Teaching During the Pandemic

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

New York City was the initial epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. Many adult literacy students have been on the frontlines, performing essential work that has enabled all of our communities to survive and living in the neighborhoods that have been most heavily impacted.  The need for digital literacy, health literacy, and the ability to access, understand, and interpret complex information have never been greater. 

Below are a set of useful links, followed by specific ideas and resources for adult educators:  
Report: The Impact of COVID-19 on NYC Adult Literacy Programs & Students
Join the Adult Education Technology Community 
http://bit.ly/AETechCommunity
Join  the LINCS Integrating Technology Community:
https://community.lincs.ed.gov/group/integrating-technology

Our YouTube Channel

We continue to add new videos to our YouTube channel.  Below are a few highlights:
How to use Zoom Polls for Formative Assessment
Using Zoom Breakout Rooms for ​Collaborative Activities During Distance Learning

Moving Instruction Online:
​Before You Start

​For instructors:
Think about what you want to be able to do synchronously (all together at the same time) and what can be offered asynchronously (as students have access, not all at the same time).  How frequently will you be in touch with students?  Set expectations with you students for the frequency of interactions and independent learning your students can be doing while not meeting face to face.

Tools for synchronous activities include  Free Conference Call and Zoom which allow for conference calls and video calls.  Take screen shots or provide quizzes to demonstrate who attended synchronous events.  Kahoot can also be used for synchronous activities.

Asynchronous tools include email, texting, Google Groups for mass emailing,  and using Free Conference Call or Zoom to record lectures which can then be posted to YouTube so students can access them when they have digital access.  Google Slides are better for mobile viewing than Google docs.   Google Forms can be used to make (self-scoring) quizzes and other interactive lessons.  A Weebly website or Google Sites, Google Classroom are all tools you can use but they take a little more digital literacy for both the instructor and the student.

For case managers and other program staff:
You can also use Zoom and Free Conference Call, WhatsApp, email, Google Groups, and Google Forms to stay in touch with students.

Tools for Moving Lessons Online

Assessment

Online Content

With or Without a Smartphone

  • Regular check-in calls and/or texts
  • Keep these short - unless the learner has something to look at it may get more confusing than becoming more clear
  • Calls can be extra helpful for ELL learners practicing conversation
  • Texts can be great for grammar    
  • Send a short text, have the learner correct it, or find an error and text back and forth until it is correct
  • Practice expanding sentences - start with ‘I stayed home today.’ They add in a word retyping the whole sentence with the word in it then you do the same and continue on until you can’t come up with anything else to add
  • Practice writing a story - you start with a sentence, they add one, you add one and so on. Create poetry or lyrics this way too
  • Send a short text then call to discuss what vocabulary words mean or if it is grammatically correct
  • Keep them as you would a lesson plan: if practicing grammar stick to one grammar point
  • Set time expectations for responses for texts and calls - it can be at a set time each week or if ongoing set parameters of certain times during the day and a timeframe to respond
       --(LINCS, Stacie Marie)

Tips for Moving Lessons Online​

Access to Internet and Hardware

Google

Google Applied Digital Skills Lessons ​​G Suite Certification
Google Forms Basics  (video)
Google Classroom (Lizelena  Iglesias Resources)
Uploading a Video to YouTube from Your Computer (LAC Video)

From TESOL

Here is a GIANT list of free resources and subscriptions offered by education companies and institutions that have opened their platforms and repositories.  Many companies have waived fees (e.g. Newsela) for the moment. The list does include K-12, but many of the resources are adult education appropriate. Here you can find:
  • Educational Videos, Audio and Podcasts
  • E-books
  • Free leveled readings and curriculum
  • Activities for students
  • Resources for English, ESOL/EFL, Math, Science, STEM, Literature, Media, Art and more

It is updated regularly, and they also have a facebook page. 

http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/