Helping Close the Digital Divide with BCSS eLearning Days

Who? Students o will receive their classroom instruction electronically. o work at home. o will not require attendance at school. Teachers o will attend professional learning. o may be needed to monitor students that might attend. o post eLearning activities prior to the scheduled dates.

What? Activities o will focus on grade level standards. o are linked to classroom learning. o can be designed in a variety of methods including, but not limited to, Backpack Buddies, Edmodo, Google Classroom, Google Play for Education, websites, blogs, podcasts, online journal entries, or linked material.

When? Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Tuesday, February 16, 2016 Assignments should be posted prior to eLearning day and due two weeks after the scheduled eLearning day in order to accommodate those with no internet access. o December 8, 2015 o March 1, 2016

Where? Community resources will be available to accommodate our students’ needs on that date by providing internet access. o restaurants o churches o library o school bus mifi

Why? According to a study completed in 2011, 32% of college students take at least one online course. Even face-to-face courses in college require work to be submitted electronically. An article in the Indianapolis Recorder reports that employers feel that 35% of new hires/applicants do not have adequate computer skills. Corporations are using eLearning for training purposes. Most companies require online applications. Ability to provide teachers an entire day of professional development and planning with their peers. It is possible that, in the future, snow days could become eLearning days and would not have to be added on to the end of the school year.

Questions, Comments, or Ideas