Integrating web 2.0 tools and open education resources in the online English/Language Arts classroom to motivate and di

1. Integrating web 2.0 tools and open education resources in the online English/Language Arts classroom to motivate and differentiate How to Reach, Teach, and Keep Online Learners [the basics with a bit of a twist] Mary L. Noll BS English/Sociology MA Linguistics and Composition

2. We said, “This session will provide the online teacher with strategies to boost synchronous session attendance and increase student motivation and engagement.” • What can we share with you that you are not already doing? • What can we share that you haven’t learned in the past 48 hours? • What can we share that you would be eager to try in your virtual classes?

3. Basics that are simple, obvious, and effective. • Use the phone. • Provide Individual Action Plans/Pace Charts. • Find something wonderful in their work and tell them so… more than once. • Invest in stamps or postcards; send a handwritten note to the home address. • If their school system permits, encourage students to set up IM accounts. • Create an affective domain.

4. Pick up the phone and call. Hi,Tamra, it’s Mrs. Noll. Your PowerPoint presentation for the Unit 6 assignment was awesome!

5. Provide Individual Action Plans • If your LMS includes a pace chart (Angel) or a dynamic schedule (Blackboard), customize and send one to each student even if the student can access it online. • Create a course completion schedule using either a calendar template or a spreadsheet; personalize it, and send one to each student.

6. October 2010

7. Send a postcard: Hi Sarah! I just want you to know that I always look forward to Sociology class on Monday because I know you will be there! You do a wonderful job of moderating the breakout room and it’s obvious that your classmates appreciate your leadership skills and your great personality. It is truly a pleasure to have you as my student. See you next Monday! Mrs. Noll Ms. Sarah Student 1123 Right Way Street Distanceville, USA

8. Find something wonderful and post student achievement:

9. Student’s response: Oh wow!! Thank you. Even though there is no prize involved, the title is prize enough! Thank you again so very much. John P

10. The Affective Domain • Research suggests that the Number 1 reason students drop out of brick and mortar schools is Boredom • The challengewe must meet: take the distance out of distance learning; find a common thread between you and each of your students…a favorite author, a good movie, a special pet… have a conversation. Share photos. • Create a happy place and do everything you can to make students want to go there.

11. Make posters for your announcement page and your virtual classroom! [wordle]

12. Keep in touch with a monthly newsletter; link it with Jing:

13. Share the magic! Assignment (Creative Writing): Identifying Verbs and Participles “Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake rose, the flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid's pumpkins swelled to the size of garden sheds. Oliver Wood's enthusiasm for regular training sessions, however, was not dampened, which was why Harry was to be found, late one stormy Saturday afternoon a few days before Halloween, returning to Gryffindor Tower, drenched to the skin and splattered with mud.” Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Thorndike, Me.: Thorndike, 2000. Print.

14. Use and teach user-friendly tools: www.voki.com animoto www.toondoo.com

15. Assignment (AmLit): Use toondoo to create a three-frame comic strip illustrating this event: "I wish Bob Ewell wouldn’t chew tobacco," was all Atticus said about it. According to Miss Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him.Miss Stephanie . . . said Atticus didn't bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat….” Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006. Print.

16. Assignment (Folklore): Design a webpage about “Rostam, Shield of Persia”. [weebly] Tap into your hidden talents! Design an eye-catching webpage that includes the following elements: • A summary of Rostam’s adventures • A description and analysis of Rostam’s seven stages • The factors that led to his betrayal and untimely death • Two (or more) illustrations

17. Unit Assignment (Sociology): Unit 3, Lesson 2 [Nature vs. Nurture]: Use Wordle to create a poster that includes a minimum of fifteen words associated with “extreme isolation”.

18. According to students, here’s what works: Learning Resources: • Most effective: • Synchronous instruction (elluminate) • Recorded sessions if they are easily accessible • Screen shots • Least effective • Supplemental material embedded in coursework • Multiple-click links Communication tools: • Most effective: • Phone call • Instant messaging • Personal email • Less effective • Announcements within the course • Mass (course) email

19. As you are making your virtual classroom irresistible, here is a bit of food for thought….

20. Audience and Purpose

29. “Perhaps like many of you, I have lived my adult life backwards: without finishing high school I went to work…had children…got married. There came a day when I realized that I could and would achieve my education goals … not just because I am a mom who wants to be a good role model, but because it was important to ME. I made a commitment to myself to earn my High School Diploma.”

38. “Each of us has a different story, and each of us has had to overcome our personal obstacles. For those of you with small children, you know the challenges of trying to work on class assignments while fixing dinner, changing diapers, or conquering bedtime issues. For some of us, many years went by between the last time we were in a brick school building and our first online class. No matter how different our personal histories may be, today we have reached the same goal together.”

46. “I have a new goal. I am going to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education. Yes, there will be new challenges, but I know I can do it. I want everyone here to take this thought and go with it: you can achieve your dream, whether it is continuing your education, getting a great job, or starting a family. Don’t let anything stop you from chasing your dream.” From Commencement Speech, June 2010 [used with permission from the author]

47. Mrs. Barbara Tuckelwolford, Graduate Insight School of Kansas June 2010

48. The faces you’ve just seen are the faces of adult online education.

49. Top 3 Reasons KS Adults Enroll in Online High School Female Students • Earning a high school diploma is a personal goal • Completing high school is necessary to compete in the job market • Models for their children the importance of education ____________________________________________ • New employment opportunities or advancement in current job • Completing high school is necessary for college enrollment or specialized training • Want to improve technology skills to improve marketability Male Students

50. Here’s what’s missing… Only two states offer funding for adult online high school completion: • Kansas • New Mexico