Abstract
The research described in this chapter aimed to find the correlation between participation in virtual extracurricular activities (ECAs) and student engagement during distance learning at a secondary school located in Northern California. Data was gathered on current student engagement through grades, attendance, teacher perception, and student and legal guardian opinion during the first two quarters of the 2020-2021 school year. Furthermore, data was gathered on student, teacher, and legal guardian opinions on the correlation between participation in virtual ECAs and student engagement during distance learning. The data revealed that there is a significant loss of student engagement during distance learning and that students are not participating in virtual ECA's due to a lack of interest. This data can be corroborated by the number of Ds and Fs students are obtaining which indicates a significant loss in student academic success. Looking forward to increase student engagement, the school must focus on creating virtual ECAs that pertain to student interest.
TopHistorcial Overview Of Eca’S
In the mid to late 19th century, schools in the United States started implementing ECA’s. Specifically, the first well known ECA’s consisted of clubs at Harvard and Yale University. While literacy clubs were the first to emerge, soon followed debate club, yearbook, organized sports, and many more. Also, the beginning of organized collegiate sports can be directly linked back to extracurricular organized sport clubs at private universities with the first organized collegiate sports team of rowing in 1876 (Lewis, 2013). It is estimated that 1 in 4 students participate in ECA’s in the U.S. (Zittlemen, 2010). Furthermore, ECA’s are considered vital to the education process. According to National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES):
Extracurricular activities provide a channel for reinforcing the lessons learned in the classroom, offering students the opportunity to apply academic skills in a real-world context, and are thus considered part of a well-rounded education.
As secondary schools started implementing ECA’s onto their campuses, several legal questions started to arise relating to student rights and liability issues. One of the most famous legal battles was in 1972 when congress passed Title IX which prohibited schools from discriminating against female students in educational programs and activities from entities who received federal funding. It states:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Sport Extracurricular Activities (SEW): An activity performed by a student outside the standard curriculum that involves athletics. Examples include: basketball team, volleyball team, and spirit club.
Extracurricular Activities (ECA): An activity performed by students that falls outside the standard curriculum of a school.
Legal Guardian Opinion: A belief or judgement based on experience from a legal guardian’s time spent in school themselves, and their observations from their child’s (children’s) experience spent in school.
Standard Curriculum Classes: Classes created from curriculum that follows the national common core standards. Students must take and pass these classes in order to advance grade levels and graduate from high school.
Teacher Perception: The thoughts teachers have on their students, which are shaped from their background knowledge and professional experience.
Social Extracurricular Activities (SEA): An activity performed by a student outside the standard curriculum that involves socializing and collaborating with peers. Examples include: dances, homecoming, and associated student body (ASB).
Associated Student Body (ASB): A form of student government in secondary schools. These elected groups represents the interests and goals of the entire student body.
Academic Extracurricular Activities (AEA): An activity performed by a student outside the standard curriculum that involves academic related content. Examples include speech and debate club, science technology engineering mathematics (STEM) club and chess club.
Education Code (Ed Code): A collection of the laws directly related to California K-12 public schools. They are created and/or amended by the governor and Legislature.
Student Opinion: A belief or judgement based on experience from student’s time spent in school.