2020 has been difficult for all of us especially teachers and students. There were celebrations, deaths, isolation, loss of human interaction, online learning, mental health issues, racial and social justice awareness, political unrest and through all of it we have prevailed.
I sent my daughter to college this fall and it was not the "college experience" she was expecting, but she was able to live on campus, meet new people and still get some college life. My son who has dyslexia was challenged this fall with a new learning style which did not suit him well. To say there were several "bumps in the road" is an understatement, but we muddled through.
Covid -19 took over and has not let up. 2020 has been one of the busiest years I have had in a very long time. I have done more meetings online then I ever thought I would. Spent more time looking up ideas and solutions for teachers and students. TicTok took over as the number one PD for teachers sharing out tips and tricks and even though you have seen it from one teacher, another is using the tool in a different and exciting way and it is fun to watch, especially for me being out of the classroom. Bitmoji's made an appearance in education on Google Classroom headings, presentations, docs, sheets, sites, etc... and we love them. Personal Learning Network circles have been expanded and we are following and asking questions to groups we have joined on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Teachers are getting advice on projects, tips and tricks and sharing and receiving ideas from people across the world. No longer are we isolated to our classroom, building, district; there is a whole world out there sharing information and willing to provide help. All we have to do is look for it.2020 put us all on notice that life is precious and human interaction is a must. Take a look at the resources for 2020 in review. Maybe you can use some to open up and spark some conversations for the beginning of 2021.
Dear COVID-19 from Anthem Creative on Vimeo.Resources:
- Best Selling Books of 2020 - Amazon
- 2020 An Extraordinary Year In Photos - The Washington Post
- 2020 In Photos: A Year Like No Other - The New York Times
- 2020: The year in pictures - CNN.com
- Hopeful Images From 2020 - The Atlantic
- Best Songs of 2020
- 2020: The Year In Review - Time
- Year in Search - Google
- Best of the Year 2020 | People Are Awesome
- Google Year in Search 2020
- YouTube Culture and Trends
- Historical Events in 2020 - On This Day
- 2020 in Review Fast Facts - CNN
- Best Inventions of 2020
- Year in Review 2020 Together Apart - Facebook
- 20 Trends That Will Define 2020
- Top 100 TikTok viral videos ( May need to watch on your non-school device if blocked)
- 2020 Hottest EdTech Tools (Some of these I have not heard of)
- Netflix 2020 Year in Review
- Black Lives Mater - Getty Images 2020 Year in Review
- Empty Spaces - Getty Images 2020 Year in Review
- People We Lost - Getty Images 2020 Year in Review
While the year is ending there is hope for this new vaccine and children will be back in schools, teachers will have a whole new playbook to embed in their teaching, and we will eventually be able to take off the mask, hang out without being 6 feet apart, and really laugh and smile with each other. Enjoy the holiday/winter break and know that 2021 will be better!
