My column last week suggesting a hackathon to find a home-grown solution to snow days drew a lot of response, which I’d like to share with our readers.

To recap, I suggested that the education departments or school boards hold hackathons to work on a tech solution for the amount of time students miss due to snow storms. Even as I write this, the Halifax Regional School Board, which had a week to sort things out, has canceled classes while it assesses buildings.

I said we need an online platform with which teachers could communicate with students when schools were closed, either individually or in groups. It could increase one-on-one time between teachers and their charges. And of course, some accommodation would have to be made for students who don’t have the necessary hardware.

There were largely two responses to this: a) it’s a good idea (“brilliant”, according to two respondents); and b) the technology already exists.

“I think we could steal or modify a page from the Ontario playbook on this one,” said Andrew Button, the Founder of Mashup Lab. “See Virtual High School, offering fully accredited online high school classes that meet all the Ontario curriculum outcomes.”

Working out of a restored hotel in Bayfield, ON., VHS has online curriculum that students can work on when and how it suits them. There is also a support staff available to help the students.

Button said that rather than just use online platforms to address snow days, why not consider such solutions for students who can’t or choose not to go to a school building to learn.

Other people suggested other pieces of technology, such as Khan Academy or SAS as great tools for distance education.

“A bigger issue is lack of reliable internet in many parts of the province,” said Alexander MacDougall. “That is a significant factor because teachers need to ensure equity of access and when it's beyond their control it makes it very difficult for them to … ensure that those opportunities are available to all.”

Overall, the respondents supported the broad plan to use technology to enhance teaching during school days, and opposed to the idea of making up the days on Saturdays or holidays.

“The "MAKE UP" days idea is sort of silly - what would the children possibly learn having to go to school one day,” said Lisa Stewart. “Give them something to get excited about.”

And the readers overall liked the idea of using the collective brilliance of the tech community (and others in the region) to work out problems together. Again there is a model for this: Brilliant Labs. It started as an experiment in New Brunswick to help educators teach programing, and now it has moved into Nova Scotia as well. It’s an example of public and private sectors working together to improve things across provincial boundaries.

Now it’s time to carry it further with new platforms for learning a fewer missed days due to storms.

“I hope Halifax Regional School Board reads this and sees the opportunity to #makeAmark on education,” said Deb Merry.