US, THAT COMES WITH ITS OWN CHALLENGES. >> ALL HER PARENTS ARE SAYING -- OUR PARENTS ARE SAYING, WHERE DID YOU TELL ME TO GO, AGAIN? THEY ARE FLOODING OUR HELPDESK WITH QUESTIONS. >> TOGETHER WITH 5000 TEACHERS AND 70,000 STUDENTS, YOU HAVE GOT MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WISCONSIN’S LARGEST DISTRICT, GONE VIRTUAL. BUT THEY HAVE HELPED. >> IT IS TO EMPOWER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO BE BETTER. >> THE MPS FOUNDATION HELPED PROVIDE 30,000 FREE CROMEBOO FOR STUDENTS, EVEN HOTSPOTS. NOW THEIR FOCUSING ON A NEW GOAL, INCREASING ONLINE LEARNING COACHES IN A NEW TEACHING ENVIRONMENT. STUDENTS ARE LOSING 12 TO 36 MONTHS OF LEARNING. IT IS THE METHODOLOGY AND TRAINING WE HAD GIVEN THEM. >> AS IT IT IS CONSTRUCTED, THE DISTRICT ONLY HAS TWO COACHES IN THE I.T. DEPARTMENT TO TEACH BEST VIRTUAL LEARNING PRACTICES. SO THE FOUNDATION SET A MILLIO DOLLAR FUNDRAISING GOAL TO GET MORE. >> WE HAVE 72,000 STUDENTS. THERE IS NO OTHER PIPELINE FOR TALENT IN WISCONSIN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. YOU WILL SUPPORT US. >> CHERNEY AMHARA, WISN 12 NEWS. SHELDON: THIS WEEK, THE FOUNDATION RECEI
MPS Foundation looks to increase online learning coaches
District has two coaches in IT department to teach best virtual learning practices
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Updated: 6:28 PM CST Nov 26, 2020
Virtual school is a different style of learning, and a new one for many teachers who have to adjust their teaching methods, and that comes with its own challenges. Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin "All of our parents for the first time are saying, 'I've got to memorize user names, passwords. I've got to get on two or three different platforms. Where did you tell me to go again?' So right now, they are just flooding our help desk with tons of questions," Lewis said. Pair that, with 5,000 teachers and 70,000 students, and you've got Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin's largest district, gone virtual. But they have help. "We are well over capacity for what we can handle, so the goal of our Connect Phase II campaign really is to empower our students and teachers so they can be better at what they are doing," Wendell said. The MPS Foundation helped provide 30,000 free Chromebooks for students, even hotspots.Now it's focusing on a new goal: increasing online learning coaches in a new teaching environment."It’s being reported by all sorts of think tanks that students are losing 12-36 months of learning, flipping to a virtual environment, it's no fault of the district, student or teacher. It's just the methodology and training we've given them," Lewis said. As it stands now, the district only has two coaches in the IT department to teach best virtual learning practices, so the foundation set a $1 million fundraising goal to get more."We have 70,000 students. There is no other place you are going to get your talent pipeline for the state of Wisconsin. If we really think that we care one, about communities of color, and two, making sure all students have equal opportunity, then you're gonna support us," Lewis said. This week, the foundation got a $100,000 gift from the Burke Foundation, which jump started the campaign.The MPS Foundation’s goal is $1 million. It said the smallest donations count.If you're interested in donating, click here.Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISNGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
MILWAUKEE — Virtual school is a different style of learning, and a new one for many teachers who have to adjust their teaching methods, and that comes with its own challenges.
Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin
"All of our parents for the first time are saying, 'I've got to memorize user names, passwords. I've got to get on two or three different platforms. Where did you tell me to go again?' So right now, they are just flooding our help desk with tons of questions," Lewis said.
Pair that, with 5,000 teachers and 70,000 students, and you've got Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin's largest district, gone virtual.
But they have help.
"We are well over capacity for what we can handle, so the goal of our Connect Phase II campaign really is to empower our students and teachers so they can be better at what they are doing," Wendell said.
The MPS Foundation helped provide 30,000 free Chromebooks for students, even hotspots.
Now it's focusing on a new goal: increasing online learning coaches in a new teaching environment.
"It’s being reported by all sorts of think tanks that students are losing 12-36 months of learning, flipping to a virtual environment, it's no fault of the district, student or teacher. It's just the methodology and training we've given them," Lewis said.
As it stands now, the district only has two coaches in the IT department to teach best virtual learning practices, so the foundation set a $1 million fundraising goal to get more.
"We have 70,000 students. There is no other place you are going to get your talent pipeline for the state of Wisconsin. If we really think that we care one, about communities of color, and two, making sure all students have equal opportunity, then you're gonna support us," Lewis said.
This week, the foundation got a $100,000 gift from the Burke Foundation, which jump started the campaign.
The MPS Foundation’s goal is $1 million. It said the smallest donations count.
If you're interested in donating, click here.
Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISN
Get breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
