District Administration - October 2011 - (Page 44)

Building a Blended Learning Program interventions. This allows the students to work at their own pace and to avoid distracting social interactions. Streich says many of these students are finding more success in the Flex model than in the traditional classroom. Last June, she says, the blended learning options allowed over 150 students to graduate who otherwise would not have because of course credit shortages. An ancillary benefit has been equipping students with the technology-based learning skills that will help them in higher education and the workplace beyond school. Spotsylvania also uses Aventa but supplements vendor content with districtcreated materials. Instituted in 2008 to serve students who live remotely, have social phobias, are homeschooled or are athletes, actors or others who travel, the Washington Academy of Arts and Technology (WAAT) is a statewide school in Spokane that is open to all pre-K12 students. Principal Barbara Cruse says the growing program has also provided the unforeseen service of helping preserve cultures. For example, a remote Hutterite farming colony that observes 300-year-old traditions uses the program to offer its children a full pre-K12 education that also includes the agriculture and home-consumer information consistent with their heritage and targeting high school students working on credit recovery programs. The 40 students involved take courses that combine online learning with face-to-face activities run by tribal elders, such as canoe journeys and classes on arts like totem pole building. “Some communities are finding the technology and reporting needed for farming is requiring a new skill level.” —Barbara Cruse, principal, Washington Academy of Arts and Technology practices. “Normally, Hutterites don’t go beyond eighth grade; however, some communities are finding the technology and reporting needed for farming is requiring a new skill level,” Cruse says. Each day, a WAAT teacher visits the community, which is about 100 miles from Spokane, to work with 45 students on laptops housed in a local building, which is locked up after lessons are completed. WAAT is also serving Washington’s Squaxin Island Indians, whose reservation is in southwestern Puget Sound about 90 minutes from Seattle, with a blended model A canoe journey is a tradition where up to 100 tribes from Canada to California travel together, play drums and dance. It is a means to learn about each tribe’s culture and traditions. For students who have dropped out of traditional schools, this is a way of bringing them back to achieve a diploma while honoring their heritage. Finding Resources Finding money for implementing blended learning is primarily a matter of creative funding, says Patrick. Most districts are able to fund programs within their BRIGHTLINK® OFFERS YOU MULTIPLE CHOICES FOR INTERACTIVITY Transform a wall, tabletop, or dry-erase board into an interactive learning environment. With BrightLink, you decide where and how to engage your students. BrightLink is education’s #1 selling Interactive Projector*. See why at www.epson.com/brightlink *Data Source: Future Source, Quarterly Insight, State of the Market Report (Interactive Displays/ICD Product Market), 1st Quarter 2011. Epson is a registered trademark and Epson Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. BrightLink and subject to change without notice. 44 October 2011 407-547 Epson BF 2012 BrightLink Print Media-October_FNL.indd 1 District Administration 9/9/11 5:32 PM http://www.epson.com/brightlink http://www.epson.com/brightlink

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - October 2011

District Administration - October 2011
Contents
From the Editor
Letters
News Update
Transportation Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Building a Blended Learning Program
How Are Science Fairs Fairing?
A New Age for Algebra
Early College High Schools
Changing of the Guard in Florida
CIO News
How Much Computing Power Do You Need?
An Unconventional Approach to 1:1
New Books
Problem/ Solution
Research Center
Product Focus
New Products
Professional Opinion
Going Mobile
Online Edge

District Administration - October 2011