Extended Learning Opportunities
Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) denote schemes and events that offer students extra ways of education to formal classes mainly in the absence of a teacher. These facilities are necessary as they add to the development of knowledge, skills, and experiences, thus, they are fruitful for lifelong learning and personal growth.
Extended Learning Opportunities include numerous choices such as after-school programs, summer camps, internships, online courses, and dual enrollment in college courses for high school students, as well as volunteer activities. For instance, by attending a summer coding camp, a student may acquire additional programming skills or join a community college to earn credits while being a high school student.
ELOs are a great advantage for students, as they involve the real-life experience that students acquire with concrete tasks, promote a culture of inquiry and are ultimately the best way to learn. In turn, they assist students in learning interpersonal skills like teamwork and communication. For example, internships provide the students with the necessary skills and insights to be competitive in the market after their studies.
Through local organizations, business partnerships, and technology intervention to provide online learning options ELOs can be set up by teachers. One school can partner with a local museum to give students curriculum-related workshops that complement their educational experience beyond the classroom.
The significant part that the parents can obtain in the provision of ELO is the backing of their kids to multilog diversely and to find out available programs. They can take a part by carrying out the research, making available the means of transportation, and discussing the types of skills and experience they will be gaining from the ELO. For instance, a parent may decide to help his/her child join an aligned summer science program that resonates with his/her interests.