With the launch of a pioneering education program supported by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant, a Northampton organization may find itself on the cutting edge of educational innovation in the 21st century. The city’s Collaborative for Educational Services (formerly known as the Hampshire Educational Collaborative) this year unveiled a free online course for any public high school student who has failed algebra, which will be accessible 24 hours a day and can be completed, for full high school credit, at the student’s own pace. Students may enroll without cost at any time before May, 2011.
The course will be taught by a Massachusetts certified secondary math teacher, and includes “engaging audio and video explanations and exercises, which are particularly helpful to students who might enjoy Facebook more than math.” Early “beta” students who have elected to enroll in the course report both substantial increases in their grades and their understanding of the material, and a boost in their sense of independence and self-direction.
“I like the flexibility and the way I can do it on my own time,” says Taylor Smith, a junior at Springfield’s New Leadership Charter School. “It makes me feel like I am in college.” Smith’s performance since enrolling in the program has improved by two letter grades, according to her teachers. Other students, like sophomore Leon Carrington, also point to the usefulness of being able to fit studies into the dozens of little time slots during the day that might otherwise be filled with less productive activities. Carrington’s math scores have doubled since enrolling in the online algebra course, and he also credits the learning for shoring up his preparations for the state’s MCAS test.
Any high school student from a public school district may enroll in the online program, free of charge, by calling the Collaborative at (413) 586-4900 ext. 128 or by visiting 776algebraonline.org.
