When Central Florida K-12 schools announced they would transition to remote instruction due to the coronavirus pandemic, UCF Center for Distributed Learning executive director Kelvin Thompson 鶹Ʒ S99MA 鶹Ʒ S05EdD suspected teachers were going to need a little extra help.
Thompson started to compile a list of resources 鶹Ʒ S from videos with tips on putting classes online to podcasts on 鶹Ʒ Smaking remote teaching happen 鶹Ʒ S 鶹Ʒ S and started typing a message of support to his teaching brethren.
He called it a and initially sent it to Orange, Seminole, Lake, Sumter, Osceola, Volusia and Marion county school systems.
鶹Ʒ SI just wanted to offer something to say, 鶹Ʒ SWe 鶹Ʒ Sre in this with you. 鶹Ʒ S 鶹Ʒ S 鶹Ʒ S Kelvin Thompson, UCF Center for Distributed Learning executive director
鶹Ʒ SI just wanted to offer something to say, 鶹Ʒ SWe 鶹Ʒ Sre in this with you, 鶹Ʒ S 鶹Ʒ S says Thompson.
UCF has offered online and blended education for more than two decades. Although the university experienced challenges just like every other educational institution in the country in moving every class online after spring break, UCF is a leader in the field and had a jump-start on the transition process.
More than 85 percent of UCF students take at least one online or blended course every year.
Diane Kornegay, superintendent of Lake County Schools, says she was grateful to the university for sharing its resources and expertise.
鶹Ʒ SReceiving the care package is yet another way that UCF supports its local school districts and we are thankful for the partnership, 鶹Ʒ S she wrote in an email.
After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced April 18 distance learning will continue for the remainder of the school year, Thompson says his biggest piece of advice for both teachers and students is to just do the best they can to follow procedures.
鶹Ʒ SThe biggest key right now is to offer something of value while not overwhelming students. 鶹Ʒ S
鶹Ʒ SWe 鶹Ʒ Sre going to get through this together. Just take it a day at a time, 鶹Ʒ S he says. 鶹Ʒ SUniversity of North Carolina Professor Brandon Bayne came up with some principles as he adjusted his syllabus for remote instruction. The gist of it is: 鶹Ʒ SNobody signed up for this. We 鶹Ʒ Sre going to prioritize supporting each other as humans. Some of the academics is going to suffer, but we 鶹Ʒ Sre going to foster intellectual nourishment, social connection and personal accommodation. We 鶹Ʒ Sre going to be flexible and adjust. 鶹Ʒ S And I think that 鶹Ʒ Ss spot on. The biggest key right now is to offer something of value while not overwhelming students. 鶹Ʒ S