| Description |
Through the course of the COVD-19 pandemic, it became apparent that the education system is increasingly reliant on technology. As a result of the transition to online learning, there is a burgeoning demand for research concerning online education and extra-curricular programs, such as supplemental after-school programs. Numerous studies have shown the positive impacts after-school programs have on students, though it is unclear how functional these after-school programs are in an online format. A newly implemented after-school language program sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) and the Goethe-Institut allowed us to test the hypothesis that programs maintain their efficacy despite the unique challenges present in an online format. Similarly, we were able to test the goal of the program itself, which was to increase interest in the German language. Anonymous surveys administered via Google Forms of participating parents indicate that the program was successful, as parents responded that they were largely satisfied with the program and would likely enroll their students in a German course at the high school level. The initial response to the program suggests that it was successful in maintaining efficacy and that it also increased students' interest in pursuing German at a higher level of education, such as high school. |
