Learning from a Distance

Technology is broadening our horizons in many different facets of life and the educational system is not immune to this phenomena.  In the past couple of years the students of U.S.D. 223 have been experiencing firsthand the use of technology to enhance learning opportunities.  Our students have begun taking classes on-line via the internet and, most recently, through the distance learning labs at both Hanover and Linn.

In the 2007-08 school year we offered Spanish and Consumer math via the internet.  These classes were being instructed from Elkhart in southwest Kansas.  Although this was considered a stop gap for one year, it has now expanded to include a distance learning lab.  This year we continued with our consumer math class from Elkhart and added Spanish via our lab.  The teacher for Spanish is from the Southern Cloud district.

We have also been given the opportunity during our second semester to offer some dual credit classes.  Dual credit means that the students can pick up the high school credit while earning college hours as well.  We are offering Human Growth and Development (Psychology) and Marriage and Family.  This instructor teaches from the Lincoln, Kansas site.  We already have plans to enhance these with two other classes next school year.  We plan to offer the Psychology class first semester and then a more advanced psychology class second semester.  We would also offer Sociology first semester and the marriage and family second semester.

These are exciting times for our district and the students are able to expand their horizons without even leaving the building.  I am also excited to announce that we are also using this technology to offer night classes to the general public.  Although this is in it’s infant stages, the opportunities are endless.

The distant learning labs can also help the community as well.  For example:  If the hospital or nursing home might need to provide training, this could be done via the lab from another site and our patrons would not have to travel to get the training.  We are also looking into opportunities to use it with our staffs as well.

Another option that has been provided for the past several years is classes via the internet.  We have helped several individuals to finish up their high school classes via the internet through classes offered from our educational service center in Salina.  These classes are through a program known as PLATO.  I am pleased to say that we have helped several adults finish up their high school work.

As technology progresses it is vital for our district to stay abreast of these opportunities to help all of our students achieve success.  These developments only continue to help us remain a viable entity in providing a top-notch education for our students.  Although we would prefer to have a teacher in each classroom, this technology is allowing us to expand upon the offerings we currently have.  Our students deserve these expanded opportunities and we hope to continue to strive to give them our very best.