Enhancing Student Success and Engagement in Online Elective Classes

Purpose & objective

Our session addresses the evolving landscape of online education, aligning with the ISTE audience's interest in technology-enhanced learning. We will delve into the unique value of online electives, emphasizing student choice and interaction, contributing to a more personalized learning experience. We will showcase technology and a variety of software integration and teaching methods, promoting student buy in and digital fluency. Students are asked to learn a variety of programs in their elective offerings and begin to see how they can apply these programs in other classes.

Attendees will gain practical insights into implementing engaging online electives, enhancing ease of replication in diverse educational settings, and hear from students and their perspectives on the online elective experience. Our session seeks to equip participants with strategies to optimize online elective offerings, enhancing the overall educational experience for all students.

We bring a wealth of experience, with four years of online teaching expertise and prior successful presentations at InnEdCo, ensuring a well-informed and engaging session. Our students will bring their expertise as online learners, and enthusiasm to share their experiences.

The purpose of our presentation is to represent student success and engagement in online elective classes for grades 6-12 and to provide educators with strategies and tools to enhance the quality of online elective courses. Our objectives as participant outcomes are:

Participants will gain insights into the importance of student engagement in online electives and how it contributes to overall success. We will introduce instructional design principles tailored to online electives, emphasizing interactivity, choice, and personalized learning. Participants will explore specific technology interventions, including widely known tools such as learning management systems, interactive content platforms, and collaborative software, to enhance online elective experiences. We will also discuss methods of feedback in the online setting and how they aid in student confidence and buy-in.

We'll address common infrastructure challenges in delivering online electives, like reliable internet and supply distribution, and offer solutions for overcoming them. Attendees will be able to discuss with us about how to create engaging lesson plans and activities that foster student participation and creativity, and can build community within the class, school, and greater community.

We'll share evidence of success from our own experiences and showcase examples of how these strategies have positively impacted student outcomes. Including feedback directly from students about what they see as meaningful and engaging in online electives.

Our presentation aims to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to create exciting and successful online elective classes, ultimately benefiting students in grades 6-12.

Outline

1. Introduction
Greeting and welcome.
Overview of the poster's key themes.

2. Poster Overview
Detailed explanation of the poster's layout and sections.
Highlight the main topics

3. Understanding Student Engagement
Define student engagement.
Explain why it's critical for online electives and learning

4. Effective Instructional Design
Discuss the importance of flexible course design
Showcase examples of interactive and engaging course elements.

5. Technology Integration
Present a brief overview of technology tools for online electives.
Include QR codes for attendees to access relevant online resources.

6. Assessment and Feedback
Describe strategies for assessing student progress, and the importance of student self-assessment and reflection
Share what students believe to be the most effective feedback in online elective classes
.
7. Engaging Lesson Planning
Present creative lesson planning ideas, collaborations, etc
Display sample lesson plans that promote participation.

8. Evidence of Success
Share success stories and outcomes
Student survey and feedback
Showcase student work and achievements through visual displays.

9. Addressing Infrastructure Challenges
How we handle supply distribution
Offer summarized solutions and recommendations.

10. Resource Sharing
Provide links to online resources on the poster.

11. Audience Engagement
Q&A session for attendees to ask questions (welcome all the time as well).
Invite attendees to share their own experiences and tips on sticky notes placed on the poster.
QR codes lead to interactive activities used in classes like Padlets and discussion posts

12. Networking
Allow time for attendees to connect and discuss the poster content with each other.

The poster presentation combines visual elements, concise explanations, and interactive components such as QR codes and sticky notes to engage the audience and facilitate discussions. Attendees can explore the poster at their own pace while having the opportunity to interact with the presenter and other participants during the networking segment.

Supporting research

Project Based Learning: Real Questions. Real Answers. How to Unpack PBL and Inquiry, by Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy

The Shift to Student-Led
Reimagining Classroom Workflows with UDL and Blended Learning, by By Katie Novak, Ed.D. and Catlin R. Tucker

https://teachingforartisticbehavior.org/resources/ Teaching Artistic Behavior resource site