Technology giant Google has unveiled a range of resources to help teachers and students continue teaching and learning amid a near-global temporary closure of schools.

As the global Covid-19 pandemic halts the operations of schools and other educational facilities, it is hoped that the ‘Teach from Home’ information hub and a $10-million distance learning fund will keep learning activities going.

Teach From Home is a central hub of information, tips, training and ‘Google for Education’ tools, all of which are expected to assist teaching activities outside the brick-and-mortar classroom.

The site provides an overview of distance learning, including information on how to teach online, and makes lessons accessible to students, while enabling educators to collaborate with one another.

This is an ever-evolving resource, built with the support and cooperation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Institute for Information Technologies in Education, Google explains.

Google is continuing engagements with educators and relevant partners to obtain feedback on what is most useful to build on and improve.

Teach From Home is currently available in English, with downloadable toolkits available in Danish, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic and Polish.

Additional languages will be released in due course.

Meanwhile, as part of Google’s $50-million Covid-19 response, a $10-million Distance Learning Fund has been launched to support organisations focused on helping educators access the resources needed to provide high-quality learning opportunities for children, particularly those in underserved communities.

The first $1-million grant is being made to help the Khan Academy provide remote learning opportunities for students affected by Covid-19-related school closures.

“Along with the grant, Google volunteers are planning to help the Khan Academy provide educator resources in more than 15 languages and, through their platform, they will reach over 18-million learners a month in communities around the globe,” it says.

Google plans to announce additional grants to other organisations in due course.