Teaching with Technology during COVID-19: Best Practices to Take Care of Ourselves and Our Students
March 31, 2020
March 31, 2020
We’re living and working in unprecedented times, and it’s hard to know what to do and what not to do regarding distance learning and posting on social media during our school closures. Here are some helpful tips from your colleagues at VEA, who are working to provide supportive information to keep you not only informed, but also healthy and in good standing with your school division and students during this time.
1. Know your employer’s rules for online engagement and follow them at all times. Most employers have policies in place to define what is allowable on work computers and networks. In addition, employers many have policies that describe appropriate and inappropriate online interactions with students and families. Re-familiarize yourself with these policies and follow them at all times. If you are concerned that your employer does not have policies to provide you with sufficient guidance to work with technology under these evolving circumstances, please inform your UniServ Director.
2. Be aware of the professional online presence you project. Whichever online learning platform you are using, give yourself time to learn it, be present at all times when you’re on it, and minimize distractions and personal interruptions. Being professional in an online learning platform means not eating, drinking, or multitasking; placing yourself in a neutral, professional space; dressing in professional clothing; minimizing all personal interruptions; and always speaking, typing and posting with the same professionalism you have in all of your interactions with students, families, and other members of the school community.
3. Ensure student privacy. This includes making sure that you are engaged in online instruction in a private space and also making sure that no application you use is set to ‘record’ while you are using it (many applications such as ZOOM may automatically record your session unless you specifically tell it not to). Do not send your students to websites or social media apps that are not approved by your employer, as unapproved websites may gather personally identifiable information about students. Check with your employer if you have questions about maintaining student privacy or if they have a list of allowable apps and websites that meet FERPA guidelines. If you have additional concerns, contact your UniServ Director.
4. Maintain your own online privacy in your interactions with students. Make all your private accounts private and establish professional accounts on all platforms and applications that you need for work. While ensuring that your students are not being recorded in online formats, seek the same for yourself. If your employer expects your online interactions to be recorded in ways that you believe may violate local policy or otherwise make you uncomfortable, contact your UniServ Director. Recognize, however, that when using an employer-provided network or computer an employee does not have a right to privacy.
5. When selecting materials to use in online instruction, adhere to all copyright laws. Members should consider copyright issues in online instruction just as they would in face-to-face instruction. While a ‘fair use exception’ allows copyrighted materials to be used without permission in many educational circumstances, this allowance is not absolute. Good information for public school teachers, including examples of what qualifies as fair use, is available from the Library of Congress.
6. Commit to creating a positive community online. It is important for your students to feel connected to you and each other during this time. Stay positive about all your students and be patient with their progress. They’re learning as they go, just as you are.
7. Communicate patience and encouragement. Be encouraging of colleagues who have had to learn online options quickly, sometimes without a lot of help. Be patient with parents who are dealing with stressors professionally and personally as well as with the added pressure of helping their students with online assignments.
8. As much as is reasonable, focus on instruction. Students may need reassurance from us now, and some acknowledgment of the changes that all of us are experiencing may be very valuable. However, too much conversation might upset students with anxiety disorders or students who are seeking stability during unstable times. Reach out to your administration and/or pupil services colleagues if you feel you could benefit from additional guidance on educating during a time of uncertainty. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has helpful tips to communicate with children about COVID-19.
9. Don’t forget to put your own oxygen mask on first. This means to, first and foremost, stay home and follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Virginia Department of Health. Then, create a daily schedule for yourself that includes downtime. Intentionally seek out socialization by calling old friends, video-chatting with people to express gratitude, or taking a walk to greet neighbors (from a distance) who are outdoors. Ensure you are getting sufficient exercise, eating well, and avoiding excessive media exposure. And if you have any free time, try something new! Necessity is the mother of invention, after all! Download some free books, practice online yoga, watch online tutorials to learn a new hobby, create the ultimate playlist, or take an online museum tour in some far-flung city!
10. Check veanea.org for up-to-date information and professional support related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Join with your colleagues from across Virginia to advocate for important reforms and sensible relief to help you and you’re your students during this time. And don’t forget the folks at NEA; they have put together a great list of resources for online learning during school building closures and have additional information in NEA Today!
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