Z-In+the+News

Tuesday 6/1

// //Grand Rapids Schools hear support for online learning plan//  // By Kym Reinstadler There is no apples-to-apples comparison for how Grand Rapids Public Schools plans to do blended instruction in its four comprehensive high schools next year, but a panel of online education advocates said technology is an important tool for engaging today's students in meaningful learning. Seven panelists representing national, state and local perspectives answered questions about blending online with face-to-face instruction at a forum attended by 150 parents and community members Tuesday at Messiah Missionary Baptist Church. The audience included Michigan's Teacher of the Year, Matinga Ragatz, who has taught in a blended format at Grand Ledge High School for 10 years. She encouraged Grand Rapids that "blended is definitely the way to go." Several attendees said they are beginning to feel comfortable with the idea of blended instruction, but want to make sure GRPS will do it in a substantive way, a tall order to produce by fall since a blended curriculum and teacher training won't occur until this summer. "What cautions do you have for GRPS?" asked Paul Haan, a North Park Montessori parent. "What practices are needed to be successful in terms of student-to-teacher ratio, the students involved, and the scale of implementation?" Todd Yarch, principal of Chicago Public Schools' VOISE Academy, oversees a two-year-old program where instruction is 70 percent online and 30 percent face-to-face in all subjects. Yarch believes schools should be "all in" with blended instruction and use it in every class, adding that teachers who believe technology can enhance education will be motivated to learn quickly how to teach in the new format. VOISE Academy enrolls children from a disadvantaged West Chicago neighborhood who often enter testing below grade level in English and math. Although many lack basic computer skills, they like learning on computers with Internet access and soon catch up, routinely working at school until 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and most Saturdays, he said. "Content is provided for us, so we can devote most of our time to developing relationships with students and engaging them from right where they're at," said Patrick Staley, a social studies teacher at the school. "Through technology, our students have access to the same learning materials as students at the best high schools across the city." VOISE Academy equips every student with a laptop computer, a pricey endeavor that has not been proposed in Grand Rapids, which plans to test the water with blended classes in math and social studies only. GRPS is proposing a team-teaching concept in blended courses. A team of five adults, including one certified teacher who is highly qualified in the content area, would be responsible for a cohort of 90 students that would move through a three-day rotation of blended learning. "The Teacher of the Year (Ragatz) said you need water in the pool before you jump," said Sandra Olson, who teaches Spanish at Central High School. "Teachers feel like we'll be jumping into a pool next fall that's only half-full." Many fine points about how the new model will work have not been communicated, leaving teachers wary, she said. The school board is scheduled to vote June 7 on a budget that includes a shift to blended instruction in math and social studies at Union, Central, Creston and Ottawa Hills high schools.
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