Return to Learn Updates

Today's blog includes a few updates related to Jump Start PD, some online learning time guidelines, and information on learning platforms for the upcoming school year. 

JUMP START PD

• As of today, we have over 375 teachers participating in Jump Start PD!  That is amazing, and truly speaks to your commitment to professional learning.
• Many of you have indicated that your lessons may be added to a shared folder.  All shared lessons may be found in the folder below:

Jump Start PD Sharing

• Within this folder, the lessons are organized around these areas:
• Communication, Expectations, and Guidelines
• Digital Feedback Tools
• Online Lesson Planning and Design
• Scaffolding for Equity
• Schedule Analysis
• Small Group Literacy Instruction Lessons
• Student Engagement Ideas
• Universal Lesson Design

Thank you for sharing your ideas...collaborative professional development and learning from each other is a valuable pathway for everyone!

FAQ's for JUMP START PD

• Sometimes I am not able to access my Jump Start classes through Canvas.  Are there other ways to sign in?

Be sure to access your Canvas account from the mySEP page rather than from Google or an external site.  You may also now log in through the Google Apps icon once you have signed in to your Southeast Polk account. 

How to Log Into Canvas

• Why am I seeing extra modules in 'Best Practices for Online Learning'?

These modules came from the Heartland course "Going Digital" so some of the extra modules are still showing up.  You only need to complete the modules that have points attached to them.

• I completed 3 modules for the stipend, but I would like to take more modules for additional learning opportunities (TIME, teacher leadership, etc.).  Do these need to be completed by August 14th? 

Only the 3 modules for the stipend need to be completed by August 14th.  There is no deadline on additional modules.

• Could I get access to more modules to support members on my team?

Yes.  After August 14th, all 12 modules will be open to all teachers.  These modules will be available throughout the school year for study and implementation at the building, team, department, grade, and individual level.

ONLINE LEARNING TIME GUIDELINES

As we plan for a Return to Learn, many of the modules address some of the unique needs of virtual learning.  One of these is the amount of time that is appropriate for online learning.  We will be using the guidelines from the state of Illinois to help make decisions about what this will look like for Southeast Polk students at different grade levels.

LEARNING PLATFORMS FOR 2020-2021

At the end of the last school year, we sent a survey to staff, students, and parents.  One theme of parent feedback was the challenge of navigating multiple learning platforms.  Now that we have had some time to organize distance learning, we will be providing more consistency in the learning platforms at the elementary and secondary levels.

• For the upcoming year, Canvas will be the learning management system for all secondary virtual learning. Canvas is also being purchased at the state level for all districts in Iowa for the upcoming year.  You may still use other tools, but all courses will originate in Canvas.

• For the elementary level (Grades 2-5), we will be using Google Classroom as our starting point.  Again, you may use SeeSaw, Flipgrid, and other tools, but all courses will start in Google Classroom.
• We will likely expand the use of Canvas after this year to the elementary grades, particularly grades 4 and 5.  You are encouraged to learn more about Canvas for future use, but for consistency for this year's learning pathways, we will begin in Google Classroom. 

• We understand that virtual learning looks different for our youngest learners, so PK-1 teachers will have flexibility in what this looks like for your students.  We do encourage collaborative teams and buildings to use consistent tools in order to support parents who are helping their students learn at home.