WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

Action Plan

Team will develop a Distance Learning Policy to provide consistency in orientation/advising, information provided to instructors, student follow-up with a given schedule.

Team will work with each county to designate a Distance Learning Coordinator (DLC) to serve as a “go to” person for instructors/staff who have questions about individual distance learning programs.

Team will develop Quick Reference Guides for instructors to help acclimate them to various programs offered.

Team will develop a process to provide GED Ready vouchers to enrolled students so those students may complete Ready test off-site (with instructor approval).

Team will initiate work to determine which distance learning portal would best meet program-wide needs.

Team will create a google.doc to upload/share ideas regarding further distance learning guidelines to address:

• Expectations for students
• Recording proxy hours
• Tracking/student follow-up, etc.

Team will work with instructors to develop Google Classrooms.

The Distance Learning Team identified a need for a centralized resource hub where teachers could post and share with their fellow teachers videos, lessons, and resources. The resource hub would  

• Allow current and future staff to access a central location for distance learning resources
• Increase efficiency to have a central location
• Help staff manage time more effectively with respect to distance learning
• All instructors to use and share research-based strategies and best-practices

Team members also identified other needs related to distance learning, including

• Updating Instructor Guides and the Distance Learning Policy
• Creating a Student DL Tracking Templates for sites to use to include information on the types of products being used by the student, usernames and passwords, name of primary instructor.

Outcomes

The BCTC Distance Learning Policy was developed and adapted by each county.

Moving forward, our DL Policy can be revised to include any needed guidelines based on using a portal.

Distance Learning Coordinators (DLCs) were identified within each county.

Quick Reference Guides for Instructors were developed for the following resources and uploaded to the Resource Hub:

• Using Burlington English

• Using EdReady

• Using Fast Forward

• Using GED Academy

A process for taking GED Ready Tests Off-Site was included in the BCTC Skills U Distance Learning Guidelines

Work related to identification of distance learning portal moved to fall of 2020.

The BCTC Skills U Distance Learning Guidelines are included in the DL Policy.

Our Google Classrooms are currently a work in progress. We also plan create a DL Coordinator and Quick Reference Guide for Google Classrooms.

The Distance Learning Team created the BCTC Skills U Resource Hub on Google Classroom.

• Invited staff to join as teachers; thus enabling them to post their own materials as well as access any materials on the site.
• Began creating, curating, and sharing how-to videos, Google Classroom codes, and other resources. (Sharing Google Classroom codes enabled fellow teachers to access individual teachers Google Classroom.)

Team members developed a Student Distance Learning Excel file. The file allows each county to maintain and update as needed information that will enable all staff to assist a student in the event a need should arise. The file includes information on the distance learning product(s) that a student is using, that student’s username/password for each product, the name of the primary instructor for that student and any other information that will be useful in aiding the student. By providing access to all instructors, anyone can assist the student in case of a teacher absence, a school shutdown, or any other reason that the primary instructor is not there to assist the student.

Team members are currently identifying distance learning options for students who do not have laptops/computers and WiFi that work easily and effectively. Team members are researching resources that students can access using a smartphone.