As a teacher, the impact you're feeling of COVID-19 is huge. Everyone here at Concordia University wants to help.
The circumstances that bring us together here are less than ideal, but we’re thankful to be in this together. For the past few weeks, we’ve been working hard to provide resources to you that are helpful as you navigate the new normal of teaching remote.
How to Use This Library
Bookmark this page and return to it often. We’ll update this page as we release new resources, schedule additional Zoom training sessions, and more. Consider this your one-stop-shop for COVID-19 resources from Concordia University.
Right now, what you’ll see on this page are resources relevant to your current life—what you need to set up and excel at online teaching as well as adjust to working remotely. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be adding more resources to this page to help you maintain your online teaching as well as resources to help you succeed long-term.
RESOURCES TO START TEACHING
These are the resources that can help you set up your systems to teach remotely and survive the abrupt transition from in-person to remote teaching.
1. Zoom Into Online Learning
On Monday, March 16, we hosted a live Zoom session to share tips with teachers on best practices for online teaching as well as some nuts and bolts on Zoom as a platform choice to use for that online teaching. The event was so popular that we exceeded our attendee limit. So, if you weren’t able to attend or want to go back and review the tips, you can do so with our recording link.
Watch the recording.
You're not alone
Get weekly encouragement in your inboxReally, you aren’t alone. We’re all in this together, and we want to provide as much encouragement and help to you as we can. One of those ways is through our weekly encouragement email. Want in? Sign up and you’ll get encouragement every Wednesday morning.
2. Teaching Remote with Kids
If you’re a teacher who is also a parent, your load is now doubled. One of our staff members in the School of Education over on our Ann Arbor campus put together some comical commentary on working remotely with kids along with some tips on how to balance the two.
Read the post.
3. Learn from Lutheran Educators
Several Lutheran teachers came together to create the Digital Learning Collective to support each other while they teach remotely. Any educator is welcome to participate in the Collective by attending live sessions or viewing recorded ones that have already taken place. You can even sign up to host your own 30-minute session to share your area of expertise with other teachers.
Explore the Collective.
4. Meditating on Scripture
One of our theology professors put together a post on five verses to meditate on during the pandemic. If you’re finding yourself feeling tense, stressed, or anxious during this time, take some time to read through his recommendations. Meditate on the scriptures included in his post and evaluate their meaning in light of your personal situation as well as what the entire world is facing. We’re all in this together.
5. Remembering Mental Health
Social distancing along with orders to stay at home means we’re spending A LOT more time with our families than we typically do. It’s completely normal to get tired of each other and of our situations which, in the long term, can impact mental health. Dr. Jan Heinitz, Assistant Director of Graduate Counseling, offers some guidelines that can help everyone in the family thrive. Feel free to use these guidelines for yourself or as helpful tips to pass on to your students’ families.
Explore the Guidelines.
6. Staying Positive
So much good is still happening in the world and in our homes, even if we’re stuck in them right now. As an educator, you have the opportunity to help your students and their families focus on the positive. Our graduate education team shared some tips for families that you can pass on to your students.
Get the tips.
RESOURCES TO KEEP TEACHING
1. Start a devotional practice
Our Campus Ministry staff is working hard to provide encouragement to the Concordia community throughout our stay-at-home period. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, a different Concordia faculty or staff member will share a brief devotional message that is intended to bring hope in His eternal promises and biblical perspective for the days and weeks ahead. If you need some encouragement, you can re-watch previous messages.
2. Incorporate faith into your virtual classroom
Whether you work for a private, faith-based school system or are in a public education setting, you can bring your faith into the classroom. Especially now, as you face uncertainty alongside your students, you have the opportunity to show love and truth to your students.
As a reminder, check back on this page often as we’ll be releasing new content to help you cope and flourish over the next few weeks. If there’s anything specific that you’d like to see us create, you can always send us an email by clicking here.
—