SETDA Produces Coalition to Support Online Learning

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 03/16/20

SETDA, the State Educational Technology Directors Association, has produced the "Coalition for eLearning," to help state leaders and others make decisions about how to respond to school closures in the face of COVID-19. Content includes:

  • Background and research;
  • Communication tools for state, district and school stakeholders;
  • Content and sample lessons;
  • Partner solutions;
  • Examples of state and district plans and policies for "eLearning" days; and
  • District pilot examples.

The site will also share information about webinars intended to help educators continue reaching students. The next one, scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 17, at 5 p.m. Eastern time, will cover "Strategies for eLearning Days in the Wake of COVID-19." Those are hosted on edWeb.net.

SETDA is also hosting an online community of practice, "Essential Elements for eLearning," which is intended to serve as a central location to share and learn from one another about policies and practices related to online learning, digital content and school closure days.

"In preparation for the likely disruption in learning from the COVID-19 virus, it is essential that we collaborate to provide best practices and a framework to ensure students can continue learning away from brick and mortar schools," said Candice Dodson, executive director of SETDA, in a statement. "Supported by SETDA's partners and underwriters, we hope to spark innovation around e-learning related to the COVID-19 virus, inevitable inclement weather and other disruptive events."

The organization has committed to continuing to develop the online tool over the next two years.

The work of the coalition is being underwritten by AT&T and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Find more resources for schools during the COVID-19 crisis here.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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