Students in Shawnee will have a new alternative when school begins next week.
Jim Thorpe Academy will begin a virtual school, which will allow students another option to get their high school diploma.
“We’re all stepping into a new world,” said director Debra Watson. “They’re very excited to get online to learn.”
Today’s students are much more technology savvy and communicate more by texting and blogging, she said. This new program will provide students with a way to learn at their own pace.
Allison Brown, who has helped plan curriculum for the virtual program, said 10 to 15 students will be a part of it the first year.
“With virtual, you can do it all off campus,” she said. “Also, it has to be somebody who is motivated to learn.”
Bob Berry, virtual school coordinator, said the program will be a better fit for some students.
“You teach the student whereas the other way you teach the subject,” he said. “Teaching the student is better.”
This program will give students who need it flexibility to learn when they need to, not necessarily adhering to a strict school schedule, Berry said.
The program used, Odysseyware, is “user friendly.”
The lessons provide review, multiple choice answers and if a student misses questions, it won’t continue to the next lesson until the student learns the material, he said.
“We can reassign a missed question to learn what they know and what they don’t know,” Berry said. “The kids like it”
Each lesson meets PASS objectives, Watson said, which Shawnee High School follows and is required by the Oklahoma State Board of Education. Tutoring and retesting are available for those students as well.
Berry will be required by the state to communicate with the students at least once per week and with parents at least once per month, Watson said.
The new program also will allow students the ability to test out of lessons, Berry said. Curriculum will be adjusted to meet the students’ needs.
Audrey Roach, counselor at Jim Thorpe, said this new program will fit in well at the alternative school.
“Mister Berry let’s students learn at their own pace,” she said. “They just want to come, work and get out. The program fits the student, not student fits the program.”
Students wanting to be a part of the alternative school need to be recommended by a principal, Brown said.
“A parent that’s interested would talk to their campus principal,” she said.
The principal would then refer that student to Superintendent Marilyn Bradford, who has the final say, Brown said.
While still work in progress, Watson said the virtual school will be step in the right direction.
“It’s a whole new way to look at it,” she said. “It’s a whole new thing.”
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Josh Burton may be reached by calling 214-3926.
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