades K-12
  • NewsELA – authentic content from the world’s most trusted providers turned into learning materials that are classroom-ready – grades 3-12.
  • Storyline Online – available 24 hours a day for children, parents, caregivers and educators worldwide. Each book includes supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners. – grades PK-8
  • Reading Strategies and Activities for Students at Risk for Reading Difficulties, Including Dyslexia – Lesson Plans for practicing different parts of reading – grades K-5 

English Language Learner

  • eLearning Resources – English Learners – This hub features resources for both teachers and families of English learner students. Included are links to other EL-specific resource hubs, such as WIDA’s, links for effectively connecting with multilingual families, and instructional programs and supports.
  • eLearning Requirements and Supports for English Learners – IDOE’s guidance on the requirements for providing services, communicating with families, and assessing English learner students.

Fine Arts

General Information and Professional Development

  • IDOE eLearning Day Program – resources to assist schools in implemented eLearning days
  • PBS LearningMedia – PBS LearningMedia is a free service that offers thousands of contextualized learning materials aligned to state and national standards.
  • SETDA Coalition for eLearning – resources and guidance for online learning
  • Learning Keeps Going – a curation of free tools, strategies, tips and best practices for teaching online from a coalition of education organizations

High Ability

Mathematics

  • Math Framework – Indiana Specific support for standards based instruction including access to digital resources – grades K-12
  • Which One Doesn’t Belong – A website dedicated to providing thought-provoking puzzles for math teachers and students alike. There are no answers provided as there are many different and correct ways of choosing which one doesn’t belong. Enjoy! – grades PK-12
  • Estimation 180 – Building number sense one day at a time. – grades PK-12
  • Esti-Mysteries – Estimation meets mystery – Each image invites students to wonder what number is represented by the image.  As you click through each Esti-Mystery, clues will appear that will allow the students to use math concepts to narrow the set of possibilities to a small set of numbers.  In the end, the students will need to call upon their estimation skills to solve the mystery and find the missing number. – grades PK-12
  • Bedtime Math – posts daily math problems for families to build mathematical literacy. Just 5 quick minutes of number fun for kids and parents at home. Read a cool fact, followed by math riddles at different developmental levels so everyone can jump in! – grades K-6
  • Turner’s Graph of the Week – Improving math literacy in the classroom; Students will become sharper, analytical thinkers in today’s world.  Students are given the opportunity to communicate their critical thinking and analysis through writing and classroom discussion. – grades 6-12

Physical Education / Health and Wellness

  • EverFi – online curriculum that is free to educators at this time – grades K-12
  • OPEN – Online Physical Education Network (activities and PD) – grades K-12
  • Move Your Way – Help your kids get more physical activity. Use this tool to find ways to fit more activity into their day. – grades K-12
  • SHAPE America – Lessons and Activities – grades K-12

Science

  • National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) free K-12 teaching resources – Includes over 800 lesson plans, book chapters, videos, simulations, and more – vetted by NSTA curators.
  • Siemens STEM Day – Siemens STEM Day offers a variety of K-12 tools and resources with original hands-on activities, career connections, and a teacher support center including an implementation Toolkit.
  • Discovery Education – Flipped learning is easier when you have access to hundreds of thousands of K-12 digital resources, and with Experience you can assign individual pieces or even a whole folder of content to your students no matter where they are.
  • University of Colorado Boulder PhET – Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations for K-16.
  • National Science Foundation – Welcome to Classroom Resources–a diverse collection of K12 lessons and web resources for classroom teachers, their students and students’ families.

Social-Emotional Learning

Social Studies

  • PBS Learning for Indiana Educators – Standards-aligned videos, interactives, and lesson plans. – grades K-12
  • National Geographic Kids – grades K-6
  • EconEdLink – Online PD for teachers and economics lessons and collections for grade K-12.
  • iCivics – Put your students into action with these games and lessons. – grades 7-12
  • Engaging Congress – Free civics/government primary source-based interactive that is intended for distance learning.  It can be used on the web or downloaded as an app from Google Play or Apple Store. – grades 7-12

Special Education

World Language

  • Pandemic Prepping in the Language Classroom – International Association for Language Learning Technology or IALLT : free resources with slides and a broadcast recording to assist in the rapid transition to online language learning, for those schools which close for social distancing – grade K-12
  • CASLS Games2Teach – CASLS Games2Teach website has free downloadable classroom activities in over 17 languages for novice, intermediate, and advanced learners that accompany digital games. Students can play and complete the assignments off-site. (University of Oregon) – grades K-12
  • Teaching Languages Via Zoom – Language instructors teaching remotely are invited to view this tutorial highlighting the basics of teaching language using the @Zoom. (teacher tutorial) – grades K-12

Writing

  • The Writing Revolution Modules – These modules were created by the IDOE Literacy team based on the work and book by Judith Hockman and Natalie Wexler. These self-paced modules are intended to supplement the text. 

Family Resources

Connectivity

  • Charter Communications announced on March 13, 2020 that for 60 days the company will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access to homes with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a subscription. Installation fees will also be waived for these households. Enroll by calling 844-488-8395. Charter will also continue Spectrum Internet Assist, a program offering low-cost broadband internet of 30 Mbps for low-income households without school-aged children.
  • Comcast, which owns Xfinity, will offer 60 days free and increased speeds for new families who join the Internet Essentials program, an internet access program for low income families that is normally $9.95 a month.
  • AT&T announced on Friday it would not cancel service and would waive late fees for any wireless, home phone, broadband residential or small business customer experiencing hardships because of the coronavirus pandemic and can’t pay their bills. Qualifying low income households can apply for $10 a month internet access through the Access from AT&T program. Fixed Wireless Internet and Wireline customers can use unlimited internet data. AT&T will also keep public Wi-Fi hotspots open.

Talking To Your Children about COVID-19

Additional Information and Resources about COVID-19

General Resources

  • PBS Kids – Find FREE educational games, videos, hands-on activities, and more from your favorite PBS KIDS programs. Resources are appropriate for ages 3-8.
  • PBS Apps and Games – Find educational apps from your favorite PBS KIDS programs. Compatible with iOS and Android devices. Resources are appropriate for ages 3-8.
  • PBS KIDS for Parents  – PBS KIDS for Parents offers information, activities and tips for parents, including this resource on “How to talk to your kids about coronavirus”. Resources are appropriate for ages 2-8.
  • PBS LearningMedia – PBS LearningMedia is a free service that offers thousands of contextualized learning materials aligned to state and national standards.
  • Scholastic Learn at Home – Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing. The site will be updated weekly until 20 days of content is available.
  • The Exploratorium – an ongoing exploration of science, art, and human perception. Explore the vast collection of online experiences to feed your curiosity and education resources supporting online teaching and learning.

Continuity of Learning at Home During COVID-19

Best Practices for Learning at Home

Computer Science
Dual Language Immersion
  • Salsa Georgia – Salsa is Georgia Public Broadcasting’s award-winning Spanish language series for young learners in kindergarten through the third grade. Puppets in familiar stories, digital graphics and animation teach the language.
Early Learning
  • Storyline Online – The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Online Library of Read Alouds by various actors and actresses
  • Kindergarten Readiness on IDOE Early Learning’s For Families Page
  • Vroom has activities to support your child’s brain development from birth-5.
  • Scholastic Learn at Home – Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing. The site will be updated weekly until 20 days of content is available.
  • The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” (LTSAE) – FREE research-based, parent-friendly resources on child development, developmental milestones, and activity ideas for young children and their families. On Facebook:  Act Early Indiana.
English Language Arts
Math
  • Bedtime Math – posts daily math problems for families to build mathematical literacy. Just 5 quick minutes of number fun for kids and parents at home. Read a cool fact, followed by math riddles at different developmental levels so everyone can jump in!
  • Which One Doesn’t Belong – A website dedicated to providing thought-provoking puzzles for math teachers and students alike. There are no answers provided as there are many different and correct ways of choosing which one doesn’t belong.
  • Estimation 180 – Building number sense one day at a time.
  • Esti-Mysteries – Estimation meets mystery – Each image invites students to wonder what number is represented by the image.  As you click through each Esti-Mystery, clues will appear that will allow the students to use math concepts to narrow the set of possibilities to a small set of numbers.  In the end, the students will need to call upon their estimation skills to solve the mystery and find the missing number.
Physical Education
  • GoNoodle – Movement lessons and activities
Science
  • Mystery Science – K-5 science lessons available with no signup or login required.
  • GLOBE Observer – an international network of citizen scientists and scientists working together to learn more about our shared environment and changing climate.
Social-Emotional Learning
Social Studies
  • National Geographic Kids
  • Smithsonian History Explorer – History Explorer is the online portal for free, standards-based K-12 resources including lesson plans, interactives, videos, and artifacts from the National Museum of American History.
  • Maptia – Geographic and cultural story-telling. Also, an excellent cross-curricular resource for English/Language Arts.
Writing
  • Read, Write, Think Student Interactives – Engage your students in online literacy learning with these interactive tools that help them accomplish a variety of goals—from organizing their thoughts to learning about language—all while having fun. – grades K-5
  • Boom Writer – Begin with a story starter and students log in to write. After the different developments are read, students decides which direction the story should take. Edits and conferences abound until students agrees the story is finished. Then it is published! – grades 3-8
Virtual Tours/Free Museums
  • Cincinnati Zoo – plans to live stream several animals and exhibits starting March 16, every week day at 3 p.m.
  • Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems – Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. New episodes will be posted each weekday at 1:00 p.m. ET and then remain online to be streamed afterwards.
  • San Diego Zoo: The San Diego Zoo has a website just for kids with amazing videos, activities, and games. Enjoy the tour!
  • Yellowstone National Park Virtual Field Trip: Mud Volcano, Mammoth Hot Springs, and so much more. Tour Yellowstone National Park!
  • MARS!: Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover.  They are updating from WEBVR to WEBXR now, but 360 Mode offers a digital view!
  • Animal Cameras: Live Cams at the San Diego Zoo; Monterey Bay Aquarium live cams; Panda Cam at Zoo Atlanta; 6 Animal Cams at Houston Zoo; Georgia Aquarium has Jellyfish, Beluga Whales, and more.
  • Virtual Farm Tour: This Canadian site Farm Food 360 offers 11 Virtual Tours of farms from minks, pigs, and cows, to apples and eggs.
  • U.S. Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville, AL: See the Saturn 5 Rocket on YouTube and more on this tour thanks to a real father/son outing.
  • Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips: A few of the field trip topics include; Polar Bears and the Tundra;  Social Emotional Skills; STEM; manufacturing
  • The Louvre: Travel to Paris, France to see amazing works of art at The Louvre with this virtual field trip.
  • The Great Wall of China: This Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China is beautiful and makes history come to life.
  • Boston Children’s Museum: Walk through the Boston Children’s Museum thanks to Google Maps!; This virtual tour allows kids to explore 3 floors of fun.

At Home Activities by the U.S. Department of Education

Sources: the U.S. Department of Education, California Department of Education, Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY), Coursera, BACI Contributors and from others