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Distance Learning and Remote Instruction

Serving New Students at a Distance

Tech & Learning - Remote Learning Playbook
(linked with Permission from Author)

Using Morning Messages to Start the Day in Distance Learning: This article discusses different warm-up activities for each day before beginning a virtual learning session.

6 Strategies for Successful Distance Learning: Teachers discuss strategies for successful DL

See the FAQ for guidance on Distance and Remote Instruction

Distance Education Cheat Sheet

DL policy

Tips for Distance Learning

GED Educator Support

IDEAL Distance Education and Blended Learning Handbook

How to Rapidly Set-Up & Implement Distance Learning Programs

NRS Distance Education Tip Sheet

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Digital Literacy and Digital Equity

DEPDC: The Distance Education Call Center Wakelet
The Distance Education Professional Development Center (DEPDC) is a new professional development center for Texas AEL, dedicated to increasing the capacity of AEL practitioners in Distance Learning, Tech Integration, Digital Literacy, and Remote Instruction.

Digital Navigator Resource Hub
Digital Navigators provide individualized or small group assistance based on learner goals, help learner-workers resolve emerging tech problems with accuracy and efficiency; and provide information so they can make their own decisions.

EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit
This app is designed to help you find strategies, resources, and activities to support meaningful edtech integration and digital skill development.

FREE Digital Literacy Toolkit
Download Digital Libraries and Literacy Training Materials.

GCFLearnfree Computer Literacy Tutorials
If you’re new to computers, we can help. These tutorials will help empower you to be more comfortable with this type of technology, from learning the parts of a computer to using a mouse.

GOOGLE for Education – Applied Digital Skills
Teach and learn practical digital skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow with our free video lessons.

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Activities for the Remote Classroom

Now you’ve got them online. What’s next? Here are a few links that will help teachers keep students engaged while working in the remote classroom environment.

3-5 Remote Teaching Resources

8 Fun Activities for Virtual learning

Distance Learning Activities for Zoom or Google Meet

Fun Activities for Remote Learning

Take Some Time for YOU

20 Tips for Working from Home
More people than ever are working from home. Whether you're new to working remotely or just looking to level up, these tips from a remote work pro can help you stay productive and maintain balance.

Simple Ideas to Reduce Anxiety and Stress
What can we do, together, to help ourselves and each other to reduce anxiety and stress?

15 Minute Progressive Muscle relaxation
When you’re experiencing anxiety, stress, or worry, one of the ways your body responds is by tightening up. Progressive muscle relaxation is a relaxation technique that helps you release the tension you’re holding in your body and feel more relaxed and calm.

12 At-Home Workouts to Do With Your Kids
Getting a workout in with kids around doesn’t have to be complex. In fact, it can even be fun! The secret isn’t finding time without the kids. The secret is inviting the kids to workout with you.

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Internet & Broadband Provider Offers

ConnectHomeUSA
ConnectHomeUSA is working to close the digital divide in HUD-assisted housing

Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.

The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

 View Texas providers here.

EveryoneOn
In response to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on society, multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have made updates to their low-cost internet service programs to ensure individuals and families stay connected to the internet during this challenging time.

Programs for Low-Income
Here are both government subsidies and low-income internet programs from internet service providers (ISPs) that can help with your internet bill. These inexpensive internet plans, income-based programs, and low-income family plans help reduce the cost of staying connected.

LifeLine
Lifeline is the FCC's program to help make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on monthly telephone service, broadband Internet access service, or voice-broadband bundled service purchased from participating providers.

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Nine Tips for Online Teachers

1 How To Teach Like An Influencer
Teach like an influencer to make sure you're digitally available to students with these top tech tips.

2 Games For Your Classroom You Can Learn in Minutes
Well, there are more than two, but I needed something for this slot. Create an online Jeopardy, Quiz Bowl and other games for use in the classroom and virtually! There is a limited free account.

3 More Tips for Teaching in a Virtual Classroom
Looking ahead to the next semester, this author shares what he's learned over the past months about how to be a more effective instructor.

4 Ways to Help Students Feel Intrinsically Motivated to Do Distance Learning
What are ways to keep student engagement up? How do we motivate reluctant learners to continue learning in a virtual environment?

5 Remote Teaching Tips from an Online Teacher
We are experiencing unprecedented times. Classroom teachers are being asked to rapidly evolve their professional skillset to address student needs in a now fully remote learning world. There’s much to learn from our colleagues who have experience teaching in an online environment.

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Nine Tips for Online Teachers (cont.)

6 Clever Teacher Tested Tech Hacks
From dropping a pin into online texts, to teaching students the art of checklists, here’s how teachers are upping their edtech game.

7 Strategies to Improve Participation in Your Virtual Classroom
Educators share their best synchronous and asynchronous strategies to boost student participation during online learning.

8 Tips for Virtual Learning
With many students going back to school virtually this fall, parents and teachers are questioning how to best set students up for success.

9 Mental Health Tips for Teachers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
While resources related to mental health have been (rightfully) front and center for supporting students, parents, and others, less focus has been paid on maintaining the mental health of the educators who are also trying to find balance in our new way of living and remote teaching. That’s why we put together some mental health tips for teachers that can help.

HSE Provider Updates

Remote Testing Guidance Chart (Updated 8/10/20)