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Category: Teaching & Learning

San Mateo County Community College District Courses Remain Mainly Online for Spring 2021 Term

Posted on by San Mateo County Community College District

The three colleges of the San Mateo County Community College District – Cañada College, College of San Mateo and Skyline College – will continue to hold courses in online and distance education modalities, as well as provide most student services remotely, through the end of the Spring 2021 semester. The San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees formally ratified the decision in their meeting on Sept. 23.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt higher education along with every other sector,” said SMCCCD Chancellor Mike Claire. “This decision allows our employees to plan ahead for a successful spring semester, and it lets students know what to expect. Staying online is the best way to keep our students, faculty, and staff healthy and safe.”

The Board’s decision was based on the recommendation of the Chancellor and supported by a recommendation from the District Academic Senate. Faculty, staff and students have expressed a need to have as much time as possible to plan for the spring term.

Most employees will also continue to work remotely through May 2021.

In-person instruction will continue for certain essential infrastructure sectors–healthcare, emergency services, and transportation fields, as well as critical STEM labs in key transfer areas, and to meet licensing requirements for career education programs–in order to train first responders and healthcare workers to address urgent community needs and to provide direct pathways to employment. Due to criteria set by the State that include requirements for social distancing, classroom/lab sanitization procedures, and other health precautions, the number of people at SMCCCD campuses will be kept at a minimum.

During summer 2020, Colleges provided a massive professional development program to train instructors in online education. Approximately 600 college faculty participated, as well as dual enrollment faculty, faculty instructors, and other support staff. The training program was supported by more than $1.4 million in Federal CARES Act funding as well as District funds.

The District has launched a number of programs to help students cope with the ongoing crisis. Drive-Up WiFi service is available six days a week to help students attend online classes and complete their schoolwork. In a partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, the District now offers free food distribution on Wednesdays at Skyline College, and Fridays at College of San Mateo. The District is distributing more than $4.2 million in federal CARES Act funding to students to assist with financial challenges. The three Colleges have been distributing loaner Chromebooks, WiFi hotspots and other supplies to students. Healthcare services are available via telemedicine free of charge to students.

San Mateo County Launches Partnership to Support Equity in Middle School Math Education

Posted on by San Mateo County Community College District

The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) and the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) announced today the development of a new series of courses designed to promote greater equity in mathematics education. The courses, offered in partnership with Education Trust-West, will provide educators with an integrated approach to mathematics that centers on Black, Latinx, and multilingual students in grades 6-8, addresses barriers to math equity, and aligns instruction to grade-level priority standards.

Equity gaps for historically disadvantaged student groups are well documented. In the 2019 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) administration, 17 percent of Black/African American and 24.2 percent of Hispanic/Latino 8th graders met the Math standard, compared to 73.9 percent of Asian students and 51.6 percent of White students. On the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a national test of student performance, California’s students are 4 percent points below the national average, with Black, Hispanic, Low Income, Students with Disabilities, and English Learners performing in the lowest performance band (NAEP basic).

Responding to this glaring need to improve math outcomes for all students, SMCOE, SMCCCD, and Education Trust-West gathered instructional designers, math experts, teachers, and teacher-trainers to design and deliver the online series of classes. The program is based on Education Trust-West’s toolkit, A Pathway to Equitable Math Instruction Dismantling Racism in Mathematics Instruction, which addresses gaps in student outcomes with activities for uncovering bias and strategies for infusing antiracist pedagogy.

The training will address methods for deepening content understanding and relevance; creating environments and practices that support students’ social, emotional, and academic development; and strengthening the interconnectedness of English language learning and the development of mathematical thinking.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Community College District and Education Trust-West on this critical initiative,” explained San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee. “It is only by working together, especially across systems, that we can accelerate success for all students.”

The series launches today on October 27, 2020, and includes a set of short courses held once a week over five weeks. In this first offering, SMCOE and SMCCCD, through its Community, Continuing & Corporate Education (CCCE) division, anticipate training up to 200 middle school teachers. The California Partnership for Math and Science Education will organize special groups to provide follow-up support and give teachers the opportunity to speak with each other about their work implementing the toolkit.

With this training series, SMCOE and SMCCCD build on their experience designing and delivering training for teachers on distance learning throughout the summer and early fall. That training, which is still in demand, has equipped 20 percent of San Mateo County educators with the skills not only to teach online, but also design lessons, conduct assessments, keep students engaged, and communicate effectively.

For more information on this partnership, please visit the Micro-Course website.

EMPLOYEES: What to Do in Case of Power Shutoffs

Posted on by San Mateo County Community College District

PG&E has announced the possibility of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) this week. Here is what the District is doing to prepare, as well as guidelines for what to do if you lose power.

In the event of a power shutoff, online classes and meetings should continue as scheduled, but you should have a plan for how to reach your dean or supervisor if you lose power. Let them know what is going on. Instructors, deans, and supervisors are asked to make every effort to be flexible and understanding with anyone who is unable teach, learn or work due to a power shutoff.

Online classes
Online classes will continue as scheduled in the event of a PSPS. For detailed guidance on handling a PSPS, please see the District Academic Senate Guidance Statement on Major Power Outages.

Offices and meetings
Employees working from home should continue to do so as long as they have power. All meetings will continue unless announced otherwise by the meeting host.

Campus Procedures
The District communicates daily with PG&E and will have advance notice of any planned outages at any District campus or the District Office. If/when PG&E notifies the District of an upcoming outage, the District may close the affected location as a safety precaution. In the event of a power shutdown on a campus, face-to-face classes and all other campus operations will be closed. Some essential employees may still be required to come to work to preserve campus safety and facilities.

The District will notify students and employees of any campus closures. Updates will be posted at emergency.smccd.info.

What to Do in Advance of a PSPS

  • Make sure your dean or supervisor has your cell phone number.
  • Instructors and offices should create a phone tree in order to contact people during a power shutdown.
  • If you live in an affected area, notify everyone at the beginning of your classes/meetings that you could lose power.
  • Charge your phone and devices in advance.

What to Do if You Lose Power

  • Email or text your dean or supervisor to let them know.
  • Instructors should notify students on Canvas and encourage students to check in with their classmates.
  • If you are a meeting host, call or text a colleague in the meeting to let them know you lost power and that the meeting will be rescheduled.
  • If you are a meeting participant, email or text the meeting host to let them know you lost power and make arrangements to follow up when you have power.

Above all, please take care of yourself and others who are experiencing hardships due to a power shutoff. Please use patience and flexibility to allow students to complete course requirements, and to allow employees to complete their work.

Monitor updates at emergency.smccd.info.

STUDENTS: What to Do in Case of Power Shutoffs

Posted on by San Mateo County Community College District

PG&E may do Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) this week. Here is what students should do if you lose power.

Online classes will continue as scheduled, as long as your instructor has power, but you should have a plan for how to reach your instructor if you lose power. Your instructor will make arrangements for you to make up assignments or other requirements once power is restored.

Face-to-Face Classes
In the event of a power shutdown on a campus, face-to-face classes will be canceled. The District will notify students of any campus closures.

What to Do in Advance of a PSPS

  • Make sure your professor has your cell phone number.
  • Make sure your Canvas notifications are set to “daily” and announcements to “immediately.”
  • Charge your phone and devices in advance.

What to Do if You Lose Power

  • Email or text your instructor to let them know.
  • Check in with your classmates and friends to make sure they are okay.

Above all, please take care of yourself and others who are experiencing hardships due to a power shutoff.

Monitor updates at emergency.smccd.info.

Zoom Updates – May 22, 2020

Posted on by San Mateo County Community College District

Zoom has added even more security features and ability for meeting organizers to maintain control, in software client 5.0.  Please be sure to update to Zoom’s latest release to take advantage of these new features, and be prepared for transition to higher end encryption starting May 30. The 5.0 update includes:

Consent for unmute: When a meeting host has muted a participant, they can no longer unmute that person without their consent. That participant will now receive a prompt asking for consent to be unmuted. Note: With this feature, the option for hosts to Unmute All participants at once has been removed, but will return in a later release.

New audio for Waiting Rooms: We’ve created a specific audio chime for when someone hits the Waiting Room, so hosts are aware that they’re there. You can also enable the “Play sound when participants join or leave” feature to hear alerts when participants are coming and going.

Meeting information during screen share: Participants can now access meeting information, such as meeting ID, when sharing their screen. Find it under “More” in the meeting controls.

Multiple login restrictions: For meetings that require registration, hosts can choose whether to allow participants to join from multiple devices. This is available under Registration Options of the meeting details section in the web portal.

Classes Will be Online for Summer and Fall 2020

Posted on by San Mateo County Community College District

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Dear Cañada College, CSM, and Skyline College Students:

Fall Semester Will Be Online
The Fall 2020 semester at Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College will be online for most student programs.  Our faculty members, administration, and Board of Trustees have agreed this is the best way to keep our students and employees safe through the fall.  

There will be some exceptions for courses/labs in the healthcare and emergency services fields, as well as in STEM, career education, and other select areas. However, even these courses will be in hybrid format with lectures online and only necessary labs being done in-person. Specific courses will be determined in the coming weeks and your instructor will communicate with you about the details.

Register now for fall classes!

Student Services Will Be Online Through December 2020
All student services will also continue online through December 31, 2020. There may be some services that are absolutely necessary to provide in-person, so we will provide details this summer.

Summer Will Be Online
As we have previously announced, Summer classes will be online. This is a great time for you to get ahead for the fall or catch up on courses you may have had to drop or missed out on. Check WebSchedule for all the courses available to you this summer.

Need to Withdraw Or Change Your Grading Options?
If you need to drop a class, you can do that until the day BEFORE the last day of the class. Until May 21, you may also request to change grading option for a course to Pass/No Pass by filling out this Add/Drop form and emailing it to your admissions office:
Cañada Admissions
CSM Admissions
Skyline Admissions

We strongly advise you to talk to your counselor before making those decisions, because this may affect your academic progress and ability to transfer. See these New Student Guidelines for excused withdrawal, pass/no pass, and incomplete grading options. Here’s how to contact your counselor:

Register Even if You Owe A Little Money!
We know times are hard and we don’t want you to have to sacrifice your education. Even if you owe up to $49 in fees to the District, you will still be able to register for summer and fall classes. We are here for you and want you to complete your education, so if you are having difficulty paying for school please contact the Cashier’s Office at your College to find out about payment options:

The Census is Hiring! Apply Online to Be a Census Worker. And Fill Out Your Census!
The Census has been extended for four months, and San Mateo County is hiring field staff workers with pay up to $30/hour. Apply online at www.2020census.gov/jobs. If you have applied and need technical assistance, please call our Support Desk at 1-855-562-2020, and select Option 4.

Did you know you can complete your 2020 Census questionnaire online? Just go to www.my2020census.gov. Learn more at the San Mateo County Census 2020 website.

Do You Need Shelter, Food Assistance, or Basic Services?
Dial 2-1-1 for non-emergency resources or visit the District website for places to go for help.

Get the Latest District Information
District COVID-19 Page
Telephone Hotline: 650-574-6650

Return Your Technology or Other Borrowed Items!

Posted on by San Mateo County Community College District

All borrowed items including Chromebooks, laptops, hotspots, calculators, library books, textbooks, and other borrowed items are now due back to your campus. There are only two days left to return items.

Drop off items at your campus 
Please drop off your items at Cañada, CSM, or Skyline, on one of these dates:

  • Wednesday, May 27: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm 
  • Thursday, May 28: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm 

Drive through or walk-up drop off locations are marked on these campus maps: Cañada College, College of San Mateo, Skyline College. 

Which campus should I drop my items off at? 
Choose the campus drop off site according to these guidelines. 

  • Bookstore rentals must be returned to the campus from which they were rented. Have your G-number ready.
  • Library books or other items may be returned at any campus 
  • Technology items such as laptops, hotspots, or calculators may be returned at any campus

Please check your library account for a list of your current library or technology loans, and contact your campus library as needed with questions.

You will be required to follow these rules when dropping off, in order to protect the health and safety of you and our employees:

  • Wear a face covering
  • Stay 6 feet away from all other people
  • Do NOT come to campus if you are sick. 

You may park off campus and walk over to complete your returns. It is okay to have a friend or a family member drop off on your behalf.

Those who fail to follow these rules will be turned away, and need to coordinate with our team to find alternative ways to make returns

If you are unable to return your Library or technology items on the scheduled days or you are enrolled in summer classes and need to continue using technology on loan, please fill in this form. 

Summer Is Officially Online

Posted on by San Mateo County Community College District

In consultation with the Board of Trustees and District Academic Senate, Chancellor Claire and the college presidents have determined that the Summer 2020 term will be delivered in online/distance education format. The decision is made in light of the strong likelihood local shelter-in-place restrictions will limit or prevent a return to normal campus operations over the summer. There may be very limited exceptions for some programs and those will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

Faculty who have questions about the online summer session or need access to campus should contact their dean.

Students were notified of the change in an April 27 email and text announcement, encouraging them to sign up for online summer classes and to consult a counselor with any questions.

Online Teaching Resources from the State Chancellor’s Office

Posted on by San Mateo County Community College District

The CCC Chancellor’s Office has made available a number of resources to help make the adjustment to online/distance learning. Here are some recent additions:

Teaching online physical science labs: Physical Geography
Wednesday, April 29 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Online lab sciences leverage technology tools to meet traditional lab learning outcomes. In Allison Lenkeit Meezan’s physical geography class, the labs utilize a variety of online tools to give students hands-on experience observing and manipulating real-world data. Find more information here. Additionally, CVC-OEI has uploaded a recording of the featured session from last year’s Online Teaching Conference.

Online Course Development  Delivery: Science Labs, features four science teachers who share their approach to online lab instruction. It’s available at this link.

You can find all upcoming events on the CVC-OEI Events page. For online instruction support requests, please contact CVC-OEI.

Equity-Minded Online Teaching: Using Canvas as a Model
Thursday, April 30, 2020, 12:00 – 1:30 pm

Professor Jennifer Ortiz will illustrate how to use Canvas with an equity mindset. She will provide examples of techniques and strategies which can be easily applied in any course. For example, she will show participants the video message she uses to welcome students into her class. This session will also have a focus on the implementation of AB705. Register at this link.

This is the second part of a  six-part webinar series presented by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the Center for Urban Education. The series provides strategies for faculty and administrators to exercise agency on behalf of the most vulnerable students. Webinars will be recorded and posted on the Vision Resource Center.

College practitioners can find COVID-19 resources, information, and community within the Vision Resource Center. Create an account or log in. Under the “Connect” menu, visit “All Communities” and look for the “CCC | COVID-19 Resources, Tools and Discussion” section. Click “Join Community” to access the content within.