Comments on: Preparing for the worst = opportunity http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity Educator Consultant Author Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:34:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Virtual Learning Preparing our Kids http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-8920 Virtual Learning Preparing our Kids Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:31:14 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-8920 [...] floods. Not all International Schools were as lucky.I have done presentations throughout Asia on preparing for school closure as it seems they follow me where ever I am in the world. Saudi Arabia with terrisom, Shanghai with [...] [...] floods. Not all International Schools were as lucky.I have done presentations throughout Asia on preparing for school closure as it seems they follow me where ever I am in the world. Saudi Arabia with terrisom, Shanghai with [...]

]]> By: Richard White http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-4841 Richard White Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:26:02 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-4841 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">RT Tech-capable teachers face adversity with hybrid (blended) classroom tools: http://bit.ly/3E5vEl Great article, nicely stated.</span></span> RT Tech-capable teachers face adversity with hybrid (blended) classroom tools: http://bit.ly/3E5vEl Great article, nicely stated.

]]> By: Jabiz (Intrepid Teacher) http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-4840 Jabiz (Intrepid Teacher) Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:39:17 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-4840 Great post Jeff, and one that i have dealt with in the last week. I agree with you 100% when you say, "If your school or class is already use to using a blended model for learning, moving to a full time model either way is a much shorter jump than moving all the way without having a system in place. Both teachers and students understand how the system works, where to go, what to do. If online learning is just part of their daily routine in school, than we do not need to worry….we just continue on the journey of learning." But my experience has taught me with a little hard work, flexibly, and risk taking you can start creating an online community from scratch if you have to. The school where I work did close for one week here are my thought son the experience: http://intrepidteacher.edublogs.org/2009/09/30/theres-no-such-thing-as-virtual-it-is-all-teaching/ Great post Jeff, and one that i have dealt with in the last week. I agree with you 100% when you say,

“If your school or class is already use to using a blended model for learning, moving to a full time model either way is a much shorter jump than moving all the way without having a system in place. Both teachers and students understand how the system works, where to go, what to do. If online learning is just part of their daily routine in school, than we do not need to worry….we just continue on the journey of learning.”

But my experience has taught me with a little hard work, flexibly, and risk taking you can start creating an online community from scratch if you have to.

The school where I work did close for one week here are my thought son the experience:

http://intrepidteacher.edublogs.org/2009/09/30/theres-no-such-thing-as-virtual-it-is-all-teaching/

]]> By: Chad Lehman http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-4839 Chad Lehman Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:39:13 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-4839 Jeff, what were some of the strategies your school used getting parents in the habit of checking class blogs. I'm also thinking that most, if not all, of your families have internet access at home. Any thoughts on how to handle this is families don't have internet? Jeff, what were some of the strategies your school used getting parents in the habit of checking class blogs. I’m also thinking that most, if not all, of your families have internet access at home. Any thoughts on how to handle this is families don’t have internet?

]]> By: David Carpenter http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-4838 David Carpenter Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:39:40 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-4838 Hi Jeff- Your points are the same ones we came to after running our "Virtual School" back in 2003 in Hong Kong with the outbreak of SARS. I wrote a post about it at U Tech Tips and my blog that includes a link to an article about our experiences. We ran a full online learning environment with our grade 3 to 5 students so it is doable. The blended approach is what we started upon our return to "real" school in 2003 with the first step being the adoption of Moodle. Our students quickly picked up using it especially during our annual "Virtual School" practice week which carried over for many teachers into their regular classroom practices. Hi Jeff-

Your points are the same ones we came to after running our “Virtual School” back in 2003 in Hong Kong with the outbreak of SARS. I wrote a post about it at U Tech Tips and my blog that includes a link to an article about our experiences. We ran a full online learning environment with our grade 3 to 5 students so it is doable. The blended approach is what we started upon our return to “real” school in 2003 with the first step being the adoption of Moodle. Our students quickly picked up using it especially during our annual “Virtual School” practice week which carried over for many teachers into their regular classroom practices.

]]> By: Peter http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-4837 Peter Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:24:29 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-4837 Very similar story here in Taiwan. We've had Moodle for some time though until the H1N1 situation, most teachers did not use it. Now, after a couple of workshops most teachers are familiar with the basics. The need to prepare for a closure has brought with it this positive side-effect. Very similar story here in Taiwan. We’ve had Moodle for some time though until the H1N1 situation, most teachers did not use it. Now, after a couple of workshops most teachers are familiar with the basics. The need to prepare for a closure has brought with it this positive side-effect.

]]> By: Will http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-4836 Will Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:47:20 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-4836 Hi Jeff, We started the same discussion a few weeks back. We don't have Moodle installed here but we do have a reasonably well developed blended learning environment using Sharepoint. Teachers are beginning to see the benefits of blogs and wikis so this pressure brought on by H1N1 might be the thing that tips the balance. Maybe it might be the thing that pushes us to a truly authentic blended environment. Hi Jeff,

We started the same discussion a few weeks back. We don’t have Moodle installed here but we do have a reasonably well developed blended learning environment using Sharepoint. Teachers are beginning to see the benefits of blogs and wikis so this pressure brought on by H1N1 might be the thing that tips the balance. Maybe it might be the thing that pushes us to a truly authentic blended environment.

]]> By: R.J. Rongcal http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-4835 R.J. Rongcal Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:03:35 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-4835 Hey Jeff!! H1N1 has been an issue here in Kuwait, the fear of it anyway. They've postponed the start of CDC and KG1 until the very end of November! And KG2 will start after the first Eid. It just made me think of that as I was reading this blog. Also, I like that idea of using a blog of sorts to communicate with parents and family. It would beat having to send paper notes home with kids, trusting their word that they show it to there mom or dad. I'm liking your sites! R.J. Hey Jeff!!

H1N1 has been an issue here in Kuwait, the fear of it anyway. They’ve postponed the start of CDC and KG1 until the very end of November! And KG2 will start after the first Eid. It just made me think of that as I was reading this blog. Also, I like that idea of using a blog of sorts to communicate with parents and family. It would beat having to send paper notes home with kids, trusting their word that they show it to there mom or dad. I’m liking your sites!

R.J.

]]> By: DHRhoads http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-4834 DHRhoads Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:29:24 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-4834 Great post Jeff! We are using SchoolWorld (Elem) and Edu2.0 (MSHS) for now. Preparing for H1N1 closure has been like learning to swim by being thrown in an ocean for some of our staff, but it's coming along. You're right, we are having some great conversations. This will be a year of huge growth. Great post Jeff!

We are using SchoolWorld (Elem) and Edu2.0 (MSHS) for now. Preparing for H1N1 closure has been like learning to swim by being thrown in an ocean for some of our staff, but it’s coming along. You’re right, we are having some great conversations. This will be a year of huge growth.

]]> By: Sinead Roy http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity/#comment-4833 Sinead Roy Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:17:46 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/preparing-for-the-worst-opportunity#comment-4833 We haven't had to close because of sickness yet, but here in Quebec, we often have to deal with "snow days", when weather makes it impossible to come to school. We conduct most of our secondary classes "online" even though the students are often sitting in front of us, so that in emergencies, life goes on as normal. Microsoft Office has a great tool called "Groove" which allows both individual and shared workspaces. Dimdim is our virtual classroom allowing sharing of both desktop and websites, and Skype is used for live discussions. Microsoft Office also allows me to place students daily assignments directly into their calendar, with reminders of what is due and when. Blogs, Twitter, even Facebook are used daily...the list goes on. We haven’t had to close because of sickness yet, but here in Quebec, we often have to deal with “snow days”, when weather makes it impossible to come to school. We conduct most of our secondary classes “online” even though the students are often sitting in front of us, so that in emergencies, life goes on as normal. Microsoft Office has a great tool called “Groove” which allows both individual and shared workspaces. Dimdim is our virtual classroom allowing sharing of both desktop and websites, and Skype is used for live discussions. Microsoft Office also allows me to place students daily assignments directly into their calendar, with reminders of what is due and when. Blogs, Twitter, even Facebook are used daily…the list goes on.

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