by Dr. Martha Angulo
It is a difficult choice! What do you look for when deciding on an online program or any instructional program for your child? Online learning like all learning programs must be one that engages the student and motivates continuous learning. When considering online instruction for your student look for the following to be included in each instructional lesson:
1. Introduction – a brief statement explaining the topic of the lesson.
2. Grade Level – instruction geared to Primary, Intermediate, Middle/Jr. High, or High School.
3. Lesson Goals – goals and objectives are correlated to national and state learning standards (Core Standards) in the major subject areas.
4. Resources – links to quality education web sites where students can find information to reinforce or expand upon the information given in the Study Guide. Students can be encouraged to write a paragraph or two describing each of the resource links. Younger students might draw pictures to tell what they have learned.
5. Lesson Problem – setting the stage for learning by posing a question(s) to be answered in completing the lesson. Students might respond in writing to the lesson problem before and after completing each lesson module. This provides an excellent opportunity for students to self-check what they have learned.
6. Vocabulary – enriched vocabulary words new to students are hyperlinked to an online dictionary. Students are encouraged to use these as spelling words, for writing sentences or creating word games and puzzles.
7. Study Guide – the main body of each lesson contains information on basic skills and concepts that students need to be successful learners. Internet links are embedded into each study guide. These are provided to clarify and extend information about the skill or concept being taught. Quizzes and exams may reflect information from these resources.
8. Activities – worksheets, experiments, projects that give the student practice in what s/he has learned. These can be completed off line to give the student an opportunity to take a break from the computer screen. To involve parents or another adult in the learning process you might be asked to review these without putting a grade on them,..
9. Extended Learning – additional thought provoking activities that stimulate logical thinking, creative reasoning and critical thinking. It is beneficial if these are also completed off line. Parents or another adult might use these as a springboard for discussion, i.e., "What did you learn by doing this?" "How could you have done this differently?" "Explain more about this concept or skill to me."
10. Assessment - each instructional lesson should have an automatically scored assessment. Scoring should be real-time giving the student and parent immediate feedback about progress.
Dr. Martha Angulo, President
Knowledge Headquarters, Inc.
e-Tutor Virtual Learning
www.etutor.com
2525 Araphoe Avenue , Suite E4-177
Boulder, CO 80302
877-687-7200
Dr. Angulo, a former public school superintendent possessing 30+ years in education, founded Knowledge Headquarters, Inc. The company is dedicated to enhancing education using the opportunities provided by technology. It develops and markets education content, enabling tools and communication products created to establish a superior learning experience for elementary through high school students.
Knowledge HQ created its premier education product, eTutor, in 1997 and continues to innovate in the educational field every day. eTutor is an internet-driven curriculum created by educators nationwide for Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies and can be accessed by homeschoolers anywhere in the world.
It is a difficult choice! What do you look for when deciding on an online program or any instructional program for your child? Online learning like all learning programs must be one that engages the student and motivates continuous learning. When considering online instruction for your student look for the following to be included in each instructional lesson:
1. Introduction – a brief statement explaining the topic of the lesson.
2. Grade Level – instruction geared to Primary, Intermediate, Middle/Jr. High, or High School.
3. Lesson Goals – goals and objectives are correlated to national and state learning standards (Core Standards) in the major subject areas.
4. Resources – links to quality education web sites where students can find information to reinforce or expand upon the information given in the Study Guide. Students can be encouraged to write a paragraph or two describing each of the resource links. Younger students might draw pictures to tell what they have learned.
5. Lesson Problem – setting the stage for learning by posing a question(s) to be answered in completing the lesson. Students might respond in writing to the lesson problem before and after completing each lesson module. This provides an excellent opportunity for students to self-check what they have learned.
6. Vocabulary – enriched vocabulary words new to students are hyperlinked to an online dictionary. Students are encouraged to use these as spelling words, for writing sentences or creating word games and puzzles.
7. Study Guide – the main body of each lesson contains information on basic skills and concepts that students need to be successful learners. Internet links are embedded into each study guide. These are provided to clarify and extend information about the skill or concept being taught. Quizzes and exams may reflect information from these resources.
8. Activities – worksheets, experiments, projects that give the student practice in what s/he has learned. These can be completed off line to give the student an opportunity to take a break from the computer screen. To involve parents or another adult in the learning process you might be asked to review these without putting a grade on them,..
9. Extended Learning – additional thought provoking activities that stimulate logical thinking, creative reasoning and critical thinking. It is beneficial if these are also completed off line. Parents or another adult might use these as a springboard for discussion, i.e., "What did you learn by doing this?" "How could you have done this differently?" "Explain more about this concept or skill to me."
10. Assessment - each instructional lesson should have an automatically scored assessment. Scoring should be real-time giving the student and parent immediate feedback about progress.
Dr. Martha Angulo, President
Knowledge Headquarters, Inc.
e-Tutor Virtual Learning
www.etutor.com
2525 Araphoe Avenue , Suite E4-177
Boulder, CO 80302
877-687-7200
Dr. Angulo, a former public school superintendent possessing 30+ years in education, founded Knowledge Headquarters, Inc. The company is dedicated to enhancing education using the opportunities provided by technology. It develops and markets education content, enabling tools and communication products created to establish a superior learning experience for elementary through high school students.
Knowledge HQ created its premier education product, eTutor, in 1997 and continues to innovate in the educational field every day. eTutor is an internet-driven curriculum created by educators nationwide for Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies and can be accessed by homeschoolers anywhere in the world.
