Distance Learning Practices
Content-agnostic and content-specific distance learning guidance and best practices, as well as considerations for virtual teaching platforms and structures.
Guidelines for Effective Distance Learning Practices
Actionable strategies for maintaining high content and pedagogy expectations in times of distance learning.
Download a set of guidelines for each strategy or access the full series here.
Building Culture and Community
Goal
Ensure all students feel safe and valued in the learning community; are comfortable expressing ideas and opinions; respect the opinions and ideas of peers; and are encouraged and inspired to seek understanding.
Download the guidelines.Presenting Grade-level Content
Goal
Ensure all students can access grade-level materials; are clear on objectives, outcomes, and expectations for learning; can easily communicate with teachers and peers; learn simple, consistent routines for participating in live or recorded sessions; and complete associated learning tasks.
Download the guidelines.Making Learning Visible
Goal
Ensure all students can see and interact with all instructional materials, have clear examples of key learnings or task expectations, and experience teachers modeling behaviors and practices.
Download the guidelines.Facilitating Discussion and Collaboration
Goal
Ensure all students have regular opportunities to actively respond to questions and task work, contribute to class discussions surrounding grade-level content, and communicate with their teacher about instructional content and the distance learning experience.
Download the guidelines.Assessing Student Work and Providing Feedback
Goal
Ensure all students have teacher support as they engage in grade-level work and receive feedback that will move the learning forward. Ensure all teachers use the oral and written data collected from student work to drive instruction, both in the moment and in future lessons.
Download the guidelines.Content Guidelines for Distance Learning Models
Leaders can use these resources to guide teacher training, planning, and coaching during distance learning.
Content-agnostic Engagement Strategies
What's inside:
Examples of concrete strategies a teacher can employ in an effort to ensure high student engagement during distance learning. This resource is intended to be content-agnostic and can be used in conjunction with content-specific resources below.
DownloadELA
This resource describes adjustments ELA teachers can make to their content and pedagogy to advance and preserve student learning during distance learning.
Math
This resource describes adjustments math teachers can make to their content and pedagogy to advance and preserve student learning during distance learning.
Download the math guidelines.Science
This resource describes adjustments science teachers can make to their content and pedagogy to advance and preserve student learning during distance learning.
Download the science guidelines.Considerations for virtual teaching platforms and structures
Technology Platform Engagement Resources
What's inside:
A chart outlining key features, communications capabilities, and instructional considerations for various learning platforms.
DownloadVirtual Lesson Structure Considerations
What's inside:
An example of how a teacher could reimagine a 60-minute synchronous lesson to provide more opportunities for students to do the work and more chances for teachers to provide meaningful one-on-one support.
DownloadLooking for more resources?
The Continuous Improvement Toolkit contains more than 40 practical tools, templates, and resources for keeping students engaged in meaningful learning, whether they are learning in a classroom or at home.
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