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Background:
Every high
school student in
The
Challenge:
The
The ideal learning
system for
Terry
Fowler, Teacher on Special Assignment to Career and Technical Education, drove
the
Solution:
Following a
search among several vendors who specialize in computer literacy training, the
“The really
good thing about LearnKey is that it supports the independent learner. It’s a
way of providing high-quality resources across the district so it levels the
playing field between schools. It’s a
way to deliver current information and current technology everywhere. Instead
of buying a book, we buy LearnKey. LearnKey is different because when a course
is upgraded, we get the upgrade immediately without buying a new book,” Fowler
said.
As a
teacher, Fowler appreciated LearnKey’s flexibility. “It’s a tool that we can
use to help that teacher do a good job of educating the students in computer
literacy. We can assist them in finding a place where it fits in with their
teaching style.”
LearnKey provides
teachers the ability to tailor instruction to an individual student amidst a
class full of students. Fowler says, “It empowers the teacher. You’ll have a
student, and there is usually one or two in every class, who is more advanced, has
more experience, and really is computer literate already. This student still
has to take the course because it’s required. The teacher can offer the student
some independent work where they can extend and go further or look into things
they’re really curious about.”
In a pinch,
LearnKey can also provide an entire lesson. With the voice of experience,
Fowler says, “Every teacher has days, times, situations, where we’re really in
what we call ‘survival teaching mode.’ We just need to get through a class
because something is going on where they need to extend the lesson. When the
teacher has extra time and needs to fill that time with a worthwhile program, LearnKey
can fill in for that situation as well.”
Outcomes-based
learning is an emerging educational trend. Fowler explains, “I believe that
every child can learn. However, some students need more time or learn at a different
pace than everyone else. Instead of scheduling seat time to structure learning,
we can focus on objectives and outcomes. One way this might work is during
summer school. Instead of structuring 60 hours of seat time at school for a
course, we could build a program with 30 hours of seat time and require that
the student spend at least 30 hours using LearnKey on their own, in their home.
LearnKey supports this kind of independent learning. Whatever the student needs,
they can find. They have to be motivated, they have to do the work, but it’s
right there for them.”
Regardless
of where the student is located, LearnKey tracking features can validate how
much time a student spends using the training. This allows a teacher to monitor
time spent on class work at home and assign advanced or enrichment work on the
LearnKey system for students who finish their basic assignments quickly.
LearnKey
incorporates comprehensive assessment tools for each segment of the course. In
addition to providing a final grade, these tools pinpoint a student’s skill gap
and direct them to the appropriate review material. “Before they start a
section, students can take an exam covering that section and see what they need
to work on. They can then print out the study guide and very efficiently get
the instruction they need. In terms of
reaching mastery, students can keep taking that test until they do reach
mastery and pass the test. Some students are up against a deadline and really
need to get this unit finished so they can get on with their life and graduate
from high school. They can take the test and then print their own personal
study guide. It will point them right to what they need to look up and study.
It makes very efficient use of the students’ time,” Fowler said.
Outcomes:
Fowler and
his team introduced the LearnKey system in a day-long training session for all
computer literacy teachers. LearnKey conducted the training session and the
system was well-received. Fowler says, “That was a pretty interesting training
session. People heard about it and it was very much in demand.”
Fowler
emphasizes that LearnKey adapts to an individual teacher’s style. “It’s a
tool.” After several months of use, various teachers are integrating LearnKey
into the way they already teach.
Advanced students are moving quickly to competency and beyond. Students with learning difficulties are
directed to specific resources which help them increase their progress and
confidence at maximum speed.
Fowler
has ambitious plans to extend LearnKey’s capabilities to their maximum potential.
“We really want to use
the heck out of it. We really want to be able to tell our state legislature
that we spent their money wisely. We are excited to tell them that we bought a
product that made a difference.”
About
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