This page is dedicated to helping DOE teachers, staff, and related services providers have the knowledge they need to effectively use DOE-approved virtual conferencing and remote learning tools.
The NYCDOE Remote Teaching Quick Start Guide features both previously released and newly developed content on instructional methods and promising practices in remote learning, including:
- Considerations for Remote Teaching and Learning
- Resources to Design Standards-Aligned Remote Instruction
- Digital Tools to Enhance Instruction and Student Engagement
- Considerations for Communication with Parents/Guardians
- Remote Learning Champions and Professional Learning Opportunities
- Over 30 links to remote learning resources and supports for multilingual learners and students with disabilities
How to Choose a Virtual Conferencing Platform
The DOE approves the use of Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Teams Live Event, Zoom, and Zoom Webinar for virtual conferencing. Depending on your needs, you may prefer one platform over another. Learn how to make the best choice.
Google Classroom
If you are new to Google Classroom here are some great resources to get you started:
Accessing Google Classroom
- All DOE staff have G Suite accounts (it is their @schools.nyc.gov account)
- All DOE students have G Suite accounts (it is their @nycstudents.net account)
- Teachers must add their students to Google Classroom.
- You can get a list of student usernames through STARS Classroom (sign in required).
- Teachers can add others as co-teachers to grant access
If your school has its own Google domain (for example, PS123.org), you must decide which domain to use (your school's domain or the central version), and use it for all staff and students. Soon the DOE will launch a project to consolidate all G Suite domains, however, given the current situation, the priority is for you to use the platform and tools that you are familiar with, in order to best support distance learning.
Google Meet
Google Meet is a video conferencing platform that provides:
- Video space for large meetings (up to 250 participants, and free until September 30, 2020)
- Video space for one-on-one meetings
- Screen sharing
- Live streaming
- Mute or remove meeting participants
- Chat messages to individual participants
- Restrict meeting creation privileges
- Nickname meetings
Getting Started with Google Meet
If you are new to Google Meet here are some great resources to get you started:
- Google Meet Quick Start Guide
- Use this if you are accustom to Zoom as it explains all the features of Google Meet
- Google Meet Admin Console Settings
- See step by step how-to for setting up your Meets to be safe and effective
- Google Meet Training and Help
- Get videos and tips for best practices for using Meet
- Improvements to Google Meet for Remote Learning
- Read this for more information on recently added security features for Meet, including muting controls and rejoining nicknamed meetings
- Present High Quality Video and Audio in Google Meet
- Information on how to present a tab and easily switch between tabs
- Preferred Security Settings
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a digital collaboration platform that provides video space for large virtual meetings and private one-on-one meetings. With Teams, you have the ability to:
- Call in or video connect
- Dial out to a landline or cellphone
- Dial into the conference
- Record meetings and conferences
- Remotely control a shared desktop computer
- Password protect a virtual meeting space
- Share screens
- “Raise a hand”
- Create discussion threads
- Share files
- Restrict individual chat
- Mute participants
Getting Started with Teams
If you are new to Microsoft Teams here are some great resources to get you started:
- Microsoft Teams for Education Quick Start Guide
- A high-level visual explanation of all Teams features
- Microsoft Teams for Education Quick Start Guide 2
- This guide goes into detail about how to set up a Teams meeting in Outlook and how to manage a Teams classroom
- Getting Started with Microsoft Teams (Video)
- This video covers the same content as the above resources, but in video format
- Microsoft Support Center for Teams
- Browse a wide selection of instructional videos and resources for using Teams
- Safety Settings
- Configure your Teams meeting, workshop, or class.
Zoom
Learn how to use the new NYCDOE central Zoom account.
Guidance for Multilingual Learners
Both Google and Microsoft provide translation features within their video conferencing platforms. To learn about these features, check out this Translation Tools in Google and Microsoft Training.
We will be working with Zoom to give us guidance on translation features.
Have families visit the Activities for Multilingual Learners page.
Guidance for Families
The following information has been provided to students and families on the DOE family-facing website:
Additional Learning Opportunities
The opportunities below will help you get started and keep going with quality remote learning resources and tools.
- DIIT Remote Learning Tech PD Calendar
- Videos and Webinars
- Workshops that can be delivered by tech-savvy staff
Remote Learning Support
- Google/G Suite Classroom
- Microsoft Teams
- Office 365
- Application installation/activation issues
- Profile-related issues
- Connectivity and device issues
Stay Connected
The following citywide communities are places where thousands of educators are connecting to discuss remote teaching: