Non-IT News Thread
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US just announced that travel from Europe ends Friday at midnight for 30 days.
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@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:
Romania canceled high schools for the rest of the school year. Kids are told they will miss the year and have to do it over.
My wife's college is preparing for remote learning as well. What sucks, they are instituting a new online learning portal next year, but now they are forced to get everyone onto the old system for this situation. On campus instructors often didn't bother using the system at all, and they are being forced to learn it and setup their classes - it's a mess.
Fairly similar situation here. We've had it implimented for ages. The popluation/area that we service is very sparse. So online has been a must just to keep us afloat in some areas.
The uptake hasn't been what it should be as there are a lot of courses that should have, at minimum, had elements online already but academic people really, really hate change. Particularly when it comes to how they present their courses.
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@nadnerB said in Non-IT News Thread:
The uptake hasn't been what it should be as there are a lot of courses that should have, at minimum, had elements online already but academic people really, really hate change.
Basically.... "education", which is preparation for change, is the thing that they hate and avoid.
If they aren't the experts in change, they are the least qualified to be professors.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@nadnerB said in Non-IT News Thread:
The uptake hasn't been what it should be as there are a lot of courses that should have, at minimum, had elements online already but academic people really, really hate change.
Basically.... "education", which is preparation for change, is the thing that they hate and avoid.
If they aren't the experts in change, they are the least qualified to be professors.
Yeah pretty much.
They'll handle change, but only in their industry. Not so much in their day to day operations.Then when a simple change is introduced, they don't want a set of instructions and 'have a go'... they want a hand holding session... where they'll devolve it into a "well this is stupid"/ "Whaaaaaaaaahhhh" session.
EDIT:...
Yeah, I may be a little jaded regarding the meatware. -
@nadnerB said in Non-IT News Thread:
Then when a simple change is introduced, they don't want a set of instructions and 'have a go'... they want a hand holding session... where they'll devolve it into a "well this is stupid"/ "Whaaaaaaaaahhhh" session.
Yeah, so many professors could never pass their own classes.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
My wife's college is preparing for remote learning as well.
Only, you know, over a decade after anything else is legacy and antiquated and, honestly, unprofessional in nearly any educational setting. Coronavirus is just exposes how poor our education practices, expectations, and infrastructure are.
Online learning wasn't something anyone should have been "preparing to implement" more than a decade ago. Even fifteen years ago it wasn't novel or new. Twenty years ago, maybe.
Offering in person classes for the minority that have unlimited funds, free time, and benefit from that style of learning? Great. Requiring it for anything outside of situations like labs, and only some of those, makes it hard to take the system seriously.
OK, you're misreading what I wrote.
The college has a full and very active online course load. But they also have an active on campus set of course.
Teachers who only teach on campus classes (granted most of the old timers) have found no value in having the online portal setup (even though some students might). This portal, for on campus classes would likely be limited to the course syllabus, a listing of homework assignments and perhaps a discussion area - but there would be no education portion to it - as that would be fully in the classroom.My wife has been teaching both on campus and online classes for more than a decade
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@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
The college has a full and very active online course load. But they also have an active on campus set of course.
Teachers who only teach on campus classes (granted most of the old timers) have found no value in having the online portal setup (even though some students might). This portal, for on campus classes would likely be limited to the course syllabus, a listing of homework assignments and perhaps a discussion area - but there would be no education portion to it - as that would be fully in the classroom.No assignments to hand in? Or they use... USB sticks or something? How they heck do you function without a portal in any modern setting, even for in person classes?
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
The college has a full and very active online course load. But they also have an active on campus set of course.
Teachers who only teach on campus classes (granted most of the old timers) have found no value in having the online portal setup (even though some students might). This portal, for on campus classes would likely be limited to the course syllabus, a listing of homework assignments and perhaps a discussion area - but there would be no education portion to it - as that would be fully in the classroom.No assignments to hand in? Or they use... USB sticks or something? How they heck do you function without a portal in any modern setting, even for in person classes?
All assignments are handed in on paper. I realize this is crazy to someone like you, but it's just not for most people attending on campus classes. Tests are also all taken on paper.
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@dafyre said in Non-IT News Thread:
@Dashrender said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:
Romania canceled high schools for the rest of the school year. Kids are told they will miss the year and have to do it over.
My wife's college is preparing for remote learning as well. What sucks, they are instituting a new online learning portal next year, but now they are forced to get everyone onto the old system for this situation. On campus instructors often didn't bother using the system at all, and they are being forced to learn it and setup their classes - it's a mess.
Same for my campus, only more of the professors here do both in-class and online, so it will just be a matter of telling folks to log in. One of the guys on my Team has already told his class their final presentations are going to be done via Webex, lol.
No change of plans yet at my campus, though schools around us are shutting down.
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Coronavirus: Asian stocks extend global markets rout
Asian shares have continued the global markets slump on Friday as investors fear the spread of the coronavirus will wipe out economic growth.
Shares across the region, including Japan, Hong Kong and China, have plunged in morning trading. It followed the Dow and S&P 500 in the US having they're biggest one-day declines since 1987. Investors are concerned that emergency action by authorities around the world may be insufficient to avoid recession. -
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Coronavirus: Europe now epicentre of the pandemic, says WHO
Europe is now the "epicentre" of the global coronavirus pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization says.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to use aggressive measures, community mobilisation and social distancing to save lives."Do not just let this fire burn," he said. His comments came as several European countries reported steep rises in infections and deaths. Italy has recorded its highest daily toll yet. There were 250 deaths recorded over the past 24 hours, taking the total to 1,266, with 17,660 infections overall. Spain, the worst-affected European country after Italy, reported a 50% jump in fatalities to 120 on Friday. Infections increased to 4,231. -
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Coronavirus in Illinois: Pritzker closes all bars, restaurants for dining in as state cases rise to 93
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Sunday that all bars and restaurants in Illinois will be closed to the public, beginning at close of business Monday through March 30. They will remain open for delivery, drive-through and curbside pick-up orders, the governor said.
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Coronavirus: Germany latest country to close borders
Germany has become the latest country to close borders as European nations try to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Its borders with France, Austria and Switzerland were shut on Monday, except for commercial traffic. Spain will also close its borders later while France is considering more stringent lockdowns. Meanwhile, the European Commission has proposed a temporary ban on non-essential travel to the European Union. The measure would initially last for 30 days, and long-term residents in the EU, family members of EU nationals and diplomats would be exempt as well as cross-border and healthcare workers and people transporting goods. -
Here is what out school district is doing.
Andy DuRoss, Superintendent
(847) 357-5000 | http://sd54.orgDear District 54 Community,
As you know, on Friday Illinois Governor Pritzker announced the mandatory closure of all public schools through March 30. While our staff would prefer to be at school, interacting in person with your children, we know this is the right decision to keep our community healthy and safe.
Please know that the closure may continue beyond March 30. The situation is incredibly fluid, and the state is waiting to announce what will happen after March 30 until we get closer to that date.
Because this statewide closure was mandated, all of the days are considered Act of God Days in Illinois, and therefore will not be made up at the end of the school year. However, school districts across the state are encouraged to provide virtual learning opportunities for students.
Today was an institute day in District 54 so that we could train our employees on the new District 54 Virtual Learning platform, which will allow us to provide continuous instruction to the more than 15,000 students we serve during these unique times.
Timeline
March 17: closed for the elections as previously planned.
March 18-20: first week of virtual learning
March 23-27: spring break
March 30: virtual learning day
District 54 V-Learning Platform
On Wednesday morning, students will be able to visit the D54 V-Learning Website. Once you are on the site, click on the link that corresponds to your child’s age group and watch the welcome video. The website also contains a parent guide, a student guide and frequently asked questions.
Junior high V-Learning classes will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and students will follow their current schedule (including a break for lunch).
Elementary school and Lincoln Prairie classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Early Learning Center students can also visit the site with a trusted adult at any time. Students brought home bags last week to compliment the Choose Your Own Adventure virtual learning platform designed for their age group.
Since these classes are virtual and we understand that this schedule may not work for some families, students have the flexibility to complete tasks at any time. However, students participating during these V-Learning times will be able to interact in real time with their teachers. Student work during this time will not be graded.
All students in kindergarten through eighth grade should have brought home their District 54 iPads and Chromebooks on Friday. For those families who do not have Internet access at home, please email [email protected].
Reporting 2019 Novel Coronavirus
If your child is sick and cannot participate, please email your school principal. It is especially important for us to track illnesses while the COVID-19 virus is spreading in our state.
Students Receiving Free Lunch
Thank you to everyone inquiring about how we can continue to support our students receiving free and reduced lunch. We have a plan in place to distribute food to these children, and their families have been contacted directly. Anyone wishing to donate food, may drop off nonperishable food items at our administration center, 524 E. Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg, Monday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. throughout the shutdown of school.
Thank you again for working with us, as we all do our part to prevent the spread of this virus in our community. As I’ve stated before, these are unprecedented times, but in District 54 we will continue doing what we do best – caring for our students and ensuring their academic success.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Andy DuRoss
