Agenda Highlights
This quarter we examined virtual learning in Oakland. This past Spring, as COVID-19 began appearing in communities across the Bay Area and the rest of the country, schools and programs were forced to close their doors and pivot online. Within a few weeks, students and educators were suddenly learning and teaching over Zoom, Google Meet, and Skype. We were thrilled to feature the work of two organizations who shared what they learned and created through distance learning this summer.
The Oakland REACH is responding to the growing learning disparities affecting Black and Brown children in Oakland and the growing digital divide exacerbated by COVID-19. In June the Oakland REACH launched the City-Wide Virtual Family Hub and Literacy Liberation Center, providing summer learning and tech resources for over 200 students and families.
Springboard Collaborative has partnered with schools in Oakland since 2015, providing after school and summer programming aimed at coaching teachers and families to help kids read on grade level. As a response to COVID-19, Springboard moved their programming online and launched a resource portal for families and teachers. They also released a family literacy app and toolkit, and organized professional learning communities for teachers.
We used our time together to learn and discuss:
- What has worked for programs transitioning to virtual learning? What hasn’t?
- How are programs supporting the work of schools and teachers in virtual learning?
- How are programs supporting students and families through virtual learning?
- How can we leverage virtual learning to begin closing opportunity gaps and keep all kids connected – online and in person?
- What lessons and learning can we all take into the Fall?
Participants were able to reflect, share, and learn together in “round-table” discussions with Community Education Partnerships, Tandem, Partners in Early Learning, and East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation.
As we enter the Fall, we continue to support each other and our students in navigating the online learning world. We look forward to more collaboration and innovation throughout Oakland.
See below for links to the presentation guide, the recorded webinar, and the powerpoint slides.