In times of crisis people want to help. An elementary school teacher from a disadvantaged school district asked me for ideas. Most of her students were far below grade level, her class size was almost double from last year, and educational resources were being eliminated. I used social media to reach my friends and professional contacts all across the country and asked if anyone could spend 15-20 minutes a week helping small groups of students in the classroom over the phone. They could help in any subject. The response was amazing. We received more offers for help than we could ever use.

It worked great. The kids and volunteers were prepared beforehand about the process, goals and rules. The teacher placed a wireless VoIP phone at one of the student work centers, although a cell phone with unlimited minutes was also available as a backup option. She also pressed the speakerphone button so she could also monitor the instruction. The kids loved it and all of the remote volunteers loved it. They could help groups of students for 15-20 minutes without having to leave the office or home. The teacher also scanned and emailed copies of worksheets to the remote volunteers so they could have the same materials that the students were working on. The kids made amazing progress.

Another teacher needed help with grading papers. Too many students, not enough time. We had volunteers that could help, but the papers had student names on top which prevented them from being sent outside of the classroom. A coworker helped us solve the problem. He created a computer system that electronically removed the student names from the scanned pages, sent the electronic pages to our remote volunteers for online grading and online markup, then it electronically added back the student information accessible only in the classroom. The teacher loved it. In most cases, homework and quizzes were graded within hours. The quick feedback also helped the students.

A group of remote volunteers linked by social media can accomplish miracles.

Mary
Mary.Johnson@HighAchievement.org

In times of crisis people want to help. An elementary school teacher from a disadvantaged school district asked me for ideas. Most of her students were far below grade level, her class size was almost double from last year, and educational resources were being eliminated. I used social media to reach my friends and professional contacts all across the country and asked if anyone could spend 15-20 minutes a week helping small groups of students in the classroom over the phone. They could help in any subject. The response was amazing. We received more offers for help than we could ever use.

It worked great. The kids and volunteers were prepared beforehand about the process, goals and rules. The teacher placed a wireless VoIP phone at one of the student work centers, although a cell phone with unlimited minutes was also available as a backup option. She also pressed the speakerphone button so she could also monitor the instruction. The kids loved it and all of the remote volunteers loved it. They could help groups of students for 15-20 minutes without having to leave the office or home. The teacher also scanned and emailed copies of worksheets to the remote volunteers so they could have the same materials that the students were working on. The kids made amazing progress.

Another teacher needed help with grading papers. Too many students, not enough time. We had volunteers that could help, but the papers had student names on top which prevented them from being sent outside of the classroom. A coworker helped us solve the problem. He created a computer system that electronically removed the student names from the scanned pages, sent the electronic pages to our remote volunteers for online grading and online markup, then it electronically added back the student information accessible only in the classroom. The teacher loved it. In most cases, homework and quizzes were graded within hours. The quick feedback also helped the students.

A group of remote volunteers linked by social media can accomplish miracles.

Mary
Mary.Johnson@HighAchievement.org

The best teachers I know already work long hours, and even take work home with them. If they were to use a few moments of their own time to engage the social media about their schools, I suspect it would really put the cat amongst the pigeons. In England, the teachers’ comments on the Times Educational Supplement blog paints a pretty grim picture of our state schools.

Indeed, I’m saving this article under my Marie Antoinette bookmark for unintentionally-revealing remarks.

The best teachers I know already work long hours, and even take work home with them. If they were to use a few moments of their own time to engage the social media about their schools, I suspect it would really put the cat amongst the pigeons. In England, the teachers’ comments on the Times Educational Supplement blog paints a pretty grim picture of our state schools.

Indeed, I’m saving this article under my Marie Antoinette bookmark for unintentionally-revealing remarks.