Educational Resources Digest – Week of April 13
- Skip to “Upcoming Programs”
- Skip to “Other Resources”
- Skip to “Articles”
- View the Previous Issue of the Educational Resources Digest
To Parents and Colleagues
There has been a burst of energy for curating, creating, and distributing resources and opportunities to support learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with regularly scheduled programming. We’ve created a digest of what has come through Washington STEM’s inboxes during the past week. As remote learning continues, we will provide additional resource lists as we find them.
Please note that we work with a diverse set of partners, and these opportunities and events are not tailored to any particular audience or partner. Please review each opportunity to decide if it’s relevant to your needs.
— Cheers and be well!
Upcoming Programs and Webinars
Happening in April
When: Friday, April 24, 1:00 pm ET
Where: Online Webinar, registration required
With school buildings closed by COVID-19, schools and districts across the country are rapidly (and sometimes frantically) transitioning to distance learning. But most have no experience serving large numbers of students remotely; and the research base that might help them identify best practices is lamentably thin. It is therefore critical to quickly and efficiently figure out what works—and what doesn’t—in this rapidly evolving landscape. In this webinar, we’ll discuss a free tool that districts and schools can use to test and identify—in real time—which online learning approaches work best for their own students. We’ll discuss what you’ll need to make the tool work for you and how you can be strategic about using existing data.
Happening in May
When: Sunday, May 3, 9am-4pm PT
Where: Online Webinar, registration required and space is limited
Register for the 4th annual Spring Conference of the Washington State Teacher Advisory Council (WATAC) on May 3, 2020. The Spring Conference will be held online this year and is open to all teacher leaders and administrators, including award-winning educators – the Regional, State and National Teachers of the Year, the Regional and State Classified Employees of the Year, the Principals of the Year and the Winners and Finalists of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, OSPI Fellows and NBCTs. Educators will have opportunities to learn from their colleagues, network and share with one another and hear from a stellar line-up of session presenters and guest speakers.
Until 5/15 Apply for the 2020 Washington State STEM Signing Day
When: Applications accepted through May 15
Where: Online
The Boeing Company and Washington STEM have made the decision to shift the 2020 Washington State STEM Signing Day to an all-digital celebration. We are still accepting applications through May 15th to celebrate high school seniors who plan to pursue STEM across the state. Follow the link to apply.
Happening in June
When: Applications accepted through June 4
Where: Online
The Career and Technical Scholarship (CTS) supports Washington students on their path to high-demand trade, STEM and health care occupations. To be eligible, Scholars must enroll in an approved program, such as welding, manufacturing or IT, at one of Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges. Scholars are eligible to receive up to $1,500 each quarter for the duration of their associate degree, certificate, or apprenticeship program. These scholarship funds are flexible and can be used to cover tuition, fees and other costs of attendance such as housing, transportation, food and more.
OTHER RESOURCES
Joint Statements from Washington Higher Education
- Joint Statement on COVID-19 Fall 2020 Admissions from Council of Presidents (COP) and Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW)
- Joint Academic Statement
- Joint Statement on College in the High School (CiHS)
- Joint Statement on Dual Credit
- Joint Statement on Transfer Students
- ICW, SBCTC, COP Joint Academic Statement (pass/no pass grading)
Playworks Play at Home Resources
Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s social and emotional health. We are changing school culture by leveraging the power of safe, fun, and healthy play at school every day.
We create a place for every kid on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills. Playworks partners with schools, districts, and afterschool programs to provide a service or mix of services including on-site coaches, professional training for school staff who support recess, and consultative partnerships.
Right now, most Playworks schools are closed. While schools are closed, families are looking for ways to keep their kids engaged, active, and having fun. Some elementary schools across the country are having remote classes for the first time. While schools are going virtual, teachers are looking for support with keeping kids engaged and support for keeping kids engaged online.
100Kin10 COVID-19 Tactics and Strategies
This document from 100Kin10 contains helpful resources shared by partners and allies for students, caregivers, teachers, districts, and organizations navigating the COVID-19 crisis and the resulting implications on education. The “Resources” tab contains videos, articles, lesson plans, and other activities for various audiences, and the “Tactics” tab contains different ideas/approaches partners are trying out in their work. Contact Julie Paturzo at julie(at)100Kin10.org with questions or suggestions for additional links and resources.
The STEM for All Multiplex provides 3-minute video presentations created by federally funded projects who have developed quality free STEM resources for teachers, students and parents.
The Concord Consortium has a searchable online database of free, scientifically-accurate models and activities.
Talk to the Otterbot for Student Financial Aid Info
WSAC “Otter” Chatbot Provides Student Support and Financial Aid Info
Otterbot is a free texting service designed to help Washington high school seniors navigate financial aid for college and career education. Students can access Otterbot via text message 24-hours a day, 7 days a week by texting “Hi Otter” to 360-928-7281. Otter sends periodic messages with financial aid information, resources, and deadlines. Students can text Otter with questions about financial aid, college planning, and more.
Educating All Learners Alliance
The Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA) is an uncommon coalition of organizations committed to resource sharing and community-building that supports the efforts of the education community to meet the needs of students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They are committed to showing the path to possible for practitioners by providing curated, searchable resources, access to experts, and examples from the field.
Moving Beyond the Packet: Creating More Culturally Responsive Distance Learning Experiences
A recorded webinar of “Moving Beyond the Packet: Creating More Culturally Responsive Distance Learning Experiences”, originally held on April 3, will be available to view online for free until April 21, 2020. Please visit the website above to request access to the webinar.
Distance Learning Resources for Education Stakeholders in the Northwest
As schools and districts grapple with how to educate students and deliver services amid school closures and social distancing, data-based decision making is all the more crucial. To support this need, our research librarian has compiled resources in the following categories that may be useful for the region’s education stakeholders: General Education, American Indian and Alaska Native Students, English Learner Students, Rural Education, Social and Emotional Learning, and Students with Disabilities.
Parent and Educator Toolkit – Children’s Environmental Health
Curated list of educational resources that can be used to inform children about environmental public health—specifically about how the environment affects human health. Many activities in the toolkit can be performed at home– during school and child care closures!
Coronavirus is posing unprecedented challenges to schools, colleges, and universities around the globe. To help you keep the learning going, a coalition of education organizations has curated free tools, strategies, tips, and best practices for teaching online.
The COVID-19 Education Coalition is a diverse group of education organizations brought together by the ISTE/EdSurge team to curate, create and deliver high-quality tools, resources and support for educators and parents as they keep the learning going during extended school closures.
Washington Student Achievement Council Class of 2020 Action Plan
Up-to-date resources and information about college and career planning, financial aid, and more (Washington College Grant, real-time financial aid assistance, graduation requirement updates).
ARTICLES
Academically Speaking, the ‘COVID Slide’ Could Be a Lot Worse Than You Think
Prior research on summer learning loss has found students can lose somewhere from two weeks to two months of academic growth over the summer. But NWEA’s projections suggest learning loss related to [COVID] closures would be anything but typical: If students return to school campuses in the fall without continuity of instruction during the closures, they could have retained only about 70 percent of their reading progress, compared to a normal year.
Adjusting to a New ‘Normal’ in Education
While states and school districts already have plans for emergency management and temporary school closures for natural disasters and other events beyond our control, this is the longest sustained disruption to the idea of normalcy in American life — and American schools — that many of us have encountered. In times such as these, it’s important to look to one another for answers, examples and inspiration. Visit this article for examples/stories of how other states, districts, organizations are supporting students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Let’s Seize This Moment to Reimagine K-12 Education for All
Almost overnight, the future of learning and the future of work have arrived, and we see in stark detail just how woefully unprepared our educational systems are.