Category: Webinar

MADISON – To develop her webinar this summer, Beth Bero drew on her studies in science, technology, engineering and math or STEM material, as well as her background in astronomy and her inclination for possibilities in space.

Bero works as a Gifted Specialist at Horizon Elementary School. Bero won the 2020 Educator Achievement Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

“I gave a one-hour lecture as part of a monthly lecture series reserved for members of the Alabama Association for Gifted Children or AAGC. They asked me to present and gave me the free choice of subject, ”said Bero.

Looking at the available dates, July 20 struck Bero as a great connection to a space-themed talk for the 52nd anniversary of man’s first step on the moon.

“I watched Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon on a black and white TV with my parents at home in Clearwater, Florida,” she said. “My father worked for Honeywell (on) the team preparing the gyro systems for the Gemini and Apollo missions.”

Bero said teachers can share their love of space and the night sky with students and their schools. She discussed ways to partner with local astronomy clubs and access help from NASA to introduce students to the night sky – perhaps even instituting a “Space Week” in school.

The AAGC conference October 13-15 will be held at the Birmingham Marriott. The AAGC asked supervisors (in Madison – Melissa Mims, Elementary Education Coordinator) to recommend gifted specialists with exciting and interesting ideas to share with their peers.

From MCS, Emily Boshers, Rachel Gibbs, Beth Woodard and Bero have been selected as presenters.

During a session, each specialist will have a maximum of 10 minutes to speak on a subject of their choice. At the end of the workshop, participants can interview the presenters of the “Best of the Best Gifted” workshop about understanding the practices gifted education teachers use to meet the varied needs of gifted children.

Bero’s half-day presentation at the conference will focus on curriculum planning for gifted programs.

Bero once taught gifted students at Dunbar Sixth Grade Center in Tampa, Florida. She holds NBCT or National Board Certified Teacher status.

For more information, visit https://alabamagifted.org/event-4370835.

California Department of Education
Press release

California Department of Education
Press release

Exit: # 21-59
25 August 2021

SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Education Tony Thurmond convened experts in public health and education on Wednesday for a broad discussion on COVID-19 data and mitigation efforts that have resulted in the safe reopening of thousands of schools across California.

The Safe and Successful Schools webinar was developed in partnership by the California Department of Education (CDE), the California Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, and the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.

Dr Naomi Bardach of the Safe Schools for All team and State Council President Linda Darling-Hammond shared information on California’s robust and multi-layered approach to COVID-19 prevention, which does not has resulted in no delay in reopening schools so far during the fall semester. Bardach and Darling-Hammond shared data that shows how state-backed COVID-19 testing programs, on-site vaccination clinics, universal masking and detailed quarantine advice have helped keep California students in the classroom and to learn despite the awkward climb of the Delta variant. A recording of the webinar is available on the CDE Facebook page
.

“In-person teaching is so important for our students to be close to their peers and to have access to their educators, I want to congratulate all of our school districts who have opened and those who are preparing to open in the coming days,” Thurmond said. “We know what you have done is amazing to support our students and we also know this is happening under very difficult circumstances as we see the Delta variant continue to create challenges. But even so, by following all COVID mitigation strategies, we can keep our schools open and keep our children safe. Vaccines, mask wear and regular testing continue to provide a high quality educational opportunity for our students. Today is the first of many conversations we hope to have with our education leaders, parents and partners about how we operate and how we can keep ourselves safe and support students. “

Thurmond cited the webinar as another important effort in the state’s continuing message on how immunizing every eligible person will be essential for schools and communities.

“Research confirms that we need to keep schools open to promote the mental, socio-emotional and academic well-being of students,” Bardach said. She explained that new data shows that the Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as previous variants and that those who are not vaccinated are more than 11 times likely to be positive. Bardach said the vaccines are effective against Delta and have walked through key layers for safe schools that include combined vaccines with testing, masking, ventilation and staying home when sick.

Darling-Hammond urged local education agencies (LEA) to plan and prepare for prosecution of high cases, but said California is in a better place due to vaccines and masking. “We are a long way from the winter power surge in California, there are no delays in California due to COVID,” Darling-Hammond said. She explained how LEAs can access clinics located in schools, receive grants to become vaccine providers, and how independent study can be used as a short and long term option to ensure that instruction is ongoing. during quarantine. “If we open up vaccination clinics, especially in middle and high schools, we’ll be in a very different place in a few months,” Darling-Hammond said.

Before concluding the webinar, Thurmond acknowledged the resilience he has witnessed firsthand during his recent visits to schools across the state. “COVID-19 is the most difficult challenge most of us will experience in our lifetime,” Thurmond said.

“We can’t control what the coronavirus does, but we can control what we do and how we respond to it – we’re all in the same boat and as difficult as it may be, it can be done and the rewards are great. : give students the opportunity to have in-person instruction.

The Safe and Successful Schools webinar includes an American Sign Language interpretation service and can be viewed on the CDE’s Facebook page
. Slides from today’s presentation
(PPTX) are available for download from the California Department of Public Health website. To find a vaccination clinic near you, visit the My Turn – California COVID-19 website
.

# # # #

Tony Thurmond – State Superintendent of Public Education
Communications Division, Suite 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last revised: Thursday, August 26, 2021

Kent State hosted a virtual town hall for faculty and staff on Thursday to address questions and concerns related to the fall semester 2021.

Panelists included Peggy Shadduck, vice president of regional campuses and dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies; Tara Smith, professor of epidemiology at the College of Public Health; Manfred van Dulmen, Chairman of the Pandemic Leadership Committee, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Division of Graduate Studies; Julie Volcheck, assistant vice-president for student affairs and director of university health services; Jack Witt, vice president of human resources; and Melissa Zullo, Professor of Epidemiology and Acting Assistant Dean of the College of Public Health.

Panelists responded to a range of questions, from college advice on masks and vaccines to the likelihood that students and staff would be asked to resume distance education.

The the university has updated its guidelines on masks On August 3, masks must be worn indoors and on public transport, regardless of vaccination status.

“It’s something we wanted to do because our goal is to stay together, in person, throughout the semester. We want to start safe and stay safe, ”said van Dulmen. “It was not due to a safety concern,… but we had to, as a precautionary measure, go in that direction.”

Kent State also offers testing for asymptomatic and symptomatic people.

“We have testing for asymptomatic people, people without symptoms and possible close contact or exposure on campus,” Volcheck said. “From Monday to Friday, Visit Health provides service, and they are located at the Ice Arena, Eastway Lounge and MACC Third Floor Lodge.

Symptomatic tests will be available at DeWeese Health Center. For more information on the university’s COVID-19 test plan, visit this link. People who test positive for COVID-19 should call COVID Response Team, reachable at (330) 672-2525.

During the town hall, panelists responded to a question asking if faculty and staff had an opportunity to ask students and colleagues about their immunization status.

“The simple answer is no, because knowing that immunization status should not change what the student, or colleague will or will not do,” Volcheck said. “This is personal health information, and if people, through casual conversation, want to disclose it in the office, that is one thing, but no one should ask them outright. Just as we don’t ask about people’s health, we shouldn’t ask about vaccines. “

Volcheck said the university is working on a project that will allow the university to ask people to disclose this information.

van Dulmen said the university does not have a threshold or a number of COVID-19 cases that would result in a shift to fully distance learning at this time. The university, he said, regularly checks its COVID-19 numbers and indicators.

“Thank you for the hard work everyone has done throughout the pandemic,” Shadduck said. “We have had a lot of people on regional campuses, like on campus, who have found safe ways to continue working on site. … Very happy to rediscover the sense of community that comes from working together, the ways in which we can best support students and learning.

A recording of the virtual town hall is available on State of Kent today.

Emma Andrus is a journalist. Contact her at [email protected]

The murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the prevalence of anti-Asian hate crimes amid the pandemic, the death of United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The list goes on. A lot has happened in the past 18 months. Many students, especially students of color, have experienced mental health issues while dealing with virtual learning. As most of the students return to campus in the fall, administrators from higher education institutions and mental health experts gathered virtually on Thursday to discuss how best to help students navigate the course. next semester.

“We can take this moment to consciously choose how to move forward in an innovative and equitable way that is particularly relevant to supporting our BIPOC students,” said Dr. Carlota Ocampo, president at Trinity Washington University and moderator of the webinar. titled “Promoting Race Equity in Student Mental Health: Considerations and Strategies for Returning to In-Person Teaching.Dr Carlota Ocampo

Even before the pandemic, schools struggled to hire students of color.

Dr. Cirleen DeBlaere, associate professor of counseling psychology at Georgia State University, noted that only about 28% of students of color think their campus is inclusive according to a 2017 survey. In her own study, DeBlaere also found that over 70% of students of color had suffered a micro-assault on campus and that would only be magnified by the pandemic.

“All these incidences of micro-aggressions can accumulate to [and] contributing to racial trauma, ”she said, adding that hearing about other people’s experiences or seeing them on social media sites could have a negative impact on student mental health.

“All of these have mental health implications in terms of depression, anxiety, lowered self-esteem, binge drinking, and symptoms of PTSD,” DeBlaere said.

The trauma experienced by students of color can affect them not only mentally but also physically. Dr. Stephen Quaye, associate professor of educational studies at Ohio State University, studied the phenomenon called racial combat fatigue, the exhaustion that people of color experience from repeated racism.

“[People] who suffer from racial fatigue in combat often also have headaches, grinding of teeth, shortness of breath, ”Quaye said. “We might also have trouble sleeping, then emotionally and behaviorally, loss of appetite, increased alcohol and drug use as a coping mechanism. And then poor academic and professional performance.

To better accommodate students who have experienced racial trauma in the past year, Ocampo suggested devoting more resources to faculty development.

“When students walk into a classroom at any institution, what they see is their faculty, and for them that faculty is the institution,” Ocampo said.

She noted that some white teachers might avoid certain subjects for fear of making mistakes. Universities and colleges, she added, must help all faculty create a safe and welcoming campus climate for students.

University of Michigan professor Dr. William Lopez noted that even small changes to the curriculum can help traumatized students feel more seen and included. Since the start of the pandemic, he has added a note to his program.

“[The note] help students understand that I understand that their life is very difficult at the moment. And so my expectations are not what they were before, ”he said. “We are not in a normal period. So we shouldn’t be doing normal things. “

Lopez said the faculty must validate the feelings of the students.

“‘I hear you.’ “I’m sorry you went through this.” ‘What do you need?’ These are the means to answer it. ”He added.

STAFF REPORTS

UC Davis will host a webinar for employees and students during the noon hour Wednesday (August 4) on the topic of UC’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Watch the video recording above.

The program is open to everyone, including parents. The Davis campus announced the webinar in emails sent Friday to employees and students for whom the university has no record of their coronavirus vaccination. See below for how to report your vaccination information yourself and what to do if you have already reported your information but still received the webinar announcement.

As of Saturday, July 31, the Davis campus combined vaccination rate (employees and students) stood at 64% (70% employees and 62% students), according to the COVID-19 dashboard of the UC Davis.

Marshal and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan, epidemiologist, will open the webinar by discussing the importance of COVID-19 vaccines in overcoming the pandemic and allowing the campus to resume operations (including in-person teaching), as planned , in the grave.

Other panelists: Eric Kvigne, Associate Vice-Chancellor, Security Services; Cindy Schorzman, Medical Director, Student Health and Counseling Services; Pablo Reguerín, Vice-Chancellor, Student Affairs; Julia johnson and Danielle Kehler, Labor and Employee Relations Managers, Davis Campus and UC Davis Health, respectively; and Binnie Singh, Assistant Vice-President, Academic Affairs.

The organizers collected people’s questions when they registered for the webinar and will also answer questions via the Q&A feature during the program.

Compliance or exception

The UC President’s office announced that his vaccination mandate was final on July 15 for all faculty, staff and students in the system. The effective date for the Davis campus is September 8, two weeks prior to the first day of teaching.

Employees and students are reminded that the vaccination process can take anywhere from two to six weeks, depending on the vaccine administered. Check out a timeline for when you need to receive your photo (s) to meet the September 8 deadline.

Without vaccination, you will need an exception based on medical or religious grounds, or postponement for pregnancy. Employees and students have different application processes, as follows:

If you are an employee requesting a medical or religious exception or a postponement for pregnancy:

• Log in to health email.
• Click “Messages” from the menu on the left side of the page.
• To select “New message” at the top of your inbox.
• Select “Request a COVID medical exception or a religious exception or a medical postponement”
• Fill out the form and submit.
• A third-party vendor, Sedgwick, will contact you in about a week with further instructions. The University of California has contracted with the company to collect and track inquiries and perform initial assessments for employees through the UC system.

If you are a student and request a medical or religious exception or postponement for pregnancy:

• Log in to health email.
• Click “Messages” from the menu on the left side of the page.
• To select “New message” at the top of your inbox.
• Select “Request an exception or postponement of the COVID-19 vaccine policy”
• Select “Student or student employee”
• Select “Download the exception request form”
• Download one of the following three forms: medical exception, request for postponement (for pregnancy) or religious exception (all PDFs).
• Complete the form (s) and obtain the appropriate signature (s).

Students should submit the forms as follows:

• Medical Exception or Deferral Request Form – Follow the first five steps from the lists above (log into Health-e-Messaging, click “Messages”, select “New Message”, select “Request Exception or a postponement of the COVID-19 vaccine policy “and select” Student or student employee.
• Select “Submit a completed medical exception or deferral request form.” “
• Select “Add Attachment” to add forms.
• Select “Send”.

Alternative: If you are a student looking for a religious exception:

IF APPROVED: Employees and students with exceptions or deferrals should adhere to campus protocols for the unvaccinated, which currently require face coverings indoors and in crowded areas outdoors, and testing every fourth days.

IF REFUSED: You must be fully vaccinated by September 8. Otherwise, as the webinar will explain, employees will face consequences up to and including termination, and students’ access to campus and university programs and services will be restricted. This means that students may not be able to attend classes, events or other activities in person on campus. Once a student complies with the policy, the restrictions will be removed.

Other accommodations

Employees who believe they need further accommodation should work with Disability Management Services. Students with personal health concerns who cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine or who have other medical reasons affecting their ability to attend campus in the fall should contact the Student Disability Center to discuss possible accommodations.

Classrooms have been locked, school hallways have become silent and buses have remained parked on campuses with the rapid closure of educational institutions across the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of this upheaval, EdTech startups in India began to rise to the challenge – ensuring that young learners had the opportunity to continue and complete their education during the lockdown.

Reports suggest that by 2025, this sector is expected to grow by $ 10 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 39%. With this in mind, the industry must now deliver quality educational experiences that not only overcome the challenges brought on by the pandemic, but also dramatically improve the physical learning ecosystem in the classroom. We believe that this is only possible thanks to hybrid classes.

Are hybrid classes the new face of education?

This new teaching model where face-to-face classroom teaching is combined with online learning offers many advantages. In addition to using technology to personalize learning, these classrooms of the future exploit advanced and innovative teaching methods to capture the attention of the student. Teachers have now adapted to unique teaching methods, such as integrating household resources with next-generation apps to perform activities and lessons. They learned how to create short videos and presentations to make the lessons more engaging and interactive, which improved the overall skills of the teaching staff. And that’s just the beginning.

With a host of benefits, it’s no wonder that Hybrid Classes – Futuristic School Learning – was chosen as the theme for the AWS Toppr webinar, hosted by YourStory. The hour-long session will take place on August 12 at 4:00 p.m. and will host a panel of experts – in technology and education – deliberating on the way forward for education.

The session will begin with an interesting conversation about the evolution of classrooms and the type of challenges created by the pandemic. The panelists will then delve into the teaching techniques that must be adopted to fit into the hybrid classroom model. Many organizations, including Toppr, can attest to the urgent need to train teachers in new teaching methodologies and techniques. The panel will offer their perspective on these topics, including choosing the right tools for improving skills, identifying quality trainers and creating effective training modules for teachers.

The webinar ends with an excerpt on the role of online platforms in the future and the steps that policymakers will take to shape the future of education in the country.

Panelists:

Rohitashwa Choudhary, Senior Vice President, Toppr

Durga Kakaraparthi, Head of AWS Solutions Architecture, Public Sector

Dhriti Malhotra, Principal Director, Manav Rachna International School, Gurugram

Shivani Muthanna, Senior Business News Presenter and Program Producer, YourStory Media

Who will be present?

The session will be attended by the school fraternity, including principals, principals and senior management

If you are a teacher or work in EdTech, this webinar is for you. Click here to register.

ABIGAIL KESSLER Journalist Sun

The PLA is committed to providing information on the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19 to PLA members and others working in public libraries. This free webinar series, originally running from March 26 to April 23, 2020, featured updates on the current state of the pandemic, examples of how libraries are handling closures and serving their communities virtually, and opportunities to share and learn from each other. A link to the recording of each webinar is available below.

Public Libraries Respond to COVID-19: The Current Landscape
Thursday 03/26/2020
WATCH THE RECORDING

What are public libraries doing in response to COVID-19? How do they make decisions? Where do they get information and how do they share it with their communities? Participants in this webinar will learn about the current landscape of public libraries in the midst of COVID-19 and hear library leaders talk about what they’ve been up to.

Facilitators:
Patrick Losinski, Director General, Metropolitan Library of Columbus (OH)
Patty Ross, Library Director of the Puyallup Public Library (WA)
Larra Clark, Deputy Director of the APL

Public Libraries Respond to COVID-19: Effective Ways to Work Remotely
Thursday, 2/4/2020
WATCH THE RECORDING

With library closings and mandatory quarantines, public library staff can find it difficult to transition from a role facing the public to working from home. In this webinar, attendees will learn about software and technology options and learn best practices for being an effective remote employee or manager.

Facilitators:
Cindy Fesemyer, Adult and Community Services Consultant, Public Library Development, Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction
Toby Greenwalt, Director, Digital Strategy and Technology Integration, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Larra Clark, Deputy Director of the APL

Public Libraries Respond to COVID-19: Managing Stress and Anxiety
Thursday, 04/09/2020
WATCH THE RECORDING

In times of uncertainty, taking care of yourself should be a top priority. Library managers need to think about the well-being of their staff, and staff need to think about the well-being of its patrons. How do you deal with stress and work with an anxious audience in these difficult times? In this webinar, attendees will hear from members of the PLA Social Worker Working Group on ways to approach self-care, prioritize wellness, and manage stress and anxiety.

Facilitators:
Debra Keane, LCSW, Coordinator, Social Work, Jefferson County Public Library (CO)
Susan Voss-Rothmeier, LCSW, Project Respond Library Crisis Services, Multnomah County (OR) Library
Kathleen M. Hughes, PLA Publications Manager

Public Libraries Respond to COVID-19: Innovative Solutions in Times of Crisis
Thursday 04/16/2020
WATCH THE RECORDING

Public libraries are constantly evolving to meet the needs of their communities. When the doors are closed, how do libraries evolve to meet users where they are? What about planning for the future? Attendees of this webinar will hear from examples of library staff who have responded to this time of crisis with innovative solutions to services and programs.

Facilitators:
Pam Sandlian Smith, Director, Anythink Libraries, Adams County, CO
Marcellus Turner, Executive Director and Chief Librarian, Seattle Public Library (WA)
Kelvin Watson, Director of Libraries, Broward County Libraries Division (FL)
Mary Hirsh, Deputy Director of the PLA

Public Libraries Respond to COVID-19: Results of National Investigation
Wednesday 22/04/2020
WATCH THE RECORDING

More than 2,500 public libraries responded to the largest national survey on public library responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 24 to April 1. What have we learned about closures, services and staff that can help libraries understand how their peers are responding to the current crisis and plan for future recovery? How do organizations like PLA and ALA use this data, and what could you do with it? Because the landscape is changing so rapidly, PLA plans to conduct another investigation on this topic.

Facilitators:
Linda Hofschire, Director, Library Research Service, Colorado State Library
Kolleen Taylor, Library Director, Bertha Bartlett Public Library, Story City, IA
Emily Plagman, PLA Manager, Impact and Advocacy

Public Libraries Respond to COVID-19: Strategies to Advance Digital Equity Now
Thursday 23/04/2020
WATCH THE RECORDING

Over 20 million people do not have broadband access at home at a time when virtually every aspect of our lives has a digital component. Public libraries have long been part of a digital equity solution with devices, Internet access, and technology training. What are libraries doing while our buildings are closed and the need for digitally disconnected people is greater than ever? Speakers will share strategies ranging from amplifying WiFi signals and deploying mobile hotspots to mapping and advertising public WiFi access. Participants will have the opportunity to share and ask questions.

Facilitators:
Betsy Fowler, Director, Williamsburg Regional Library (VA)
Misty Hawkins, Director, Arkansas River Valley Regional Library
Julie Walker, Georgia State Librarian
Larra Clark, Deputy Director of the APL

The US Department of Education is hosting a series of webinars to help educational communities safely maintain or resume face-to-face teaching. The series presents lessons learned and best practices from faculty, staff, schools, districts, higher education institutions, early childhood education providers and other educational settings outlining approaches to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of the US Department of Education (ED), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) invites you to participate in the upcoming webinar, Returning to School: Strategies for Support Staff on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. EST.

Please join us as we explore information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services, and US Department of Education on supporting staff health and wellness as educators are going back to school this fall. Following updates from the federal agency, practitioners in the field will share the strategies they have found effective in supporting staff well-being.

Speakers and panelists will include Christian Rhodes, Chief of Staff, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, US Department of Education; Jessica Cardichon, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of Federal Policy, US Department of Education; Jyotsna Blackwell, public health advisor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sangeeta Parikshak, Behavioral Health Manager, Office of Head Start, US Department of Health and Human Services; and Kathy McHugh, panelist, Delran, NJ.

This event will reference the following resources, which we encourage you to access prior to the webinar to inform attendance:

National Association of School Psychologists: from the special series on back to school

American School Counselor Association (staff welfare is included in these documents)

National Association of State Boards of Education

National Association of Education

Other CDC Resources

For reference, the slides for this presentation will be displayed on the event webpage on the day of the event. This event will be recorded and published on the event webpage one day after the webinar.

You must register to participate in this presentation.

Please contact NCSSLE if you have any questions. The NCSSLE looks forward to sharing this information with you and hearing from you about the important work you do in your schools, communities, and states to meet the needs of your students and staff as they return to in-person learning. .