For some, Interactive Distance Learning is limited to the notion of low enrollment classes, linking a handful of students in one school district with a handful of students in others to extend the curricular offerings in all school districts involved. For us, at the Macomb Intermediate School District, Interactive Distance Learning is that and so much more! Curriculum and Professional Development are enhanced and extended through virtual field trips such as zoos, museums and science centers, collaborative events linking students from around the county to around the state to around the world, and special events linking our students to authors and specialists. In short, we bring a world of resources to our students each and every day through interactive educational learning.
If you would like to receive information about any or all of the interactive distance learning programs offered by the MISD please join our listservs. We will be using these to announce our programs and their availability.
The Following Listserv is under the ASK Program.
With so many different programs coming and going the ASK program Listserv will only be used to make announcements about all the MISD Distance Learning programs which includes the ASK program, Interactive Programs and the Playful Engineering Programs.
Follow this link to Join the MISD Distance Learning Listserv or copy and paste the following url into your browser
http://www.misd.net/distancelearning/subscribe.htm
This listserv is private, we will not share your information or send you emails that do not pertain to the Distance Learning Programs.
Click the link below to register for in a interactive distance learning program at: http://www.misd.net/dl
How to use the Interactive Distance Learning Registration page:
- Fill in the appropriate information on Step 1. Be sure the e-mail address is correct, email is how you will be notified if you have been accepted and registered for the program along with reminders and schedules throughout the school year.
- Continue on to Step 2.
- Under Choose a Program choose the program you are interested in.
- Under Choose a Topic choose the title of the book/program you would like.
- Under Choose a Session choose a date and time you would like to participate.
- Continue on to Step 3.
- Review the information and if correct press submit.
- If you would like to register for another program click on Use this link to submit another program request.
Registrations are on a first come first serve basis.
I will delete duplicate requests so please do not register for another teacher unless you put in their name and email address.
DO NOT DOUBLE UP CLASSROOMS FOR ONE SESSION / PROGRAM.... REGISTER EACH TEACHER THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAMS.
Reasons why we don’t recommend teachers doubling up:
1. Only teacher who registers for the program will get materials.
2. One class of 35 students or less 99% of students will be able to ask questions and be on camera, if more than one class not all students will be able to ask questions and it is not fair to the students.
3. It is bad for our statistics, the more teachers that register the more we can offer the program in the future. At the end of the school year I set up the next year's programs by how many registered for what program. The more registrations on the schedule the more it will be offered in the future. I go by registrations and not the count of students in one particular program.
4. The more we have registered the more funding will be available to support the authors and specialists we use for our future programs.
READ YOUR EMAILS CAREFULLY!! Yes, sometimes you will be put on the waiting list or rejected for a program. Do not assume that you have been confirmed for the program!
Check your school Calendars!!!!
Here is a pdf that explains the STEP BY STEP PROCESS OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN A INTERACTIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE
Here is a pdf that explains the Distance Learning Email Structure of who gets what emails that is sent out from the MISD.
To open the 2022 - 2023 Distance Learning Schedule click here.
You can register at https://www.misd.net/dl/
An Important Note about the ASK program below:
Reasons why we don’t recommend teachers doubling up:
1. Only teacher who registers for the program will get materials.
2. One class of 35 students or less 99% of students will be able to ask questions and be on camera, if more than one class not all students will be able to ask questions and it is not fair to the students.
3. It is bad for our statistics, the more teachers that register the more we can offer the program in the future. At the end of the school year I set up the next year's programs by how many registered for what program. The more registrations on the schedule the more it will be offered in the future. I go by registrations and not the count of students in one particular program.
4. The more we have registered the more my supervisor will support the authors and specialists we use for our programs and therefore we have funding for future programs.
A NEW program has been scheduled for the 2022 - 2023 school year. See this attached flyer for more information.
Maker Space Build-Along: Chain Reactions – from Ordinary Stuff!
A Rube Goldberg-inspired romp into the world of building complicated chain reactions to accomplish simple tasks, from our own ordinary stuff.
A list of handy household materials to use for a "chain and reaction" projects will be emailed to you once you have registered for the program. This list is not necessary for the MISD distance learning program but you may want to use this list for fun in classroom experiements about chain reactions.
This is Jay Mankita's web page to look at different projects and tutorials to do the in classroom projects. https://www.playfulengineers.com/tutorials/
We use Zoom as our cloud base software program to make the distance learning connections.
All you have to do is download the Zoom software, free of charge. Then when the meeting room link is emailed to you all you have to do is click on the link and we will be connected, put in the Meeting ID# and the Meeting Pass code. If you have an account in Zoom, then you login to your account and put in the Meeting ID#, you will not need the passcode.
The meeting room information does change with each program so do not save the link that will be sent to you for one program because it closes out at the end of the day after the programs are done.
You will need speakers and a microphone hooked up. It is highly recommended to have an USB microphone because the computer microphone does not pick up audio well for the students questions. If you use a laptop then all you have to do is make sure your camera and microphone from the laptop is on and in sync with the meeting room. If you use a desktop computer make sure you can connect a microphone and speakers to your computer.
An extra good thing to do during the program is to make sure your laptop is plugged in for the battery and that you are hardwired (computer Ethernet into the wall Ethernet plug) to your internet Lan or router which will give a stronger signal.
Technology Tips & Guides for a Successful Video Conference
Know how to operate all of your equipment before your video conference begins. This includes your Codec, Video Projector and wireless Microphones.
- Have technical help standing by or make sure you can phone a tech person right away.
- Have your party’s telephone number in case problems arise.
- Do a test call prior to the date before your event with someone outside of your network to verify incoming and outgoing audio and video.
- Know how to mute when not speaking. You will be asked to do this throughout the program.
All of the school districts technical coordinators have been instructed on how to use Zoom. Contact them to learn how you can use it in the classroom if needed.
Here is a pdf that explains what the email structure is on who gets what emails that is sent out from the MISD.
Here is a pdf that explains the step by step process of of registering for an interactive video conference.
For more help you can contact the Macomb ISD technical person, Brian Boudreau at bboudreau@misd.net or 586-228-3422.