Connecticut State Department of Education

Virtual Content Learning Hub

Virtual Content Learning HubWelcome to the Virtual Content Learning Hub! A place to access high quality, high impact online learning content for math, English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, the Arts, Physical Education and more.  

WHY: We believe in providing accelerated learning opportunities to advance equity for all children; anytime, anywhere.    

WHO: All Connecticut learners, parents and community members 

WHEN and HOW: Everyday, Anytime, Anywhere 

OUTCOME: All Connecticut learners will have access high quality, high impact resources from experts in the field for academic content, social, emotional health and well-being, multilingual resources to support ELs, provide accessibility and universal tools for access and professional learning for all learners; parents and educators.

  • Academics - Apex Learning

    WHY?

    To provide Connecticut districts with supplemental digital curricula and courses for students in grades 6-12 for credit accumulation (as determined by the district or school). 

    WHO?

    Students enrolled in grades 6-12

    WHEN and HOW?

    The enrollment and use are determined by the district in consultation with Apex Learning. To learn more and register for using Apex Learning as a district or school select Apex Learning.

    LEARN MORE

    CSDE and Apex Learning in 90 seconds


    Implementing Apex Learning to Accelerate Learning

  • Academics - CT Public

    WHY? 

    CT Public’s Learn-at-Home website pulls together timely, high-quality content from trusted shows from PBS KIDS, World at Home, PBS LearningMedia, and more.  

    These resources are:  

    • Trusted 
    • Safe for all ages 
    • High-quality 
    • Multimedia – videos, learning games, and more! 
    • Free 

    Public media is a treasure trove of informative journalism, cultural masterpieces, and learning moments. CT Public can introduce you to the most relevant public media content. 

    WHO?  

    Learners from toddler through adult, grades Pre-K-12 inclusive, and educators from anywhere people learn including libraries, after school programs, summer camps, schools, and day cares 

    WHEN and HOW?  

    Public media content – like videos or podcasts - can be incorporated into existing lessons, shared live with a class, incorporated through scheduled broadcast channels, and be included in distance or blended learning assignments. 

    These resources cover a range of subject matter including all core subjects, social emotional learning, cultural celebrations, and own voices work. 

    Resources include full lesson plans, complete with hand-outs, teacher guides, and aligned to state standards. 

    OUTCOME? 

    Learners will have access to high-quality content from a trusted non-commercial media source, educators and caregivers will have access to timely turnkey lessons and supplemental multimedia content. 

  • Academics - Defined Learning

    WHY? 

    To provide Connecticut districts with supplemental digital curricula and project-based learning pathways for students in grades K-12 

    WHO?

    Students enrolled in grades K-12

    WHEN and HOW?

    The enrollment and use are determined by the district in consultation with Defined Learning. To learn more and register for using Defined Learning as a district or school select Defined Learning.

    LEARN MORE

    CSDE and Defined Learning in 120 seconds

    Implementing Defined Learning Digital Resource in District

  • Common Sense Education

    Common Sense Selections for Learning

    The Common Sense seal program recognizes outstanding media with an official seal for quality and impact.

    Common Sense Selections for Learning are best-in-class media resources and tools that facilitate great learning experiences for students and educators. Common Sense expert reviewers make hand-picked, official selections annually based on our independent rating criteria and pedagogical rubric.

    Math Worksheets that Are Actually Worth Printing Out - Give students the practice they need with these worksheets that are a cut above the rest. We've broken these down into three different types of worksheets that we hope you'll find useful.

    Virtual Field Trips Full of Leaning Potential - Bring the world to your students with these free online experiences for your classroom. 

  • Digital Tools - Learn Platform

    WHY? 

    LearnPlatform lets educators and administrators search a global catalog of 5,000 peer-reviewed and endorsed products for effective educational technology solutions that comply with Connecticut’s privacy law. The solution also allows administrators to track real-time product usage across student and teacher devices, helping to optimize ed tech spending and slash compliance costs and risk. 

    WHO?

    K – 12 educators and leaders 

    WHEN and HOW?  

    Create a free account then use the robust search engine to find reviews of products by teachers and leaders across the state and globe. Leaders can quickly roll out the free tracking tools to monitor ed tech use. Teachers can request support from the State for access to tools that do not yet comply with Connecticut's privacy law. 

    OUTCOMES  

    Educators will save time in finding products that address the learning needs of their students, and leaders will gain a set of free tools to protect the privacy of students and gain better insights into the cost and efficacy of ed tech tools. 

    Tutorials:  

  • High School Science - COV-Ed

    COV-Ed

    WHY?

    Learn how COVID-19 works, why it spreads, and what you can do to help contain it using simulation tools that experts in the field use learn. Draw conclusions from data, and explore potential solutions as you build the skills to help prevent pandemics in the future.

    WHO?

    High School (9-12) Students and Teachers

    WHEN and HOW?

    Anytime, Anywhere. Cov-Ed can be used in-person or on-line for teachers to deploy modules and or challenges to their students. Modules are divided into challenges with readings, videos, questions for discussion, and dynamic activities for students to complete that are designed to meet Connecticut State Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

    OUTCOMES

    Students will build the skills for science inquiry and to help prevent pandemics in the future.

  • Humanities - Apple Education Racial Equity and Justice Challenge

    Learning Challenge Series- Discussion guide for teachers, parents and community members to engage in a challenge based learning process.

    Discussion Guide to engage in meaningful conversations about Race

  • Humanities - iCivics

    WHY?

    iCivics resources for educators can help our youth build important civic knowledge and skills to help them understand how individuals and communities can work together to solve local, national, and global problems

    WHO?

     K-12 Educators and Leaders

    WHEN and HOW?

    Free, easy-to-use games and lesson plans that will help you prioritize civic learning and keep your students engaged onsite or in virtual remote learning anytime, anywhere

    OUTCOMES

    Students will develop power skills connected to civic knowledge and skills deepening their understanding of how individuals and communities can work together to solve local, national, and global problems.

  • Humanities – TeachRock

    WHY?

    TeachRock integrates the Arts in the curriculum using history of popular music and culture to support teachers in their ability to engage students.

    WHO?

    K-12 Educators

    WHEN and HOW?

    Available anytime, anywhere teacher created lesson plans and curricular resources to integrate the arts with core content topics. Select TeachRock to search the database of available lessons by grade, subject, genre, activity and topic.

    OUTCOMES

    Increased student engagement by making deeper connections to the content through music and music history

  • Humanities - Thinkalong

    WHY?  

    Thinkalong is a free, online educational program that curates trusted PBS, NPR and other public media content to teach critical thinking, media literacy and debate skills to teens, and to help them distinguish fact from opinion, and trusted content from misinformation.   

    Young people run into all matter of questionable content on the internet – opinions parading as facts, stories with manipulated data or images, political spin, and a galaxy of information to sort through. Thinkalong can help learners make sense of the 21st century media environment. 

    WHO? 

    Classroom teachers for grades 6-12; librarians, informal educators, and youth workers; youth ages 12-18; parents, caregivers, and homeschool leaders. 

    HOW and WHEN? 

    Thinkalong consists of 45- to 60-minute learning modules that lead students through a process of investigating, contemplating, and debating a current event or topical issue.  Modules cover topics related to STEM, human and civil rights, government and civics, and education.  

    Thinkalong uses a research-based media literacy framework, which is also posted on the website as a series of five questions with some clarifications. This framework can be used to address any piece of media that a learner presents or an educator discovers that may be misleading. 

    OUTCOME

    Learners have a framework for evaluating media they consume, and educators have a suite of tools for proactively teaching media literacy and reacting to questionable sources in learners’ lives. 

    Tutorials:  

  • Project-Based Learning - PIP Skills 21

    WHY? 

    PIP (Personal Interest Project) Skills21 provides a start to finish curriculum and platform for students to identify and follow their passions and create a personally meaningful project from home or school. PIP is designed to leverage student interest and ensure high levels of engagement and collaboration, even if completed in a totally remote learning environment. 

    WHO?  

    Grades 5-12 - content determined by student choice as part of the PIP process. 

    WHEN and HOW? 

    Skills21 Personal Interest Projects can run anywhere from a marking period to a full year. The PIP curriculum includes 12 mastery-based activities and is supported by 20 short how-to videos. Skills21 provides real-time student coaching and weekly office hours as well as special interest student workshops and 4 remote interdistrict “Experiential” events during the year. 

    OUTCOME? 

    Students will productively leverage extended time at home through the development of a personally relevant and rigorous Personal Interest Project. 

    Students will collaborate with peers, adults at home, teachers and the Skills21 team during remote learning.  

    Students will exhibit their PIP in a compelling online Project Portfolio and have the opportunity to compete in an annual PIP Expo.

    Tutorials

  • SEL - Yale University Science of Well Being Course

    WHY? 

    To provide a self-paced online course for CT students to increase personal happiness and build more productive habits to support their return to learning in the fall.  

    WHO?

    All Connecticut Students in grades in 9-12 

    HOW?

    Sign up to access the FREE Science of Well Being Course through Coursera. 

    OUTCOMES

    • Be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life.
    • Understand the misconceptions we often have about what will make us happy and the science of why we have them.
    • Understand what science says we can do to improve our happiness and overcome our biases.
  • STEM - Greg Tang Math

    WHY? 

    Greg Tang Math games develop mathematical reasoning through concrete, pictorial and abstract thinking.

    WHO?

    Any learner that loves math

    WHEN and HOW?

    Everyday, Anytime, Anywhere by visiting TangMath.com/games

    The top group of 8 games are fun practice games under the heading Skill Games.

  • STEM - Khan Academy

    WHY? 

    Khan Academy is a free, personalized learning resource for all ages. Learners can access practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. Click in for math, science, computing, history, art history, economics, and more, including K-14 and test preparation (SAT, Praxis, LSAT) content. With a focus on skill mastery to help learners establish strong foundations, there's no limit to what they can learn next! 

    WHO?

    All K-12 learners and educators 

    WHEN and HOW?

    Everyday, Anytime, Anywhere. Access https://www.khanacademy.org/, click Courses and explore.  

    OUTCOMES

    Learners will have access to high-quality content from a trusted leader and partner in education. Educators , students and families will have access to timely and personalized resources to accelerate learning.