RTOL: Rapid Transition to Online Learning

COVID-19 is an unimaginable global disaster. Yet in the midst of this crisis, educators are seeing and seizing several opportunities to turn the lemon we’ve all been given into lemonade. Join us for a walk through the educational silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic.

Follow on Twitter: @MsSackstein @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @HarveyAlvy1 @ShiftParadigm @bamradionetwork

Starr Sackstein (NBCT) is a certified Master Journalism Educator through the Journalism Education Association (JEA). She serves at the New York State Director to JEA. She is the author of several books, including Teaching Mythology Exposed: Helping Teachers Create Visionary Classroom Perspective.

In this ongoing series, four teachers from different schools, reflect, share experiences, and identify the big lessons they are learning as they make a rapid transition to online learning in different ways. This week they talk about the social-emotional needs that surfaced this week. You can listen in on their weekly virtual happy hour at the RTOL Bar and Grill.

Follow on Twitter: @jonbergmann @ideasforteacher @bamradionetwork @peter_santoro @MrHabegger @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd

Jake Habegger is an 8th grade US History Teacher in Franklin, Tennessee. His goal in education is to invigorate student learning by meeting them where they are through the use of technology. Peter Santoro has been teaching high school mathematics for 12 years. In addition to two sections of Introductory Calculus, Peter also teaches one section of Geometry and two sections of Mathematics Research Honors. In addition, he is the coach of the Garden City High School Math Team (Mathletes). Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Bay Path University, a private liberal arts institution in western Massachusetts. Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning.

As schools around the world scramble to make a rapid transition to online learning, a highly respected education technologist is telling teachers to think twice about all the free new technology offers. Instead, she is encouraging educators to focus on a few more important priorities.

Follow on Twitter: @micheeaton @ISTE @mrhooker @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork

Michele Eaton is the director of virtual and blended learning for the MSD of Wayne Township in Indianapolis, Indiana. She focuses on staff and course development for Achieve Virtual Education Academy and the district’s various blended initiatives and programs, from elementary to adult education. Eaton is a Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) and 2016 Next Generation Leader, 2018 EdWeek Leader to Learn From, president-elect of the ISTE Online Learning Network, conference chair for Indiana Connected Educators (an ISTE affiliate), member of the EdTech Heroes and moderator for the #INeLearn chat.

When you were planning this school year, did you ever think you would be co-teaching with every parent in your classes and relying on them to provide the structure for your classroom? Welcome to the adventures of a rapid transition to online learning. Our guests share what they are learning on the fly about how teachers and parents can step into co-teaching and do it well.

Follow on Twitter: @jonbergmann @ideasforteacher @bamradionetwork @peter_santoro @MrHabegger @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd

Betty Howe lives in Ohio with her husband and is a stay at home mom of three kids 6,7,10. Debra Bernstein is the owner and co-director of Lifestone Bible-Based Montessori Preschool and Kindergarten in San Bernardino, California. She began home educating with her first child in 1992 and continued her career through the graduation of her fourth child 22 years later. Debra is a certified Gurian Institute trainer and has a passion for ensuring all of her students receive the best possible learning opportunities. Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Bay Path University, a private liberal arts institution in western Massachusetts.

In response to coronavirus, more schools are making a rapid transition to online learning. Most of us have never taught online. How should the process look and feel and how do we know that we are doing it well? Here’s what we learned in week one.

Follow on Twitter: @jonbergmann @ideasforteacher @bamradionetwork @peter_santoro @MrHabegger @DrBioTom

Jake Habegger is an 8th grade US History Teacher in Franklin, Tennessee. His goal in education is to invigorate student learning by meeting them where they are through the use of technology. Peter Santoro has been teaching high school mathematics for 12 years. In addition to two sections of Introductory Calculus, Peter also teaches one section of Geometry and two sections of Mathematics Research Honors. In addition, he is the coach of the Garden City High School Math Team (Mathletes). Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Bay Path University, a private liberal arts institution in western Massachusetts. Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning.

Is it possible to meet the social-emotional needs of students while teaching online? Yes and no. Tune in for a candid look at what we can do, what we can’t do, and what we should do to help students through this emotional period.

Follow on Twitter: @jonHarper70bd @froehlichm @pfagell @bamradionetwork @Joe_Mazza

Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC is the school counselor at Sheridan School in Washington, D.C. and a therapist at The Chrysalis Group. Phyllis frequently writes columns on counseling, parenting and education for The Washington Post, and she’s the author of "Middle School Matters" (Hachette, 2019). Phyllis blogs at phyllisfagell.com. Joe Mazza, Ed.D. is Principal at Seven Brides Middle School in the Chappaqua Central School District (NY). He is a strong advocate for middle-level ed, family and community partnerships and connected learning while embracing the idea of today’s educators serving as the lead learners in their schools. Joe's innovative work has been featured in 17 books dating back to 2005.

Covid-19 is turning teachers’ dining rooms into classrooms shared with their own kids. Our guest takes us inside the mind of teens and tweens who need you to be there for them while you are trying to be there for your students remotely.

Loretta Jordan, Psy.D. is an AMFT- Associate MFT has been in higher education for 29 years and performing psychotherapy for 8-years, specializing in couples therapy. She created a high school program at Cal State Fullerton offering skills-building curriculum in 23 high schools in Orange County, CA. She earned doctorate in psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she is also adjunct faculty: dissertation topic: The Biracial Experience within Constructs Created by the White Majority

Getting students to show up, engage and learn can be a challenge when students are within eyesight. What happens when teaching and learning go online? What anti-absenteeism strategies work both on and offline?

Follow on Twitter: @janicewyattross @jAPMcDizzle @RhondaWaltman @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork

Maurice McDavid is serving as assistant principal at Cortland Elementary School, one of the bilingual schools in the DeKalb, IL school district. As a former middle school Spanish and social studies teacher, he worked with diverse groups of students on diverse curriculum. Dr. Wyatt-Ross has a Bachelor's in Special Education from the University of Central Arkansas, a Master's in Special Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. Presently she is employed as the Program Director for Success Academy of Fayette County Public Schools. Dr. Wyatt-Ross has over 30 years of experience in the field of education. Rhonda Neal Waltman, EdD., is the National Director of Consultancy Services—Learning Supports for Scholastic. She has more than 30 years of experience in education reform using a learning supports model and has served as a teacher, counselor, principal, and assistant superintendent. Dr. Waltman first joined Scholastic as a consultant for Learning Supports and led the action research partnership. Her previous work included transformative efforts with state departments of education, school districts, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. She was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education following Hurricane Katrina for her innovative case management development for homeless children and families.

In the rush to move classrooms online in the wake of COVID-19, are the distance learning needs of special needs students being left behind?

Follow on Twitter: @eduflack @bamradionetwork

Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. He is also the author of the nationally recognized Eduflack blog and its companion Twitter feed. PR News named Pat the Not-for-Profit Communications Professional of the Year for his work in teacher preparation and higher education transformation (2015). A former local school board chairman, Patrick is also the author of the award-winning Dadprovement.

None of us started the school year thinking we would be teaching online before spring break. Then came COVID-19. If your school is making a rapid transition to online learning, here are some things you may need to consider.

Follow on Twitter: @MsSackstein @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @HarveyAlvy1 @ShiftParadigm @bamradionetwork

Starr Sackstein (NBCT) is a certified Master Journalism Educator through the Journalism Education Association (JEA). She serves at the New York State Director to JEA. She is the author of several books, including Teaching Mythology Exposed: Helping Teachers Create Visionary Classroom Perspective. Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.