Online Learning
Due to the pandemic, international schools are faced with many new situations, including how to navigate on-campus, virtual, or blended learning environments. Here is a collection of professional development opportunities, recordings, and resources to support you during this time.

New Professional Development Sessions
ISS is currently offering both short one-hour boost sessions and month-long immersion sessions so you can find the professional learning opportunities that best meet your schedule and needs. Topics range from building community, developing effective assessments and engaging students to various content-specific themes that are critical in any classroom. Whether you’re teaching in an online, hybrid, or face-to-face setting, join us for one or more of these events and learn and share with educators from around the globe. Learn more »

ISS Deep Dive Sessions into Virtual Learning
During the 2020 school break, we hosted a professional development virtual learning series that featured a mixture of presentation, group work, and individual exploration. Each four-hour Deep Dive Session covered one of seven different content areas and brought educators together from all around the world. View the padlets from the sessions.

Deep Dive 1: PK-12 Science Educators
July 1, 2020

Deep Dive 2: PK-12 Social Studies Educators
July 8, 2020

Deep Dive 3: PK-12 Math Educators
July 15, 2020

Deep Dive 4: PK-12 English Language Arts Educators
July 22, 2020

Deep Dive 7: Early Years Educators
August 12, 2020

Deep Dive 5: PK-12 World Language & EAL/ESL Educators
July 29, 2020

Deep Dive 6: PK-12 Specialist (Art, Music, PE) Educators
August 5, 2020
Educators Supporting Educators: Transitions to Online Learning Webinar Series
In this webinar series, Educators Supporting Educators: Transitions to Online Learning, ISS is bringing together educators who have been learning literally every day about how to quickly adapt their classroom teaching to new online learning environments. Check back regularly to see new webinars.

Legal Liability and Risk Management
May 26, 2020

Online Instructional Practices for English & Social Studies
May 20, 2020

School Operation Practices in the New Normal
May 19, 2020

Back to School Practices in the New Normal Webinar
May 12, 2020

Online Instructional Practices for Math & Science Webinar
May 13, 2020

Continuing Online Engagement Webinar
May 6, 2020

Managing School Finances and Other Resources in Times of Crisis Webinar
May 5, 2020

Grading and Reporting Webinar
April 29, 2020
Access Recording »

Inclusive Learning Webinar
April 22, 2020
Access Recording »

Assessment Webinar
April 15, 2020
Access Recording »

Secondary Counselors Webinar
April 8, 2020
Access Recording »

Specialists Webinar
April 1, 2020
Access Recording »

Early Years Webinar
March 25, 2020
Access Recording »
Resources
With the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), many schools made the switch to a 100% online learning environment. This is a snapshot of some of the work of many schools and individuals in regards to policy, technical operations, teaching and learning and community wellness.

Policies & Guidelines
“I’ve been tremendously impressed by the resilience and grit of both teachers and students. Though we are apart, the sharing of resources, best practices, and efforts to boost each other up through acts of kindness has been inspiring.”
– Chris Boyle, Secondary School Principal, Dalian American International School
Online Learning Policy
Sample online learning guidelines for a K-12 school.
Riffa Views International School
Crisis Management
Not sure where to start? A matrix school risk and response to closure.
International School of Brussels
Parent Guidelines
Sample online learning guidelines for the parent community.
Riffa Views International School
ICMEC child protection guidance for online instruction
International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children
Operational Guidelines for Reopening
Suzhou Singapore International School
International Best Practices for Online Learning
A wealth of policy documents shared by schools around the world

IT Operations
– Robert Park, IT Manager, Shekou International School
Support Portal
A great example of how to maintain ongoing communication and support
Nansha College Prepatory Academy
Gathering Distant Learning Data
A guide for surveying students, parents, & teachers
Jordan G Benedict
Proactive troubleshooting
Tips and tricks for helping your community help themselves
Rob Cormack

Online Pedagogies
– Lisa Jenkin, Team Lead Student Support, Shekou International School
Recommended Curriculum Resources
A curated document related to online learning and teaching
Laura Benson
Student Autonomy
Help students pursue their own passions and projects
Pedagogical strategies
15 tips for educators when working online
Global Online Academy
Portrait of online learning in the early years
Sample activities and scheduling for the EY
Rachael MacMillan
Library Guide
Beth Rohrbeck
MicroPD for Educators
Riffa Views International School
Formative Assessment in Distance Learning
Andrew Miller
Transform Curriculum 21
Heidi Hayes Jacobs and Alsion Zmuda
Using Thinking Routines in Distance Learning
Ron Ritchhart

Tools and Platforms
– Edward Bruce, Learning Innovation Coach, Shekou International School
Want more flexibility?
Check out this list of useful tools for creating online learning experiences.
Edward Bruce
Tools for HS/MS Learning
A bank of resources for secondary students
Tanya LeClair
Online Learning Flipboard
Links to articles for educators & parents for online learning
Dana Watts

Community Wellness
– Middle school student
Wellness checklist
Strategies for personal check-ins with both students and staff
Sonya terBorg
Upsetting news
How can we better deal with upsetting news?
Tips for healthy tech use at home
Guidelines to manage screen-time and personal health at home
Western Academy of Beijing
Reading tips for parents
Some simple questions to assist parents with reading with their child.
Laura Benson
Indoor activities for children
Some prompts to battle boredom at home
Guidelines and resources for counselors
International Schools Counsellor Association

Outreach
Educator Temporary School Closure for Online Learning
Administrated by Kirsten Durward
Looking for specific help?
The team at Global Online Academy is available to help with specific strategies for online learning during extended closures
Global Online Academy
Share your resources
We have created a form to gather resources throughout our international community of online resources. Please feel free to share links or ideas.