Distance Learning Packages for Schools, Academic Institutions, and Libraries

Infobase, the award-winning provider of digital reference content to the school and library community, today announced that it has created a variety of distance learning packages to help schools, colleges and universities, and public libraries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The distance learning packages provide open access to curated, multi-subject groups of online databases, with or without streaming video collections, for elementary schools, middle and high schools, colleges and universities, and public libraries—helping educators and librarians set up virtual classrooms and remote reference libraries for their students in the wake of closures due to the pandemic.

“These are unprecedented times, and educational institutions face unique challenges as they work to create successful remote learning environments,” said Paul Skordilis, president and CEO of Infobase. “We created these distance learning solutions because we want to help our community in this time of need, and we know that our online resources, created with distance learning in mind, can be of great value.”…Read More

All-in-one e-learning solution

Eko is offering its solution for FREE to support learning during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Eko’s virtual classroom experience ensures teachers, students, parents and school staff all stay connected ensuring a sense of school community and spirit, minimizing the disruption to learning and student progress.

The platform includes the following features:…Read More

Leading eLearning: A Future Ready Library opportunity

One of my colleagues is known for regularly reminding us that a crisis is a terrible opportunity to waste. The COVID-19 crisis has forced districts to redefine the manner in which they are delivering education.

In the best-case scenario, district leaders had a week to develop and roll out an eLearning strategy to students. Most teachers had a weekend to prep, and sent their students home without a defined plan or resources to help parents who became teachers overnight.

Related content: 10 reasons school librarians are more important than ever…Read More

Free access to Mackin’s Distance learning solution

Mackin, one of the world’s largest providers of print books, ebooks, audiobooks, and video is offering access to its ebook library and distance learning content for free.

If your school or district has closed due to COVID-19 or is shifting to temporary online or distance learning, MackinVIA has an effective solution. They have compiled free content, helpful videos, links, downloadable resources and more to help you with this distance learning transition.

Elementary School
4,500+ Multi-User eBooks…Read More

Free distance learning library

Lerner Digital is granting access to use their books to help enable librarians, teachers, and educators to help students with remote access and online learning. A selection of their digital products are now available for free through June 30, 2020. Click this link, to access these digital resources.

Lerner Digital is granting licenses to educators and librarians who would like to use their books to support their students and patrons via distance learning and remote access.

Click here to access Grades PreK-5.…Read More

Complete web-based math curriculum

Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) is offering one free month or a $15 discount on a yearly subscription to Beast Academy Online, the complete web-based math curriculum designed to help students ages 8-13 deepen their understanding of math. The program features engaging, comic-book style illustrations that keep kids coming back for more, even as they grapple with some of the most rigorous math problems available.

Some of Beast Academy Online’s highlighted features include:

●     More than 800 lessons and over 15,000 problems including puzzles, games, word problems and skill drills. Students get immediate feedback when they complete problems and full solutions are provided for every problem.…Read More

Free programs for remote learning

Renaissance is working to find solutions for students suddenly learning remotely during this unexpected global crisis. Renaissance is offering several free programs that enable students to access literacy and math activities and to complete assignments remotely.

myON and myON News
myON is a digital library that provides 24/7 access to thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles. Titles are available in English and Spanish.

myON News delivers engaging daily articles, reporting on US and world events that are reviewed by a child psychologist. Articles are available in both English, Spanish, and French.…Read More

Free computer programming courses

DataCamp for the Classroom offers free access to data science and analytics educators across the globe to all DataCamp content. This includes a growing library of 325+ courses in Python, R, SQL, and other technologies.

To date, DataCamp has helped over 200,000 students and teachers from 180 countries build data skills. This delivers on its mission for democratizing data science and analytics education around the world.

For more information visit DataCamp for the Classroom…Read More

Free access to English and Spanish eBook libraries

Benchmark Education is are now offering free access to their extensive collection of eBooks to families and educators. The library includes books both in English and Spanish for grades K-6 and is accessible to users using nearly any device with internet access.

The books are organized by subject and reading level making it easy to find the books that will interest your students while they are reading at home.

This library is available through July 31, 2020.…Read More

Transforming your library into a makerspace

In a recent edWebinar, hosted by edWeb.net, Michelle Luhtala, library department chair, and Donna Burns, technology integrator, both from New Canaan High School (NCHS) in Connecticut, showcased the transformation of the NCHS library from a collection of used reference and biography books into a living, breathing makerspace. Using mostly recyclable materials, equipment, and furniture, these educators are providing learning opportunities for students and teachers that have changed the school climate and culture. “Making learning more real for students allows them to learn better in a much more energized school,” said Luhtala.

A multi-year redesign

Through a five-year radical book-weeding process from 2011- 2016, the NCHS library had eliminated all of the library’s free-standing bookshelves. This process created both an opportunity and a challenge for Luhtala and Burns to convert this newly created space into a makerspace. With minimal funding in the early stages of the makerspace, the duo salvaged discarded lab tables and art stools and recycled material from all areas of the school.

Related content: 5 ways STEAM is used in storytelling…Read More

8 things to ask about your first makerspace

You wouldn’t just randomly choose a tool from your toolbox and feel confident it was the right one to cut a board or attach a hinge. Same goes for a school makerspace.

Like everything in ed tech, it’s not enough to have a bunch of shiny gadgets in your makerspace. You need to have the right materials to meet your goals.

Vinnie Vrotny, director of technology at The Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas, understands how tempting it is to fill a space with the latest devices. But before you do, here are eight questions you should ask to determine if you’re choosing wisely.…Read More

How to transform a library into a makerspace

In a recent edWebinar, hosted by edWeb.net, Michelle Luhtala, library department chair, and Donna Burns, technology integrator, both from New Canaan High School (NCHS) in Connecticut, showcased the transformation of the NCHS library from a collection of used reference and biography books into a living, breathing makerspace. Using mostly recyclable materials, equipment, and furniture, these educators are providing learning opportunities for students and teachers that have changed the school climate and culture. “Making learning more real for students allows them to learn better in a much more energized school,” said Luhtala.

A multi-year redesign

Through a five-year radical book-weeding process from 2011- 2016, the NCHS library had eliminated all of the library’s free-standing bookshelves. This process created both an opportunity and a challenge for Luhtala and Burns to convert this newly created space into a makerspace. With minimal funding in the early stages of the makerspace, the duo salvaged discarded lab tables and art stools and recycled material from all areas of the school.

Although this space was optimal for student making, organization and storage issues became the prime concern in the second year of the makerspace. Luhtala and Burns rescued much-needed shelving from the elementary school and clamped the refurbished shelves together to create an 80-bin storage system that provided teachers and students easy access to the makerspace materials.…Read More