Innovative Teaching for the Online Classroom

Hi Dear Readers,

It’s not what you think! Innovation is not always a tool or a trick - In this weeks episode, it’s getting to know your students. That is one of the innovations we talked about in this episode. Stephenie and I also spoke about the wonders of the library. All the things you can check out now, too, that aren’t books - like passes to National Parks, and even clothing!

What’s in your library?

I applaud Stephenie (Dr. Shroth) and all of our Virtual Learning Facilitators for doing such a great job!

Have a great week,

Pat

In This Episode

When we talk about personalizing learning to each student’s interests - it is always in the bigger context of the story that our students become engaged in. For example, students in Dr. Shroth’s class are invited to choose their reading materials based on their individual preferences, igniting their love for learning. She creates interactive activities, such as exploring different sections of local libraries and learning about historical landmarks, this gives her students connection points with the material in ways they can apply to the communities they live in.

We also touched on how building strong relationships with students is essential. Dr. Schroth talks about the value of getting to know what motivates each student, which guides her planning to engage and support learning for all her students.

Three Key Takeaways:

Personalized Learning: In the larger context technology allows us all to tailor lessons to students’ interests (innovation), allowing them to select their own books, create their own projects, and demonstrations of learning - this, in turn, helps to foster curiosity and motivation.

Creative Course Design: Our storyboard and 6E model provide engagement and consistency. Combine that with live sessions and courses that incorporate real-world exploration, such as libraries and historical trails, making learning dynamic and immersive.

Building Relationships: Everyone is talking about relationships. And with AI taking center stage these days - human interaction is so important. Our live sessions and support help to establish trust and empathy. We can also see what excites students which is the key to creating a positive and engaging learning experiences.

Here are a few examples of the awesome stories that engage students at the WOL!

Want to know more about how districts are creating these engaging stories? Check out Heidi Hayes Jacobs and Allison Zmuda’s gallery and book! We have and continue to learn so much from Heidi and Allison.

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