21st Century Learning #110: H1N1 and School Communication

21st Century Learning #110 September 29, 2009 -- H1N1 Preparedness After a recenty NYSAIS Professional Development seminar, NYCIST held a meeting discussing H1N1 preparedness. Alex and arvind discuss what schools are doing to be prepared for closures and high absense rates.  Resources to find information include Flu.gov, ISTE. We also discussed the importance of connnectedness of the community.  The importance of creating an online space for students and faculty to continue to keep the community intact.  We asked if Facebook could be that space? Plus some edtech news from our schools...  Photo from CDC.Gov Chat Transcript 2009-09-29 14:07:18 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Hello -- Mcole. 2009-09-29 14:07:37 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: We're just waiting. 2009-09-29 14:07:54 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: we're going to get started in about 5 more minutes 2009-09-29 14:08:53 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: arvind's in a fire alarm. 2009-09-29 14:08:58 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Where are you from? 2009-09-29 14:09:01 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: What do you do? 2009-09-29 14:09:50 [Message] [email protected] -> -EdTechTalk: thanks. I'm Director of Academic Technology for an Independent School. 2009-09-29 14:10:27 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Where?  2009-09-29 14:10:35 [Message] [email protected] -> -EdTechTalk: Memphi, Tn 2009-09-29 14:10:39 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Great. 2009-09-29 14:10:41 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Welcome! 2009-09-29 14:10:49 [Message] [email protected] -> -EdTechTalk: Thank you! 2009-09-29 14:11:02 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Was down at MBA for a SACS review a few years ago. 2009-09-29 14:11:09 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Good time. 2009-09-29 14:11:28 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Should be going in a few. 2009-09-29 14:16:20 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: sorry, just getting back! Fire drill a success 2009-09-29 14:22:09 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: Hi-sorry I'm late! I was in the CoSN webinar on H1N1 :-) 2009-09-29 14:22:19 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: awesome, tell us about it! 2009-09-29 14:22:46 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: they had some great advice from both urban and rural districts 2009-09-29 14:23:48 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: one district required all employees to get direct pay to bank account in the event of long term issues such as Katrina--may not be important for H1N1 2009-09-29 14:24:31 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: they really stressed having a plan in place in advance of the crisis 2009-09-29 14:25:06 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: they said initially there was a lot of pushback from employees but it was mandated and is in place now 2009-09-29 14:25:56 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: they said it was important to use these sites for the most current resources: http://flu.gov 2009-09-29 14:27:16 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/flu/tips.php 2009-09-29 14:27:19 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: NAIS has a resource on H1N1 from April: http://www.nais.org/resources/article.cfm?ItemNumber=151758 2009-09-29 14:32:55 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: rats! I was posting all of my info in the wrong window! 2009-09-29 14:33:58 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: can't copy/paste it here! Ugh! 2009-09-29 14:34:32 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: if you're on a Mac, you can drag and drop into the textbox - annoying, but it works 2009-09-29 14:34:32 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: http://www.cpsb.org/ some great examples here 2009-09-29 14:35:36 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/pandemic/index.html 2009-09-29 14:35:52 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: I know the drag/drop but I had it in a skype window 2009-09-29 14:36:17 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: the widget on the flu.gov site is great for putting on your website 2009-09-29 14:37:15 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: one district required their teachers to have 10 days of lesson plans submitted in advance 2009-09-29 14:37:45 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: they also said it was important to consider staff implications during illness--school closures may be needed because you don't have enough teachers to cover classes 2009-09-29 14:38:15 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: some posted assignments daily on Blackboard and Moodle and even provided loaner laptops with wireless acccess to students who didn't have it 2009-09-29 14:38:32 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: they really emphasized the point about personal connections 2009-09-29 14:38:51 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: they felt that immunications/cvaccinations could be recommended but not required 2009-09-29 14:39:07 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: thanks guys! 2009-09-29 14:39:17 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: thanks for being here everyone! 2009-09-29 14:39:41 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: glad you're back!! 2009-09-29 14:39:51 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: us too! 2009-09-29 14:40:29 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: thanks, everyone.