ClicK-12 (free) Webinar series powered by FIU Online
Simple Ways to Digitize Your Classroom
Article by Monica Smith
The live virtual workshops are part of the FIU Online Community Learning portfolio, which stems out of FIU’s belief that lifelong learning should be available to everyone. This series, provided at no cost, includes tips and tools on how to design, deliver and engage students using best practices in online learning.
As K-12 schools face an upcoming academic year with critical challenges, FIU is making it a little easier for educators with its CLICK-12 webinar series. Powered by FIU Online, the webinar series, offered at no cost to participants, will provide educators with simple ways to digitize learning, just in time for the new school year.
Robust remote learning
While there are many expert opinions on what is best for this coming school year, what’s known is K-12 educators will depend on remote learning to some capacity. In response, the FIU Online webinar series will offer K-12 educators the support needed to design engaging digital classrooms.
“As a community partner in education, we want to help through our expertise, by sharing our experience of more than 20 years in the online space,” said Lia Prevolis, interim assistant vice president of FIU Online. “At FIU Online, we know online learning and we look forward to sharing effective best practices through a K-12 lens.”
High-impact workshops
This series, “created by educators for educators,” said Gabriela Alvarez, director of learning design and innovation for FIU Online, features four topics specific to K-12 teachers. The 90-minute workshops will take place between July 22 and Aug. 12. Participants can register for individual workshops or the entire series online.
“FIU Online learning design team experts will provide their know-how, guidance and evidence-based practices for delivering instruction in the online and remote modalities,” said Alvarez, who will teach a workshop on how to be more resilient with online learning. The webinars will also cover relevant topics including lesson design, use of videos, organization techniques and tools.
“We’ve been there and understand the needs. This series is designed to make procedures easier, so instructors can teach more and struggle less,” explained Karina Ocampo, instructional design manager for FIU Online. Ocampo will teach the best ways to structure a virtual classroom and offer tried and true advice on best practices for simpler organization.
Tools and video
“There are so many tools that can help create more engaging lessons,” said Maikel Alendy, learning design innovation manager for FIU Online. His workshops will help educators learn to use video in instruction, and he’ll also discuss the most relevant and low-cost ed-tech tools that can be incorporated easily.
“We’re all in this together. We want our community of educators to know that we are here for them during this new normal,” Maikel Alendy
Blending, Flipping and Digitizing Your Classroom
Wednesday July 22, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
As schools shift to remote, blended, and online teaching, there will be no shortage of logistical questions. What kind of instruction happens online? What happens in person? How do I design lessons to keep my students engaged? While online education is relatively new to the K-12 classroom, higher education has been delivering instruction in this modality for over 20 years. This session shares the best ways to design, structure and flip your lessons and make them more resilient.
Teachflix: Creating Incredible Videos from the Comfort of Home
Wednesday July 29, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
We all know the learning power of videos: we may forget where we parked sometimes, but always recall an arbitrary scene from our favorite movie. This webinar discusses how you can create impactful, memorable and quality learning videos at home. We will cover the value of crisp audio in a presentation, setting up good lighting, leveraging everyday tools for high-quality synchronous activity, and the concept of cognitive load. Come and discover how you can elevate your video production from the comfort of your dining room table.
Dot Org—Structuring the Virtual Classroom
Wednesday August 5, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
As we shift to virtual classrooms, it is crucial to explore delivery options beyond email. This session offers improved means of getting students to quickly access your digital lesson plans, and thereby reduce repeated "Where do I find that?" emails. Join us to gain virtual classroom organization techniques so that you can teach more and struggle less.
Free99: Nine Low-cost, High-impact Ed-tech Tools in 90 Mins
Wednesday Aug.12, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Ed-tech tools promise a brave new world: highly engaged students and teachers learning deeply with just one click. The truth is there are too many tools to choose from, and too small a budget to fund them. Join FIU’s online learning design innovation manager as he shares nine of the most relevant and low-cost ed-tech tools you can incorporate into your classroom today. You will learn what you need to get started with collecting resources, using free and open source technologies, and review common missteps and solutions when leveraging these tools in your class.
