Education Technology

TI’s Response to COVID-19: We Are Here for You

Posted 05/08/2020 by Peter Balyta (@pbalyta)

Updated May 8, 2020, by Peter Balyta (@pbalyta)

Together, we continue to face an unprecedented situation. Hundreds of thousands of schools around the globe have closed, and teachers have been thrust into a new reality: virtual learning. For many teachers, it has been a crash course in preparing and delivering online instruction. Complicating matters, schools and districts vary wildly in their ability to deliver educational services.

Now that we have a better understanding of what education looks like from the confines of home, I wanted to update you on how Texas Instruments (TI) continues to support you and your students during this challenging time. Our team has been hard at work creating new resources, and identifying existing ones, that can support virtual learning.

CALCULATOR LOANS: Schools with economically disadvantaged students who do not have internet access at home can request to borrow TI graphing calculators, while supplies last. Schools can reach out to their local Educational Technology Consultant to facilitate these requests.

VIRTUAL TEACHING SUPPORT: We have a team focused full time on supporting virtual learning. We are creating new content to help teachers and students navigate remote instruction. Some examples include:

  • Video lessons for students with new math and science lessons that cover key course topics for teachers to share with their students. Visit our YouTube channel to learn more.
  • Office Hours — live Q&A events with education experts on a variety of topics, geared to helping both teachers and students during remote learning.
  • TIp Tuesday, which offers calculator tips and short tutorials for both teachers and students delivered via Instagram.
  • The NASA and TI Codes Contest. TI and NASA have teamed up to challenge students learning remotely to design a solution to improve life on the International Space Station for a chance to win out-of-this-world prizes.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: Teachers missed out on conferences, like the ³™ International Conference and the NCTM annual conference, which they count on for collaborating and learning. We will continue to offer weekly webinars and highlight on-demand recordings that support professional learning and a sense of community.

PARTNERSHIP: For more than 30 years, teachers have trusted us to help them teach math and science. We are as committed as ever to being your trusted partner as we navigate this uncertainty together. Our plans continue to evolve as we listen and learn from you.

In closing, I want to say “thank you.” Some of the most valuable frontline workers during this crisis have been you, our teachers, as you switch from classroom teaching to online instruction with turn-on-a-dime speed. I know these are challenging times, and I appreciate you working tirelessly to find ways to keep our kids educated during this time of need while also providing a sense of calm and normalcy.

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About the author: Peter Balyta, Ph.D., leads academic engagement and corporate citizenship for Texas Instruments and is the president of TI Education Technology. He serves on a variety of boards that support his desire to engage students in STEM subjects, including the board of directors of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. Follow him on Twitter @pbalyta.