Jared and Dani are back with another Learn @ Home episode of UEN Homeroom. This week we are discussing what distance learning looks like with Cody Spendlove, Edtech Director of Alpine School District. As part of our conversation we talk about how to provide devices to a district with 80,000 students, how to keep kids safe online while working from home, and the best practices teachers are using to engage students in an online learning environment.

UEN Homeroom welcomes Gabbi Young, an EdTech coach with Washington County School District, to our Learn @ Home series. As part of the discussion we focus on the need to be on the same team with teachers and students, the impact of the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant in preparing our schools for distance learning, and how to support teachers with their current needs.

In our latest Learn @ Home episode, Jared Covili and Jared Fawson (Homeroom Super Sub) check in with Joe B. Wright, Executive Director of the Southwest Educational Service Center (SEDC) to learn more about the impact that distance learning is having on the students and faculties of Southern Utah. In our discussion we cover topics like: how rural Utah is helping all students receive broadband internet service, the need to balance work and home life for educators, and how to help school districts connect with their communities.

UEN Homeroom is pleased to welcome John Kelly, principal of Washington Elementary in Salt Lake School District, into our Learn @ Home series. During this episode we discuss the important role schools play in providing for the needs of the community, how to connect with your faculty and students while distancing, and the importance of communicating with your stakeholders.

This week Jared and Dani meet with Karen Sterling, Director of Student Advocacy in Canyons School District, as we continue with our Learn@Home series. We focus this episode on the equity issues brought up through the switch to distance learning. Our topics this week include: how to maintain relationships with parents and students while separated (including old school mail), how is the digital divide being addressed for those families who don't have access to technology, helping students with special needs cope with all the changes to their learning environments/schedules, and the importance to meet the social, emotional, and physical needs of students during times away from in-person education.

In this episode of UEN Homeroom,we turn in house to talk with Kelleigh Cole, Sr. Manager of Strategic Initiatives at UETN. We discuss the need to extend internet to all students throughout Utah, the educational and social impact of lack of internet, and how to partner schools with local telecom providers to help strengthen connectivity.

In the last of our Back to School episodes, Jared and Dani talk with Nicole Johnson, UEN Admin Assistant extraordinaire, about her experiences as a student during COVID. As part of the conversation we cover topics such as: what COVID required of students, how schools and educators fared providing instruction during distance learning, and what schools can do to help support students if classes go online in the upcoming school year.

Jared and Dani are back with another UEN Homeroom. This time we're joined by Sarah Young, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Utah State Board of Education. The conversation touches upon fun topics like what your Zoom background looks like to when is the appropriate time each day to get dressed. Sarah provides information about how USBE is helping districts deal with addressing student technology needs, how the Digital Teaching and Learning program has helped Utah prepare for distance learning, and what schools may look like next year.

In the next installment of the Learn @ Home series, UEN Homeroom talks with Scott Wihongi, principal of Murray High School. As the school year nears completion, we talk about topics like: how to provide the class of 2020 a sense of closure, connecting with students and parents who are struggling during this time, and helping the community stay strong in the face of challenge.

In our Back to School series, UEN Homeroom visits with Shanna Bingham, a Kindergarten teacher from the Granite School District. During our conversation we talk about the issues surrounding returning to school and look back at remote learning from last year. Topics in the podcast include: how to build relationships with students and parents, the need to connect with students using video and more, how to move your in-person curriculum online, and many more. Mrs. Bingham is described as "Mary Poppins if she taught Kindergarten" - listen to this interview and you'll fall in love with her positive outlook on education.

This assignment is great for the days the students need something to do at home on a digital learning day! 

As part of our UCET Live series, Jared, Dani, and Fernando participated in the Utah Podcasters Unite panel discussion. They were joined by the hosts of three Utah education podcasts to chat about all things audio and education. Jake from the Teaching Literacy Podcast, Quin from Edtrex Rewind, and Tracy from Little Things First are all Utah educators who started podcasts to influence classroom learning.