Common Sense Launches 'Wide Open School' to Assist with Remote Learning

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 04/01/20

Common Sense has launched an online school to help educators and families cope with remote learning and teaching. "Wide Open School," as it's called, features resources curated by the media organization and provided by a number of well known education content providers, including Khan Academy, Scholastic, Time for Kids, National Geographic, PBS, Sesame Workshop and others. The daily learning activities are organized by grade band and subject.

The website features:

  • Coverage of math, English language arts, science, social studies, science and the arts;

  • Virtual field trips;

  • Resources for special needs students and English learners;

  • Ideas for physical activities and life skills;

  • Links to daily live events; and

  • Guidance on emotional well-being.

There's also a link to a bunch of guidance on setting up a virtual classroom. For grades 6-12, that incorporates links to remote learning resources, how-to's on setting up Google for Education and Zoom, digital citizenship lessons and a list of the "best messaging apps and websites for students, teachers and parents."

While most of the sites require no log-in for access, some do require registration. Common Sense has warned users that the external websites and applications "are governed by their own privacy policies or information-collection practices." For that reason, the organization advised, "We encourage you to review the privacy policies and information-collection practices of any external websites and apps before using them with children."

"This crisis has reminded us of our deep appreciation for the work teachers do every day in their classrooms," company officials noted in an "about us" page. "At Wide Open School, we celebrate teachers--and parents--as they take on this new challenge."

Wide Open School is freely available online.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • DreamBox Math

    Discovery Education Announces Accessibility Enhancements for DreamBox Math

    Discovery Education has updated DreamBox Math, an online math program for K–8 students to supplement core instruction, to improve accessibility for K–5 students, according to a news release. DreamBox Math provides personalized instruction by adapting to individual learners’ responses and providing an engaging, dynamic learning environment.

  • stylized illustration of a modern laptop on a classroom desk, displaying a digital AI certification

    Partnership Brings AI Credentialing Product to Minecraft Education Platform

    Prodigy Learning and Minecraft Education have partnered to bring credentialing in AI skills to the Minecraft learning environment. "AI Ready Skills" is the third learning, assessment, and credentialing product from the two companies.

  • metallic padlock with a glowing keyhole, set on a dark gradient background with a faint digital grid and blue-green highlights

    Microsoft Announces Security Updates

    Microsoft has introduced a handful of new security tools and updates, which the company said adhere to its Secure Future Initiative, a set of three core tenets emphasizing "secure by design, secure by default and secure operations."

  • abstract circuit patterns, featuring small icons of coins and dollar symbols in blue, green, and gold tones

    Report: 90% of Schools Depend on E-rate Funding Every Year

    A new report from Funds for Learning highlights the critical role of the Federal Communications Commission's E-rate program in funding essential technologies and services for K-12 schools.