eLearning News: Instructional Staff
Stay connected with tools, tips & info to support eLearning
March 20, 2020
Learning Continuity Planning
This plan outlines how we will support students with learning in the event that our schools close for a short or extended amount of time. It is important that our students continue to learn and grow all the time so we want to be sure to have a solid plan for them in the event our school facilities have to close.
Pasco's Plan:
We have a long term eLearning plan that will support you and our students for the currently scheduled two weeks of distance learning and is built to support any extensions that may be announced by the Governor or Commissioner of Education.
PCS Learning Continuity can keep students on track, from wherever they are! PCS Learning Continuity is designed to meet your student's needs and will provide students access to standards-based content. As a result, teachers can easily and effectively guide students in the virtual environment and provide meaningful feedback and response to student learning.
Our plan allows for the transition of all students from traditional in-school instruction to virtual and distance learning.
Broad goals for the PCS Learning Continuity Plan
- Academic continuity for students with an online curriculum in an easy to navigate environment.
- Reduced curriculum and lesson planning load for teachers with curriculum created and built for them aligned to Pasco pacing charts and standards not yet covered.
- Frequent and regular access to teachers via messaging in myLearning and on-going grading, feedback and learning check-ins.
- Rapid transition from the traditional school to a virtual learning environment for students.
- Access to online course content for core classroom instruction for teachers and/or students.
- The ability to securely deliver all student learning content using a single username and password in our myPascoConnect and myLearning Platforms.
- Grade appropriate instruction delivered through myLearning courses for core content subjects and select electives.
- Immediate access to online course content for core classroom instruction for teachers and/or students to support regular daily attendance and participation that is still expected for all.
- Access to additional learning tools, platforms and resources that will keep students engaged in their education while at home and provide additional learning supports and interventions/enrichment based on student need.
- All Pasco county teachers will be trained in online and distance learning to support this transition beginning March 27, 2020.
Action & Info
Actions you can take now:
- Work to wrap up all outstanding assignments, tasks and grading for quarter 3 and use teacher planning day to post any outstanding grades.
- Read updates issued from Florida Department of Education. We will continue to work on seeking further technical assistance and guidance, but please take time to read updates as they come out.
- Explore the "Zoom" video tutorial website to familiarize yourselves with this virtual meeting tool that may be used to connect with student. All teachers will be provided accounts and will have the option to use this as a tool with students.
- Check the district's webpage for updates and listen to school messenger calls and read emails that are sent to you.
- Connect with the school district's social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Information to come:
- Follow-up information from Florida Department of Education related to numerous different programming, promotion and service guidance.
- Detailed information for instructional non-classroom and student services staff related to specific roles and work tasks to support students.
- Full training for all instructional staff on myLearning and how to manage virtual instruction.
Learning Tools & Suggested Routines for Teachers
Student Learning Tools
Canvas (myLearning) will be the primary tool we will use to deliver core instruction for students during eLearning periods. Some CTE and electives course may be delivered via alternate platforms, but the majority of instruction will be through myLearning.
Virtual Training Heading Your Way
Tips for Working from Home
"Back to School" Twitter Countdown
Career and Technical Education
Dual Enrollment
- For students taking DE courses at PHSC - All face to face classes previously scheduled to move online on March 23, 2020 are delayed and will now begin March 30, 2020. Online classes will continue until the end of the Spring Semester. Classes currently taught online will continue as scheduled. More information can be found here: https://phsc.edu/
- Dual enrollment courses on the high school campus will continue virtually beginning March 31st. Dual Enrollment teachers will utilize the PHSC Canvas course for content delivery and continue to put grades in WISE.
- Pasco County Schools will send out information related to summer dual enrollment registration as soon as we have it.
AP/AICE/IB
- We are actively monitoring the College Board (AP), Cambridge and International Baccalaureate websites and are in contact with our Florida liaisons for these organizations to stay up to date on their plans related to end of year assessments. At this time no announcement has been made to cancel these exams, but the organizations are reviewing their protocols related to exam administration and deadlines. We understand our students’ and families’ concerns and will share information as it comes available.
- AP/AICE/IB teachers will utilize Canvas to deliver content beginning March 31st until April 15th. We will work to ensure all students continue to be prepared for their upcoming exams through this virtual delivery method.
- More information on how College Board (AP), Cambridge, and IB are planning for and supporting schools can be found at:
- College Board (AP): https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update
- Cambridge (AICE): https://help.cambridgeinternational.org/hc/en-gb/articles/360006532458-Novel-coronavirus-Information-for-schools-about-the-COVID-19-coronavirus-outbreak
- IB: https://www.ibo.org/news/news-about-the-ib/covid-19-coronavirus-updates/.