Free Online Training and Materials

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?

Go to the course

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:

1. Introduction (10 min)
2. What is an ELO? What are the learning components? (35 min)
3. Roles and Responsibilities within an ELO (25 min)
4. Prerequisites to Designing an ELO (20 min)
5. Using the Design Template (45 min)
6. Completing the Design Template and Course Wrap-up (20 min)

Syllabus

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 Non-Paid Work-Based Activities (PDF)
• Pre-screening Form (PDF)
• School-to-Work page of the NH DOL website
• FAQ about School-to-Work
• 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
• NH DOL Youth labor rules

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.

Materials from 2-day in-person ELO training, Spring 2018

This two-day in-person training was designed for school teams of three-five people seeking to deepen their understanding and practices regarding ELOs. Topics included developing an ELO program, designing ELOs, examining policy, ELOs and transition, collaboration with key partners, and resource identification and support. The training was delivered in multiple sessions around the state between April and June 2018.

Participants:

• Defined and identified the essential elements of an ELO.
• Discovered how to incorporate best practices into ELO development.
• Understood the role of ELOs in transition.
• Learned the critical components of an ELO program including policies and practices that support ELOs.
• Explored strategies to develop an infrastructure to support ELOs within their school.

All sessions were full with waitlists. The materials are now free for anyone to use:

• Slides handout from Day 1 (PDF, 59 slides)
• PowerPoint from Day 1 (PPT)
• Slides handout from Day 2 (PDF, 40 slides)
• PowerPoint from Day 2 (PPT)
• Resource list (MSWord)
• ELO Program Readiness Checklist, class version (PDF)