Tech Problems Hit Schools Across U.S. - Are Providence And Other RI Communities Ready?
Wednesday, September 02, 2020
Tech issues have hit school districts across the country as they work to leverage online platforms and try to start the new school year.
Miami-Dade schools in Florida are reporting issues with online learning this week — as Providence and Central Falls, as well as other districts across the state, are slated to start the year with online learning the week of September 14.
‘An Absolute Mess': Miami-Dade Public Schools Teachers, Parents Frustrated With Glitchy First Day of Classes, reported ABC 6 in South Florida on Monday.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe school district acknowledged the problems — but parents aren’t satisfied with the answers.
“The District's data center is experiencing external connectivity issues with the Internet from http://dadeschools.net,” Miami-Dade Schools Tweeted on Monday. “The problem has been identified and staff is working diligently to resolve it. We thank you for your patience.”
On Tuesday - more problems.
“Our internet service was intermittently interrupted early this morning. It is operational at this time. We're working with our service provider, @comcast, to determine the root cause. As of 9 a.m, more than 160,000 students & over 10,000 teachers were logged on the K12 platform,” the district Tweeted.
Parents weren’t placated.
“Is this what you mean when you say 'logged on' bc it’s been loading for over an hour????...even if I refresh or sign out and sign in...I’d say this is unsuccessful!” Tweeted one resident, @BklynBeauty, in reply, with a photo of a blank screen.
“My kid in 6th grade is since 8.45 a.m trying to login, it’s almost 10 am and nothing,” Tweeted Andreina Parra Gil Tuesday morning, with a photo of a page stating “this site can’t be reached.”
Platforms in Focus
In Miami, the school system used a platform called “My School Online,” with ABC reporting that some educators resorted to Zoom after the tech glitches, to little success.
In Providence, the school department says that virtual learning will be done through Google Classroom.
Providence Schools write in its reopening plan, "While students will use Google Classroom as we did in the spring, the distance learning experience for students in K-8 and grades 9-12 will have some differences and will rely more heavily on parents/guardians. Students K-8 will experience a combination of synchronous and asynchronous daily learning based on the traditional classroom schedule and school calendar. Students will use the same reading and math curriculum across K-5 and grades 6-8 as their peers who are learning in-person."
"Distance learning for students in grades 9-12 is different from the school district’s virtual learning experience for students in K-8. This is a full-time school option, in which students learn in a digital space using a web-based curriculum. Students are fully online; all classes, coursework and curriculum are completely in a digital format and all work is submitted online," according to Providence Public Schools.
Last spring, GoLocal reported, RI Schools Continue to Use Zoom Despite NYC School Ban and Congressional Questions
“Rhode Island schools are using a number of online platforms for distance learning, including Zoom. We encourage districts and schools to follow privacy guidelines no matter the online platform they use. We continue to work with LEA leaders as they ensure the privacy of student data during distance learning," said Pete Janhunen, spokesperson for RIDE in a statement to GoLocal.
On August 24, Zoom went down -- across the country.
This week, Raimondo said that school districts could utilize a hybrid in-person, online model when schools are allowed to fully reopen on September 14, adding that she “expects” schools to be back in person by October 14.
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