Free Online Training and Materials
July 29, 2026 UPDATE. Introduction to ELOs (ELO 101) will be available in a few weeks via the NH Department of Education’s Canvas site.
Canvas took away their free sites for educators earlier this year.
Introduction to ELOs course (free, self-paced, online)
This course is an online version of in-person workshops offered by the Next Steps NH Project in Spring 2018. During the course you’ll create an ELO for a fictional student who loves yoga.
Introduction to ELOs is available on a learning management platform called Canvas. You can take the course without registering. However, setting up an account makes it easier to find your way back to the course since it will be listed on your dashboard.
By the end of this short self-paced course you will have the answers to:
- What is an ELO?
- Who do you need to create an ELO?
- How do you create an ELO?
Course organization
Format: Self-paced, with open-ended start and finish dates. Frequent activities.
Estimated time to complete: 2.5 – 5 hours if you take the time to do all the activities. You can work at your own pace, on your own schedule.
Academic credit: There are no grades. You’ll be able to print a completion certificate at the end of the course.
Audience: preservice and inservice educators. Also suitable for parents, youth and community partners interested in learning more about ELOs.
Instructor: This course is self-paced and unmonitored. Answers to activities are supplied within the course.
Prerequisites: none.
Modules: The course is divided into six modules of varying lengths:
- Introduction (10 min)
- What is an ELO? What are the learning components? (35 min)
- Roles and Responsibilities within an ELO (25 min)
- Prerequisites to Designing an ELO (20 min)
- Using the Design Template (45 min)
- Completing the Design Template and Course Wrap-up (20 min)
All resources from the online course
Module 1: Introduction
- Extended Learning Opportunities at Hinsdale High School (Video)
- Glossary of terms used in the course (DOC)
- Effects of Extended Learning Opportunities on Student Outcomes (PPT)
- Results from a Two-Year Study of the Effects of Extended Learning Opportunities on Student Outcomes in New Hampshire, from the Nellie Mae Foundation (PDF)
- New Hampshire Department of Education, Minimum Standards for Public School Approval
Module 2: What is an ELO? What are the learning components?
- Dana Activity Worksheet: Identify Subject Areas and Possible Activities (DOC)
- Examples of Essential Questions
- Activity – Develop an Essential Question for Dana (DOC)
- Activity: Dana and the Four Learning Components (DOC)
- ELO Examples
- New Hampshire Department of Education, ELO page
- Four Components of a Rigorous ELO (PDF)
- Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding by Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins, 2013
- Designing and Using Essential Questions by Jay McTighe (quick reference guide), 2017
- Make Just One Change: Teach Students to Ask Their Own Questions by Dan Rothstein and Luz Santana, 2017
Module 3: Roles and Responsibilities within an ELO
- Disability Disclosure (Video)
- 411 Disability Disclosure (Video)
- The 411 on Disability Disclosure (PDF)
- ELOs for for students with disabilities
- Job Accommodation Network
Module 4: Prerequisites to Designing an ELO
- Almost ELO Chart (DOC)
- Activity – Almost ELOs Activity Worksheet (DOC)
- Exploration and Preparation Questions for Students (DOC)
- Approval Form for Sub-Minimum Wage or No Wage Rate for Work-Based Activities (PDF)
- Application for Pre-Screening of School-to-Work (PDF)
- Working for Practical Experience page of the NH DOL website
- NH DOL Working for Practical Experience FAQ
- NH Extended Learning Opportunity Program Design Handbook (PDF, 311 pages)
- Mitigating Legal Risk for School Districts Offering or Supporting Extended Learning Opportunities (PDF)
- “Almost ELOs” information on the Individual ELO Design page
- NH DOL Youth employment federal and state laws
Module 5: Using the Design Template
- Dana’s Design Template (DOC)
- Competency Validation Rubric from the NH Department of Education (PDF)
- New Hampshire State Model High School Competencies – State Board Approved
- Virtual Learning Academy Charter School Learning Catalog
- NH College and Career Ready Standards
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Competencies
- Mentor Portal on NextSteps-NH.org
- JAN’s A-Z of Disabilities and Accommodations
- Lebanon High School ELO webpages
- Winnacunnet High School ELO webpages
Module 6: Completing the Design Template and Course Wrap-up
- Roles of the various ELO team members in the assessment process
- Example rubrics for each learning component
- ELO Design Template information on the Individual ELO Design page
- Examples and samples of rubrics
- ReachingHigherNH.org, a non-partisan public education policy resource with shareable promotional materials on ELOs.
Online training last tested 1/27/23
Mitigating risk video added 2/26/24
Module 4 links fixed 4-30-26
