L-C School takes distance learning to a new level
LAUREL — Teachers in the Laurel-Concord and Coleridge schools are now teaching the same class, during the same period, at both Laurel and Coleridge with the use of a web cam.
It’s an innovational idea and it took a lot of planning to make it work.
The first step was to coordinate the class schedules.
To do this, the principals of Laurel-Concord, Newcastle, and Coleridge met together over the summer to create classes that run on identical time schedules.
Then students could sign up for classes taught by a teacher in another school if it fit in their schedule. Currently there are 12 classes being taught via the web cam.
Dr. Dan Hoesing, Superintendent of the three schools, said, “As far as I know, we are the only school in the state to use web cams.”
This if different from the traditional distance learning, because it is a link between two classrooms, rather than one teacher instructing several classes via closed circuit TV.
Use of the web cam has several advantages. Students have more options for classes because of the identical class schedule, and more classes can be offered at each school because more are teachers available. It is also cost efficient because one teacher can teach two classes at the same time.
For example, Laurel instructor Lyle VanCleave teaches the same class in both Coleridge and Laurel, but one day he is in Coleridge and the next day in Laurel. The day he is in Coleridge, he teaches the Laurel students via the web cam and the day he is in Laurel, the Coleridge students are taught from the web cam.
Van Cleave credited Superintendent Hoesing for the plan. “He’s very innovative and this allows us to sell our services to other schools. That way we can afford the same services here,” he said.
He said this type of arrangement allows schools to keep important programs with small enrollments “Last year I had 15 students in the architectural drafting class and this year there are only 2 in Laurel,” he said. Without the web cam, the class might not have been offered. Van Cleave added, “It is important to keep these programs, and this is one way he (Hoesing) has done it for us.”
Hoesing indicated that the state will be encouraging schools to use modern technology in their schools with the passage of LB 1208. “LB 1208 created new legislation that will help us upgrade. They will also pay us incentive money for every course (distance learning) we teach,” he said.
Principal Les Owen said that Laurel-Concord is working with other schools to allow L-C teachers to instruct more students via the web cam. However, some of the technology isn’t in place for that to happen.
He said, “As far as making use of technology, we’re pushing the envelope. It seems we’re always waiting for technology to catch up with us.