Over the past few days and weeks, we have been amazed how teachers (and students) around the world have adapted to online learning, in some cases almost overnight. Some of you have generously taken the time to share the platforms, tools and resources you have used and found most helpful.

We wanted to take this opportunity to gather what we have heard through various channels and share it in one place in the hope this information will be useful for some schools who are still figuring ways to work online and will give others who are looking to improve the way they are working new ideas.
 

The key points that have been mentioned by you as ideas to make online learning easier and a more productive and fun experience are: 

• Starting the day or the class with prayer and/or reflection 
• Encouraging parents to do an Examen at home with their children 
• Encouraging students to do 30 minutes of exercise a day 
• Having students connect via video simply to chat and do a fun activity together for example see who can complete a Rubik cube first 

Resources recommended for online learning

• Educate Magis Global Library of Classroom Materials 

We have updated our Lesson Plans page to a Library of Classroom Materials, categorized by subject and age group. We would love to continue adding to this global library of classroom materials, particularly focussing at the moment on materials that can be used for online learning.  

Have a look here Classroom Materials

• Spanish Resources from Jesuit NGO Entreculturas 

Jesuit NGO Entreculturas have put together a page where they explain how they are supporting schools during Covid-19 and include some classroom materials which can be used with students. 

See more here Entreculturas-Cuida 

• Resources shared by Sao Luis School in Brazil 

Sao Luis school in Sao Paolo, Brazil has shared some other types of activities we can do at home such as physical activities, family games, cooking tips with recipes for healthy eating, reading tips and educational films amongst others. 

Check them out here Activities that can be done at Home

• Distance Learning Plans  

Fordham Prep in New York have shared their Distance Learning Plans both for Students and Parents/Guardians and for Faculty  

• eLearning Design, Practice and Tools

Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis shared this document which contains an online learning schedule, practical guidelines on Learning Design including the use of the IPP, Practice Options to Consider for Online Active Learning, and Tools available to students and faculty with useful links.

• Free Online Course 

Global Online Education Platform Future Learn are offering a free online course for teachers on “How To Teach Online: Providing Continuity for Students” created in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

More information here Teach Online

These and other suggestions have been shared through the info@educatemagis.org email and through our global community conversation “Coronavirus – How can we support each other?” We invite you to keep sharing your resources and ideas through either of these channels. 

Global Student Projects suitable for remote learning 

• Global Student Reflections

Two members of our community approached us with a fabulous idea, to journey with the youth by inviting students around the world to share their reflections on the current situation and share these with the global community. We have published their invitation and will be collecting and publishing the students’ written reflections on a public part of the site so students can then read their peers’ reflections from other Jesuit schools around the world.  

See the invitation here A Day in My Life Living Under COVID-19 

Spanish version of the invitation Un Día en Mi Vida Viviendo Bajo el COVID-19

•  Change – JRS Refugee and Migration Project

JRS has developed a project to encourage students (13-18 years old) to think critically about the issues of refugees, migration and creating inclusive societies. The project is structured into 6 Stages. Each stage has a Lesson Plan for the teacher and a Worksheet for the student. The materials are available in an online interactive form and as downloadable PDFS.

See the project materials here Change: Educational Project on Migration and Diversity

Project Materials in French here Change: Un projet éducatif sur la migration et le vivre ensemble

Platforms / Tools schools are using for online learning

• Educate Magis – Connected Classrooms

Educators from our global community have been creatively using this tool to meet online with faculty, even though Connected Classrooms is mainly intended to connect between classrooms from different schools and countries, this new use is welcomed and we are working to make it easier to set up meetings.  If you would like more information, please contact us at info@educatemagis.org 

• Microsoft Teams 

Teachers have been using this to meet with their colleagues and host virtual classes for their students as well as sharing content with students, assigning work, setting assignments and checking in with students or answering questions via the chat. Schools can avail of Microsoft Teams for free.  

More information here Microsoft Teams

• Google Education / Google Classrooms 

Similar to Microsoft Teams, teachers have been using this to host virtual classes for their students, share classroom materials with them, create quizzes, grade work and chat with students.   

More information here Google Classrooms

• Google Hangouts Meet 

Schools have also been using Google Hangouts Meet for online meetings between faculties and school leadership teams as well as between teachers and students. This video meeting platform is easy to use and allows people to set up a video call and share a link with people who don’t have an account. 

More information here Google Hangouts

• Zoom 

Many schools have been using Zoom for online video classes as well as online video meetings for faculty. Zoom have made their services available for free for schools in certain countries.  

More information here Zoom

• GoConqr   

One of our members recommended this site where you can find a series of tools which help to create digital learning materials. Some of the materials you can create include Mind Maps, Quizzes, Flash Cards, Notes, Slides and Study Planners. 

More information here GoConqr

• Moodle  

Moodle is another online collaborative learning platform which some schools, particularly in Brazil, had been using before the crisis and which has now become even more important and helped facilitate distance learning.  

See more here Moodle

• Talk and Comment  

This free app was recommended as a way to keep in touch with students and ensure they are ok during this challenging time. The app lets you record voice notes which you can copy and send through any app or site so they can be sent to your students via email or any other platform you are using. 

More information here Talk and Comment

• Kahoot 

This was recommended as a way to keep students engaged online, by playing a game of Kahoot on a video call. While it can also be done when everyone is in the classroom together, it is ideal for distance learning. At the moment Kahoot are providing free access for schools. 

More information here Kahoot

• Other Platforms 

UNESCO have published a list of Distance Learning Platforms, some of which may also be helpful.

We would love to hear if you have other platforms, apps, resources, tips, tricks or ideas to make students’ experience of learning online and teachers’ experience of teaching online more enjoyable and fruitful!  

Please leave comment below or drop us an email at info@educatemagis.org We are all in this together and can all learn from each other. Let us continue to show each other support and solidarity!