Title: Engagement and Motivation in K-12 Online Learning
Author Name: Heidi Curtis and Loredana Werth
Selected Case (Published Article): Fostering Student Success and Engagement in a K-12 Online School
1. Introduction
When it comes to learning, all of us have heard the statement, that knowledge is power. This rings true as we know that the knowledge we learn throughout school is important for the long term on where we want to end up. For online courses and schools, this is relatively new for some to even think about, especially in the grades K-12. Learning new information was a brick-and-mortar system, where the students had to attend an actual school, sit at a desk, listen to the instructor, and take notes on the information that they were providing us. However, in March 2020, we were hit with a pandemic. As a result, we were pushed into our homes and schooling online. The pandemic has interrupted the education system and how the students are learning. For some individuals, both students and instructors, they were able to adjust easily to the change and were still successful in the courses they were taking. However, for others, this was a challenge for them to stay motivated with online learning for multiple reasons. In this case, before the pandemic, we are still able to see that the area of motivation was still an area concerning for students to promote independence in their learning.
2. Overview of the Case
This study was taking place at Online High School (OHS). This was a full-time virtual school in the Western part of the United States. Out of the total enrollment within the school, 95% are full-time students and the other 5% are part-time as they are taking brick-and-mortar classes as well. Just like brick-and-mortar schools, OHS is a public charter school that has the same demographics. The enrollment of the school also includes 10% of students with special needs, 60% were free and reduced lunch, greater than 1% were homeless students, and 20% were emancipated. The area of the population enrollment that seemed to be suitable for the students was the English Second Language students. Those students need that interaction with an in-person teacher for additional support needed for both understanding the English language as well as speaking it. In the article, we get to see that not only the students are struggling with online learning, but the parents as well. As this was still a relatively new way to teach and learn in education, it is still new for the K-12 environment. It expressed that, “Multiple participants noted their students lacked motivation. While there was some communication between school and home in the brick-and-mortar school, by the time the parents were made aware that students were falling behind it was too late for them to catch up Pg. 9.”
3. Solutions Implemented
When it comes to solutions to promote their motivation for online schooling, the participants that were in the study pointed out that, “parental involvement encouraged students to increase self-motivation or self-reliance.” Having the parents monitor whether their child is up to date on all assignments and seeing their grades and progress in the class. Even the parents, “who identified their children as being unsuccessful indicated that self-motivation would have increased success for their children Pg 15.” Another solution that seemed to work successfully was allowing the students to set their schedules. Getting the flexibility within their schooling For some, this is an opportunity to have the freedom to do other activities that they would want to prioritize first. Doing this for the participants also teaches them to be accountable for how they are managing their time with what they are learning in school and other extracurricular activities.
4. Outcomes
For the outcome of the study, there were improvements with the students with their success in the online experience. Having that type of freedom when it comes to online schooling seems to have a hit-and-miss relationship for the participants. Parents saw the success of their child as just like a plant, would they water it and watch it grow into something beautiful. However, some parents have different responses to the schooling experience. “Online learning is full of freedom and independence, yet over half of the participants in this study had children who failed.” Some parents of the participants expressed that the flexibility and the freedom that their child was given with their learning and assignments, “as the reason their children were lacking the credits to graduate with their cohort group” as their priorities when it comes to their learning is the last thing on their mind. With that, you have to ask yourself this question: Is your education important to you or others?
5. Implications
In conclusion, yes, when it comes to getting ourselves self-motivated, it can be a difficult task to come by. Especially when your schooling is online and you have to defend yourself when it comes to learning new information. “If self-motivation can be taught or enhanced, and what encourages students to work independently.” When it comes to the students, I do believe it defends them as individuals. Some students, with the help of resources out there, could get support from schedules, parents, and communication with the school to provide that engagement and success that the students could achieve while online. Students that didn’t have that motivation, unfortunately, didn’t their learning and education seriously. They treated it like a “Go Pass” and they would just wing it or they are playing catch up on their assignments. For parents, trying to explain to their child information that they don’t remember from when they were their age as well as trying to figure out the online learning was a struggle for them. For both the schools, students, and parents, it is important to have an open-door policy on what is going on with their learning. You can move at any pace you would like, yes. However, if the teacher sees that they haven’t opened up the assignments or missed a few, email or call to follow up with them. Giving regular feedback to both parents and the school would promote self-motivation to complete assignments and be successful.
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