Who is this Ed Technology and How Did He End Up At My Dining Room Table? What You Need to Know About Virtual Learning in Order to Succeed

By Jackie White

Ed Technology, short for educational technology, needs to be your friend over the next few months as most of us are schooling virtually. When you become familiar with Ed Technology you will be infinitely more capable of handling your child’s schooling at home.

This Ain’t Your Mama’s Filmstrip Friday
Gone are the days of the AV (Audio Visual) Guy who came into the classroom to set up a film strip. Instead, today we have become almost inseparable with technology and classrooms are no exception. Funny thing though, the classroom has now landed in the middle of your dining room and you feel like you have just been dropped into a reality you didn’t sign up for. 

Don’t Worry, Ed Tech Has Gotchu!
Actually, my friend and and most excellent ed technology teacher, Julia Xistris and her co-worker Kiley Ogodogu have been so kind to help us out with navigating the world of virtual schooling from a technological standpoint.

Good Ol’ Ed Technology Brings You the Basics

Devices
Many school districts provide devices to the students. Julia and Kiley say that if your child is more comfortable using another device that should be fine, but this should be communicated to the teacher so they know the platform needs. Ensure your child charges their device each night.
Ed’s Tough Love Tip: If they are using a device not issued by school make sure your little angel isn’t sneaking onto games or other sites during the school day.

Connectivity
Make sure your internet connections are stable. If they are not it will wreak havoc with your child’s daily activities. Decide if a new router or an internet booster may help your stabilization of connection.
Ed’s Tough Love Tip: Disney Circle has a device that can control connectivity of all of your home’s devices. This might be helpful if you have a game system like XBox because you can block access during school hours. Your child will think this blasphemy.

The Importance of Digital Citizenship
Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of technology by anyone who uses computers, the Internet, and digital devices to engage with society on any level. It is not something that should be a new concept to your children or students if they are utilizing online platforms of any sort. Parents should take an active role in overseeing their child’s digital life. CommonSenseMedia.org has helpful information on digital citizenship as well as reviews and recommendations on games, movies, videos and other media topics.  
Ed’s Tough Love Tip: You are in charge and have not only the right but the duty to check your child’s devices. Make sure to set up restrictions to block certain sites or content on the devices your child has access to. The honor system is hard to stick to when temptation is one click away.

Platforms
There are several platforms that your child’s schooling can be delivered on. Common platforms include Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas or Inkling. Find out which one your child is using and get familiar with it and stay in communication with your child’s teacher on how you can best utilize it in your role. Google Classroom is widely used and is likely the platform you may be working with.
Ed’s Tough Love Tip: Don’t skip the step on understanding how to navigate the platform your child’s school is using. Your role will require you to ensure that your child is doing their work and knowledge of the platform’s functionality will be necessary. This is something you can’t fake your way through.

The Checklist of Success Strategies for
Virtual Learning

Ed’s Strategy Summary for Parent Preparation: 
Educate, Communicate, Inebriate (Just kidding on the last one...well, sort of)

Educate:
-Identify the platform your child will be using each day and familiarize yourself with it.
-Check to see if your child’s school offers technological support to families.
- If the tech tool or platform is challenging to use, YouTube has many tutorials available. 
-If your child is using Google Classroom ask the teacher to turn on parent notifications so that you are updated on missing assignments and what assignments are coming due.

Communicate: 
-Establish communication and expectations with your child’s teacher.
-Establish expectations with your child and communicate often on assignments. 

Inebriate:
-Ed Tech doesn’t condone this type of activity, however, a margarita once in a while might be necessary to close out each week of virtual learning.


Ed’s Strategy Summary for Student Management: Expectations, Organization and Communication

Expectations:
- Establish and follow daily schedules
- Establish designated workspace
- Establish rules for school day (no game playing, tv watching etc)
- Establish that you will oversee that child is doing work throughout the day

Organization:
- Establish/Follow set schedule each day’s lessons and breaks (Don’t wing it!)
- Track assignments and due dates online and perhaps on a whiteboard at home
- Set up and maintain an organized designated workspace

Communication
- Establish frequency of check-ins between child and parent 
- Establish frequency of check-ins between parent and teacher

Ed’s Extra Credit: 

.com-Check in with your child to see how they are doing academically and to see how they are 
  feeling about things. 
- Provide some form of safe socialization for your child outside of school hours. This will help with balance and your sanity!
-Provide yourself some grace to manage through. Take a time out when needed.


Ed Tech is Available in Many Forms
Because Ed Tech is a versatile guy, there are tons of other e-learning resources that can assist you in your virtual wonderland. Here are a few you might want to check out:

Khan Academy.com
Time4Learning.com
Weareteachers.com
Commonsensemedia.org
TedEd

That’s a Wrap With Ed Tech, Your New Best Friend.
Ed Tech isn’t such a bad guy if you engage him properly. A little pre-work to get prepared and with a few deep breaths, you will be able to successfully handle all that comes with Ed Tech and the virtual world of schooling.

Special thanks to Ed’s favorite teachers: Julia Xistris and Kylie Ogodogu for their expertise in the field of educational technology.

Shine on!


Julia Xistris has 14 years experience teaching. She is the former K-5 STEM teacher in Belleville, Wisconsin and Project Lead the Way Master Teacher. Currently she is the ⅚ classroom teacher at an international prep school in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Kylie Ogodogu has 15 years of teaching experience and works for the School District of Belleville, Wisconsin as the district library media specialist and the technology integrationist.