As the beginning of the school year is creeping up on us, many schools are reconsidering the need for online options. There are too many variables at play right now for any educator to feel they have everything under control for this school year. Historically, stability was often a reason for many to enter the education field, but stability is nowhere to be seen this fall. As educators struggle with keeping a variety of balls in the air, one of the key issues in all settings is how to keep students motivated and engaged.
Recently, a study of rural elementary teachers outlined a few key factors for engaging students and then keeping them engaged online.
The first suggestion from elementary teachers was to start the course by setting the stage with a clear set of behavior expectations for students working online. Simple things like expecting students to keep their cameras active, how to attract the teacher’s attention by raising their hand via video or using a Zoom tool, etc. This is not particularly different than setting beginning of the year behavior expectations in a traditional classroom. Students always appreciate having clear expectations. Interestingly, only about a third of teachers responded that they had set video lesson expectations at the beginning of last year.
Janelle Frank, 4K-8 Physical Education Teacher, St. Patrick’s School &Dr. Steve M. Baule, ED.D., PH.D., Assistant Professor of Leadership Education, Winona State UniversityOriginally from Melrose, Wisconsin, Janelle Frank is currently a 4K-8 physical education teacher at St. Patrick’s School in Sparta, Wisconsin, where she has taught for five years. She earned her master’s degree from Winona State University in Educational Leadership and Sports Management. Her completed thesis was on Effective Instructional Strategies While Using Experiential Learning to Foster Student Engagement in a Rural, Distance Learning Setting. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in Physical Education and Adaptive Physical Education. Janelle Frank is passionate about supporting her students and helping them become lifelong learners.
Dr. Steve Baule is a faculty member at Winona State University (WSU), where he teaches in the Leadership Education Department. Prior to joining WSU, Baule spent 28 years in K-12 school systems in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, and two years teaching in the University of Wisconsin System. For the 13 years prior to moving to the university level, Baule served as a public -school superintendent. He has written 10 books on a variety of educational and historical topics and has served on the editorial boards for two journals. Baule earned an advanced diversity and equity certificate while in the UW system. He holds a doctorate in instructional technology from Northern Illinois University and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University Chicago.
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