engaging

Back **Engaging the Online Learner - Cindy Cook & Kim McAtee** //This session explores the challenges and incentives of engaging online learners. Strategies that contribute to greater student engagement and success will be discussed in detail, including those relating to the role of teachers, the scope and structure of curriculum, and the active learning of students. A varied panel of students, teachers and school administrators will interact with attendees both in person and by means of virtual conferencing.//

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Top ten ways to keep students from engaging in your online program: 10. Wait to figure out how to track student progress until you have students. ---Get progress report to students, guidance counselors and parents early and move student out of class if student is overwhelmed. Recommend weekly reports 9. Make use of as many free technologies as possible Don't build an entire program on free web tools Use Elluminate in all their classes to facilitate interaction. In free version, only 3 students can be live at a time. Free tools are not always secure Provide a commons area that can be monitored and tracked for student interaction. Doesn't take students away from class. 8. Rely on the ability of online students to resolve their own tech issues Knowing password How to connect a printer Students need to get tech issues cleared up quickly. Easy to get behind Keep stock responses, easy to follow step-by-step instructions for common tech issues 24/7 tech support needs to be provided 7. Have teacher create all of their own curriculum Curriculum needs to have same look and feel although teachers are welcome to add engaging content Once a student can navigate one course, can navigate all courses 6. Provide no tools for parents to monitor their child's progress Have weekly pacing guide so students and parents can plan. Weekly progress reports are emailed. Have optional phone conference mid-semester between teacher and parent. Use an IQ email account Train parents in use of pace charts Orientation with parents and students. Show them how to find gradebook in the LMS. Parents have access to a Lead Teacher (Homeroom Instructors - Have access to data for all classes student is enrolled in.) 5. Leave responsibility for social interaction to students to figure out IQ Academy has a Student Council. Have Elluminate Live sessions during regular school hours so that online students can be available to interact with others. Parent wants social interaction on the web to be monitored Have F2F meetings throughout the year - social, academic and service focuses to these meetings. Elluminate Live gives students chance to be in class together. Teacher should actively encourage interaction

4. Follow the "Less Is More approach to student support Provide a web of support Homeroom teacher reaches out to students and keeps track of student performance Document student interactions and give all access to this documentation Orientation is an ongoing process Teacher should be proactive rather than just waiting for students to contact instructor Teacher should get back to students quickly with response, feedback when they reach out for help Do F2F student orientations. Puts a "face" to the virtual school Homeroom teacher may be one of the student's teachers or may not. There are about 50 students in each homeroom. Homerooms may do activities, but not required 3. Set expectations that you don't have the infrastructure to deliver. Be upfront about what you cannot do IQ Academy uses Blackboard LMS. Student feels like not enough instruction in navigating LMS. Some courses require textbooks. Were not delivered when indicated Need to partner with a virtual school who has experience if you are a new program or just getting started 2. Assume that your teachers know how to engage their online learners. Brick and mortar teachers may not be as adept immediately online. Online instructors have a different skills set. Elluminate Live sessions allow teachers to go in depth in the content. ELive sessions should be scheduled same time each week so that students can plan around them Teachers need to answer email right away.

And the number one way to keep students from engaging in your online program: 1. Leave student engagement to happen on its own