Liberating Learning Through ELOs: Authentic Demonstrations of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Liberating Learning Through ELOs: Authentic Demonstrations of Learning Through School & Community Contexts

Winnacunnet High School Hampton, New Hampshire ▣ Donna Couture, Extended Learning Coordinator ▣ Jamie Marston, Curriculum Coordinator ▣ William McGowan, Principal

Winnacunnet High School ▣ Four Year Comprehensive High School (9-12) ▣ Seacoast Region of New Hampshire ▣ Serves Four Communities through Cooperative Agreement ▣ Wide range of Socio- Economic Groups

1100 Students ● 14% Special Education ● 23.3% Free/Reduced Lunch ● 8% Title One

● Graduation Rate - 89.39% ● Drop Out Rate - <1% ● Post Secondary Plans ○ 64.4% Four Year Colleges ○ 20.8 % Two Year Colleges ○ 14.8% Workforce/ Military

At WHS Personalization means “... to be engaged in designing my high school experience because when I am engaged I am the most successful and realize my potential.”

Presentation Overview ▣ Why ELOs? ▣ Developing an ELO Program Define ELOs □ Enhance what already exists □ Scaling up □ ▣ Procedures and Paperwork ▣ Education & Professional Development ▣ Looking Ahead ▣ Other Considerations

Why ELOs? Student Driven Competencies & Any time, Any Rigorous Place, Any Components Method NH’s Vision for High School Teachers and Redesign Based on Community Student’s Partners as Interests, Mentors Needs & Abilities

“Liberating learning means breaking free from the traditional school structure of education that keeps the teacher chained ‘’ to a traditional classroom by a contract based on Carnegie units, liberating teachers to focus on student learning rather than test-centered teaching, and liberating students to become engaged, self-directed, active learners through a rigorous, valid, portable, authentic learning experience.” - Mariane Gfroerer, NH Department of Education

Forming an Exploratory Committee Committee Members ▣ Administration ▣ Guidance ▣ Special Education Committee Goals ▣ Research ▣ Create ELO Coordinator position ▣ Program Implementation Plan

Systemic Implementation Define Enhance Scale Data Based Decision Making

Systemic Implementation Define Data Based Decision Making

Defining ELOs Minimum Standards ▣ Independent Study for Public School ▣ Private Instruction Approval ED306.02(i) ▣ Performing Groups ▣ Any Time ▣ Internships ▣ Any Place ▣ Community Service ▣ Any Pace ▣ Apprenticeship ▣ Any Method ▣ Online Courses

Group Discussion At your tables, discuss what learning experiences already exists at your school that could fall under this definition of ELOs: ELO’s are a means of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction or study that is outside the traditional classroom methodology. The purpose of an ELO is to provide an educational experience that is meaningful and relevant by meeting the student’s diverse learning styles, talents and interests.

ELO Policy ▣ Definition ▣ Roles and Responsibilities ▣ Application Process ▣ Evaluation Criteria Winnacunnet School District ELO Policy - IHBH

ELO Coordinator ▣ Research other full time positions ▣ Proposal to School Board ▣ Write job description ▣ Post position ▣ Hire

Systemic Implementation Enhance Data Based Decision Making

Enhancing What Already Exists Internships and Independent Studies ▣ Enhancing rigor w/ best practice ELO Components □ Essential Questions □ Assessment □ Community Partner □ Reflection □ Research □ Product □ Presentation

Enhancing What Already Exists 111% Increase 81% Increase

Systemic Implementation Scale Data Based Decision Making

Building Capacity ▣ Lead Teachers □ Monitors and assesses student’s ELO experience ▣ Mentor Teachers □ Uses expertise to guide student ▣ Compensation and Support Duty and Professional Development hours □ ▣ Changes ELO Coordinator Role

Teacher Support

Lead Teacher Feedback

Types of ELOs ▣ Examined the different Independent Studies Interdisciplinary □ Project Based □ Advancing to the next level of knowledge □ Couldn’t fit class in schedule □ ▣ Not every student can secure an Internship Confidentiality □ Safety Concerns □ Community Partner doesn’t have the time □

Types of ELOs Service Aide Independent Coursework Career Exploration Internship Advanced Study Project Based Learning

Types of ELOs and Their Components

PowerSchool Created ELO courses for each department

Assessment

Assessment ▣ Elective Credit ▣ Simple GPA ▣ Activities are based on four components: □ Reflection Research Product Presentation ▣ Grading is based on common rubrics ▣ Department Competencies

ELO Request Form Review Request Form Connect with Teachers/Community Partners Agreement Form and Other Initial Permission Forms Initial Meeting to Review Plan

Procedures and Paperwork ▣ ELO Request Form ▣ ELO Agreement Form ▣ Project Based Learning Design Plan ▣ Off Campus Permission Form ▣ Community Partner Agreement Form ▣ Initial Meeting Checklist

Education & Professional Development ▣ Educating our staff Department meetings □ One-on-one training □ WHS University □ Next Steps NH □ ▣ Educating our students School Counseling Department □ Assemblies □ Announcements □ Classroom visits □ Career Planning Course □ ▣ ELO Coordinator NH ELO Network □

ELO Committee Exploratory Development Oversight

Looking Ahead ▣ Continue to evaluate teacher support and compensation ▣ ELOs for core credit and credit recovery ▣ Revise rubrics ▣ Update website ▣ Connections to the community ▣ At-Risk and Special Education

Group Discussion Based on what you have learned here today, discuss at least one action step you can take back to your school.

Other Considerations Risk Mitigation ▣ School District responsibilities ▣ Protocols for unsafe conditions ▣ Parental permission and release agreements ▣ Pre-Screening ▣ Supervision and monitoring ▣ Adoption of ELO policies ▣ Liability Insurance coverage ▣ Maintaining a list previously successful ELOs ▣ Age level requirements ▣ School Board

Other Considerations Community Connections ▣ Maintaining a list of previously successful Community Partners/Mentors ▣ Inviting a Community Partner to sit on your ELO Committee ▣ Connections to Civic Groups ▣ Community Advisory Board ▣ Recognition

Other Considerations Technology ▣ Google Classroom ▣ Google Documents/Folders ▣ Blogs ▣ LiveBinders ▣ VoiceThread ▣ Website

Resources ▣ NH ELO Network (email me) ▣ ELO: Beyond Classroom ▣ ELO Program Design Handbook ▣ NH DOE ELO Information

Thanks! Any questions? You can contact me at: dcouture@warriors.winnacunnet.org 603-758-9248 Website: https://sites.google.com/a/warriors.winnacunnet.org/elo