7 Strategies to Increase Student Motivation Online

The article, '7 Strategies to Increase Student Motivation Online,' brings up some very good ideas about how to promote student involvement and motivation through online learning. With what is going on in our world today, it is essential for teachers to become more and more educated on this topic and to teach themselves about how we can become more effective teachers for the students that may be struggling online, or, even, uninterested in learning online. The seven tips were:

1.     Give timely and sensitive feedback

2.     Provide easy access to resources

3.     Use a variety of instructional methods

4.     The tutor's enthusiasm

5.     Good planning and organization

6.     Provide concrete and clear examples

7.     Improve student autonomy

I think that these tips are all very good examples of ways to induce student motivation and learning, some of them are even good to learn for when we do return fully to in class (if that ever happens). However, one that really stood out to me because of our Instructional Technology course was (2) provide easy access to resources. Online courses do have the advantage of the availability of so many materials and resources that in class may not be able to use as easily, and we have learned about so many of them in our class (i.e., Nearpod, WeTransfer, TumbleBooks, PBS Kids, etc.). The examples in the article were Wikipedia as a starting point of learning about something, YouTube for useful educational material, Book Widgets web quest, and any personal resources. The use of these, and the ones that I previously mentioned retrieving from my classmates, are such a great and effective way of introducing the students to a different type of involvement in the classroom learning process and can motivate them to participate more. Additionally, the fourth tip, the tutor's enthusiasm, also stood out to me out of this list. Having been placed in an online classroom was a very different experience than I have ever had, and I did notice that the mood and energy coming from the teacher really contributed to what type of motivation and learning the students were going to have that day. The teacher usually had a very upbeat and excited tone with them in their lessons and just in conversation, and you could tell that each student was excited to contribute and learn about whatever she was teaching. If a teacher goes into online learning with a bad mood and low energy, the students will follow suit, and will hardly retain any information because of it.

One tip that I think could have been added to this list is to promote inquiry-based learning in the online classroom setting. This type of learning promote participation and allows the students to be a part of their own learning path by asking themselves questions and inquiring about their own personal thoughts. Rather than just listening to the teacher state facts about their knowledge and information about the concepts, the students get to directly involve themselves in their own learning; they will inquire about their initial thoughts of a topic, and can determine their own next steps about what they want to inquire about, how they will retrieve the information, and whatever conclusions they come up with. By implementing an inquiry-based classroom learning environment, the students are motivated to participate, and further their own knowledge. 

SabrinaP@NU

EDUTOPIA Article: Student Groups in Math

 

The Advantages of Heterogeneous Student Groups in Math

When students with diverse performance levels are grouped together, they can all benefit.

It’s just two months into the school year, and students in my class are working in their student-led, heterogeneous learning communities. Students know these as just “learning communities.” In distress, “Leilani” stormed out of her learning community and walked up to me to ask, “Mr. Manfre, can I switch groups?” When I asked why, she proclaim​​ed, “Well, they just don’t get it!” At that moment, I realized Leilani was exactly where she was supposed to be.

Leilani had always been a high-performing student in mathematics. In previous years, she would correctly complete her assigned work, and then the teacher would “differentiate” by providing new material to accelerate her learning and avoid “holding her back.”

That approach fed into the misconception that high performance correlates to greater mathematical ability, when in fact, it’s actually just quick processing. Quick processors like Leilani thrive in an inequitable educational system bounded by tight time constraints of a class period, school day, and school year.

Providing Leilani with this sort of accelerated differentiation feeds into the fixed (and incorrect) mindset that she is smarter than her peers. In fact, the more I accelerate her learning, the more isolated her learning experiences become, narrowing her perspectives of mathematics and decreasing opportunities for her to develop conceptual understanding through discourse.

For every Leilani, there’s a “Keala,” a “low-performing” student who is only perceived this way because she’s not a quick processor. Keala needs to understand the intricacies of the whys and hows of mathematics in order to fully process it. She may also need more visuals, as it is harder for her to grasp abstract concepts. Keala’s needs would be seen as an inconvenience in a classroom that valued fluency above all.

To read more, click here >>>> The Advantages

Technology in the Classroom

The use of technology in the classroom is of great importance as it helps to create differentiated learning experiences for students. Teachers need to get on board, as our future generation needs to be technologically literate in order to be successful in the future. I have seen the benefits first hand, such as when it is used to transition students from a lesson or to create an interactive medium of learning that they are interested in.

Assessment

Technology is also used to access apps that are used as great assessment tools for educators. Kahoot, Mentimeter and Poll Everywhere are great examples. I have personally used Kahoot in my field placement to assess my students' knowledge on an algebra lesson. It helped me to identify the students' areas of strengths and weaknesses in order to support their learning.

 

Support

Technology has also been effective in providing apps that students can use at a very early age. Starfall is one of these entities which support learners starting from kindergarten to the third grade. One of its greatest perks is that it is free and easy to use. It also provides a number of worksheets that educators can use on a daily basis.       Brought to you by Shanice@OTECC (NU)

LEARNING CENTRES A GREAT WAY FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN!!!

Learning Centers are a great way for student centered learning.  Students essentially learn through doing.  Through my experience as an Educational Assistant I have seen the success of learning centers in classrooms from kindergarten to grade 5.  Learning centers give students differentiation in learning because each center is unique and caters to different needs of the students.  Students can use a variety of materials that are set out by the educator to explore with.  

Learning Centers allow students to extend their knowledge of the lesson that has been taught by the educator in various ways, by using various tools.  For example, a grade one educator has taught a lesson on patterning in math.  The educator then sets out various Learning Centers for the students to explore such as; using beads to create a pattern and make a bracelet, use stickers to create an ABBC pattern, and make a crown creating your own pattern etc.  Students usually rotate in groups day to day until they get to the last center, this also depends on how the educator wants to set up the learning centers.  This type of learning allows students to not only learn by doing but additionally, it allows them to have fun while they are learning.  In this type of learning the educator is not always in front of the class teaching.  

 In my practicum placement I am in kindergarten and my Associate Teacher has centers set up for students. It is not as structured as other grades, however, students can explore from center to center the things they have been learning in class and essentially put the learning into practice.  

Avonit OTECC@NU

The Cognitive Benefits of Physical Activity in the Classroom

It is important for students to have regular daily physical activity. This is not only good for their body but also for their mind. Physical activity can lead to better overall performance on tests and studies have shown it is good for overall emotional well-being.

->Aerobic activity boosts Learning

Aerobic exercise can promote improvements in cognition, leading to an increase in academic performance. Exercise not only fosters better physical health, but also serves to improve school performance for students.

->Mental Health

Our student's mental health is also greatly impacted by physical activity. Exercise can help control students' stress response and their emotional and physical feelings of stress. Students who add physical activity in their life can see an increase in their confidence levels and their social connections with peers.

->Depression

Aerobic exercise is known to have a positive impact on depressive symptoms. Endorphins are produced in the brain during exercise and they are known to assist in feeling calm and improve overall well-being. As educators we must encourage daily physical activity amongst our students.

Matthew M @ NU OTECC 

EDUTOPIA Article: 6 Strategies for Building Better Student Relationships

6 Strategies for Building Better Student Relationships A teacher shares her best practices for establishing strong relationships with her class at the start of the school year.

                          

One day, Alyssa, an eighth-grade student, came to our middle school wearing a purple bandanna as a headband, even though she knew that our school’s dress code does not allow bandannas. While it seemed like a simple issue to reconcile, I soon found another teacher knocking on my door that morning, asking me to tell Alyssa to take the bandanna off. He said he didn’t feel comfortable handling the situation but knew I could persuade Alyssa to follow the rules because she trusted me.

That day, I took Alyssa aside, and we had a private conversation about why bandannas were not allowed at school. I assured her that I understood why she wanted to wear a headband, and I even offered her the option of wearing a different one. After our conversation, Alyssa calmly went to the bathroom and returned to class without the bandanna on her head.

This seemingly small encounter reminded me of the power of positive relationships in schools and why teachers must be intentional about building them. In the classroom, positive relationships are the foundation for learning success. Yet as teachers, we sometimes neglect to take the time to learn about our students as people, which can create barriers to learning and make even small interactions (or conflicts) challenging to handle.

Alyssa wasn’t a perfect student, and math didn’t come easy for her, but she worked hard in my class. She asked questions. She even came in before and after class for additional help or just to talk about her social life. She trusted me because I worked hard to build a relationship with her by showing that I respected her and cared for her well-being. 

To read more, click here >>>>> 6 Strategies

Khan Academy Kids

For this blog post I wanted to share the online academic resource Khan Academy Kids. Khan Academy Kids is an educational resource for primary and junior students. Providing many different types of games varying from English to Math that students can choose from. Selecting which difficulty and grade level they would like to work at. 

One of the games I remember using while supplying at St. Celia was ‘Let’s Play & Count 1-20!’ - For this game students follow an elephant and have to count in order from 1-20, clicking on the different numbered leaves as the elephant follows. This is just one example of the many games that this resource has to offer. Especially if you are a teacher that believes in gamification. 

I truly believe this is a great application. As I said before, sure the student may not be doing work but at least what they are doing online follows the curriculum standards and academic at core. Or just as one of my group members said ‘your student is doing work, without knowing they are doing work.’

You can go to the site now by clicking on the picture below:

Watch a short video by clicking here >>>> Khan Academy Kids

Brought to you by Elijah@NU(OTECA)

The Importance of Group Work & The Role of Technology

While studying and reflecting on chapter 3 Transforming learning with unique, powerful technology one topic in specific that resonated with me was the importance of group work and collaborating with others. I remember being in elementary school, the teacher would announce to form groups and the class immediately got excited to work with their peers and friends. 

As an adult, this has not changed. Group work and collaborating with others is insightful and allows one to build on team working skills that are essential for life. As future teachers, we will have to work together with others for the best interest of each student. In Chapter 3 it is discussed that group work invites students to harness the abilities that each student contributes to the assignment and, as a collection of learners with varied skills, teach one another and problem-solve imaginatively when there are open-ended problems. Students gain control and responsibility for the learning process through well-organized group activities that creatively use technology resources. 

Over the years, technology has become very present in classrooms, now more than ever with virtual classrooms. Students often have to work together to navigate through a technology system and different websites. When working together students can play online games together, show each other videos and pictures, they can do activities that are shown online together, etc. Technology also allows students to collaborate from different places. Students can work from anywhere using their technology and it allows them to collaborate with others who may not be around them. 

Valentina@NU(OTECC)

Why is SeeSaw Effective?

                                                

Seesaw is a creative tool for educators to use with their students. Seesaw is a website where educators can create lesson plans, implement lessons, and activities for students. Educators can send monthly newsletters to parents and family members so that they are informed of what's going on in the classroom. Students can post pictures of their work and complete work in unique ways. Seesaw increases collaboration with other educators such as getting ideas of various activities and lessons. Seesaw makes the assessment process easier for educators as it works as a place to keep a record of all work. 

It is a great tool for student engagement as students self directly upload posts to seesaw of something that they are proud of as well as work that their teacher has assigned. I find that students are driven to accomplish better work, according to teachers, when they know their families would provide them with direct feedback during the day or question them about it later in the evening. Seesaw is a platform that motivates educators and students as it inspires both groups. 

For more information and to sign up for free, go to >>>> SeeSaw 

Valentina@NU(OTECC)

Starfall

Starfall is a children's educational Website that focuses on play-based learning. The Website has material and games to support the students from kindergarten to grade 3. Starfall has games that cover areas in math, language, and seasons. "Starfall's emphasis on phonemic awareness, systematic sequential phonics, and common sight words in conjunction with audiovisual interactivity has proven effective in teaching emergent readers"(Starfall: Learn to Read with Phonics, Learn Mathematics, 2019). Starfall can use and help students with an exceptionality; students will have fun playing and learning simultaneously. Starfall Website is an essay to access and for free and a good resource to use. 

https://www.starfall.com/h/

By: Fadia(OTECC)@Nu

EDUTOPIA Article: 4 Ways to Keep Students Moving Forward

4 Ways to Keep Students Moving Forward

A look at a few ways to guide elementary students who may still be struggling with their learning after the last two turbulent years.

The last two years have been difficult for students, and even though we’re well into the current school year, some students may not be quite at the developmental place that educators expect. The challenge for teachers is how to truly meet every student where they are so that they continue their progress.

Here are four strategies that elementary teachers may find useful in taking on this challenge and bridging any learning loss that students may still be managing.

1. REDUCE STRESS

The pandemic has created a great deal of stress and anxiety. While students of color and low-income students were inordinately impacted by the pandemic, students across all identities and family backgrounds experienced loss of loved ones, family stress due to job losses and financial strain, separation from friends, and fear of a global illness that was out of their control.

The link between stress and executive function is undeniable. Executive functions include memory, attention, planning, and organization of thoughts, skills that are essential for both schoolwork and daily life. When executive function is impaired, students may experience difficulty with following directions, regulating emotions, and even just paying attention. Knowing this is important because if children are stressed, they’re not ready to learn. In order to create an optimal learning environment, therefore, we must find ways to reduce stress in the classroom.

We can do this in numerous ways, including building a community of support and trust in the classroom, using warm-up activities, incorporating breathing exercises and other mindfulness practices, and creating low-stakes/formative assessments that help students build their skills and promote a growth mindset. Take advantage of this stage of development as one where students are excited about learning and being playful. Being stuck at home might have limited the time they could socialize and play with others. Leading with ways to reduce stress through community building and playful social interactions is always a good idea but perhaps needed now more than ever.

To read more, click here >>> 4 Ways

DPA in School

Daily Physical Activity in Schools

Teachers play a great role in modeling and engaging students in a variety of activities, whether it is during recess, a pause break before a lesson or when implemented as a goal that students will be responsible to complete independently. Some great activities to keep students active and engaged throughout the day are:

        Lime/Egg and Spoon Races                                          On the Bank in the River

Around the World                                                                  Sack Race

    Shoes and Socks Race                                      What time is it Mr. Wolf? Exercise\           component for the time.

Have you ever, questions or statements?

This game is played in a circle with small square mats. One player begins the game by standing in the middle of the circle. After the statement or question is said, if it resonates with the players, they will run across the circle from one square to the next. The last person left standing without a square mat  will then move to the center of the circle and the game continues.

Courtesy of Shanice @ NU OTECC