An Elluminate
Success Story

Can a pig really fly? How are acids and bases different? These are just two of the topics explored in Raven Sundahl's online Wacky Wednesday classes. According Raven, a teacher with EBUS Academy, the inspiration for the sessions came from a Dr. Seuss book of the same name. With 45 students in grades K-7, she wanted a way to teach that includes all modalities for different types of learners. "Using Elluminate Live! is fun and educational, and the kids really connect to something that happens on a weekly basis," she says.

Raven, who taught in a brick and mortar classroom for 18 years, holds two Wacky Wednesday classes each week: one for her K-3 students, the other for grades 4-7. "Each online session for the younger students focuses on a book that I’ve scanned in," she explains. "We read the book, do a craft, sing songs, and play games, like Pictionary. The younger kids have fully embraced using the microphone. They love to talk and sing together."

"For the older students, the online environment is second nature to them," Raven continues. "They prefer to use text chat because it's just like instant messaging. My grade 4-7 kids are a little more into competition, so our Wacky Wednesday sessions include competitive games, such as Wacky Wheel of Fortune, as well as cover a lot of curriculum."

Online Environment Builds Relationships, Teaches Social Skills

To those who believe a face-to-face classroom environment is required at the K-12 level, Raven says you can still build relationships with your voice and teach social skills through activities. "I have one special needs student who loves to talk and gets in trouble in the regular classroom for interrupting," she says. "He’s learned that in Elluminate Live! you have to wait your turn to talk. Plus, students that missed a class can always access the recording, something you can’t do .in a physical classroom."

To get the students up to speed using the virtual classroom, Raven holds private sessions with each student and his or her parents to go over the tools and all the possibilities. "Usually the parents are really excited about it," says Raven. "The first couple of times using Elluminate, the parents help the kids. After that, the students follow along on their own, even the young ones. I have some kids who have been in the sessions for three or four years."

Virtual Field Trip to the North Pole Thrills Students, Involves Parents

One of Raven's December Wacky Wednesday classes always features a visit with Santa. During their most recent virtual field trip to the North Pole, the kids visited with Santa via webcam, told Christmas jokes, sang holiday songs, watched a You Tube video of a dancing polar bear, learned how to make a treat for Santa’s reindeer, and visited the Elf Pal Academy website.

How is interviewing Santa educational? "It really does work to entice the kids to use Elluminate Live! and gets the parents involved," concludes Raven. "My favorite thing to do at school is to moderate Elluminate Live! sessions! We have all kinds of fun learning about any topic you can imagine."

About EBUS Academy

EBUS Academy is a BC Public School dedicated to providing the best in online learning programs and courses to BC students in Kindergarten to Grade 12. The academy was founded in 1993 to offer support to home learners in BC and now enrolls over 1000 students from across the province. Using technology to support learners in alternative and innovative ways, the program facilitates individualized learning, fosters personal growth, and recognizes the variety of ways learning occurs and can be demonstrated.