We recently posted this blog listing more than 80 learning games and technologies that are available at no cost until the end of the school year in response to the closure of schools due to the COVID crisis. The resources were created by education technology developers with support from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Programs at ED/IES and other agencies, as well as through programs at IES and across government. In recent weeks, more than 100,000 teachers and students around the country have accessed these learning technologies at a distance.
Today, we are sharing more resources and activities that this group of developers is making available to the education community in response to COVID19.
A Series of Day-Long Virtual Unconferences
Over the coming weeks, developers are hosting a series of free virtual “Unconferences” on different topics for educators, parents, and students. The events will feature innovative models and approaches to teaching and learning during this time of distance learning and in-depth looks at the learning games and technologies created by the presenters, available at no cost until the end of the school year. While presenters will describe the delivery of online interventions via computers and devices, sessions will also focus on innovative approaches to implementing the interventions in low-resource settings.
The events are called “Unconferences” because the sessions are informal in nature and attendees can select sessions to join across the day. Attendees can participate by asking the presenters questions through the chat box and by responding to polls that capture reactions and views on topics.
Schedule and Information about the Virtual Unconferences in Education:
- Mathematics: Thursday April 23 (click here to watch the archived sessions on youtube)
- Early Learning: Tuesday, May 5 (click here to access resources and the archived videos from this event)
- Social Studies: Wednesday, May 13 (click here to watch the archived sessions on youtube and click here for a curated list of the resources from the event)
- Special Education, Wednesday, May 20 (click here to watch the archived videos from this event)
- Science, Thursday, May 21 (click here to watch the archived sessions on youtube)
National K12 Student Challenge
ED/IES SBIR awardee Future Engineers (@K12FutureE) launched a nation-wide challenge for K12 students to submit entries to “invent a way to make someone smile or feel appreciated during COVID19.” Teachers can sign up a class to participate or students can participate on their own. See this page for more information and to submit an entry.
Stay tuned to the Inside IES Blog for more information and resources about the response to the COVID19 in education.
Edward Metz is a research scientist and the program manager for the Small Business Innovation Research Program at the US Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences. Please contact Edward.Metz@ed.gov with questions or for more information.
