The phrase “online learning” often conjures images of students in front of screens working in some degree of isolation, be it at home or the corner of a classroom. But as experts know, computers can’t replace a human teacher.
Christine Austin, the assistant principal at Gwinnett’s Online Campus in Lawrenceville, has been working to expand the district’s online options with personalized courses that keep students and teachers in touch.
“Our model for personalized learning courses recognizes we can’t replace the teacher,” she said. “Instead, the teacher directs the learning each student gets, and you know your students and the content that needs to be addressed and focused on.”
Gwinnett’s Personalized Learning Lab was created to support students in the online environment where they can move through six stations with content based on their instructional needs and learning preferences. The lab lets students work on touch boards and panels or with iPads and virtual reality goggles. A course with a complex skills set can be broken down at individual stations, and teachers can hone in on what each particular student needs to master those skills.
“We use a lot of formative assessments and have checkpoints throughout the entire course to identify what a student needs to be most successful,” said Austin. “For instance, in geometry, we had 52 students go through the course, and out of that, 38 had unique learning paths and completely different experiences.
“They didn’t all take the exact same review or enrichment activity because the teacher was able to provide different one-on-one activities.”
Austin’s goal is to offer more personalized online instruction for students from fourth through the 12th grades. As one of eight national winners of the 2019 Innovative Educator Prize from the Foundation for Blended and Online Learning, she received $10,000 to enhance the program.
“The money will go toward additional technology, and we’re looking at the instructional design of more courses and what pieces are the most beneficial to students,” she said.
Gwinnett has about 600 online students working on 5,000 offerings. Students can complete the work at home, at an online center in their high schools or at the Lawrenceville location. Several elementary schools also have online options for fourth and fifth graders.
“These students choose GOC because they need flexibility in their schedules,” said Austin. “They may be competitive athletes or actors. Some are trying to get ahead and are taking additional courses. It’s also good for students with social anxiety.”
Eighth grader Avery Britt is a full-time online student who likes the flexibility of working at her own pace on her own schedule while building a music career.
“I wanted time to work on my music,” said the 13-year-old. “I take lessons in drums, voice, guitar, piano and music theory. I’m in two bands, and I do a lot of theater as well. On the traditional brick-and-mortar schedule, it’s harder to fit everything in.”
Britt, whose goal is to be a professional musician and composer, goes once a week to the learning lab. “I find it’s really beneficial. But working alone doesn’t affect me. I also don’t have a problem with no social interaction. I do hang out with my friends all the time, but taking courses online gives me more time to do my music.”
Information about Gwinnett Online Learning is at https://www.gcpsk12.org/gwinnettonline.
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Each week we look at programs, projects and successful endeavors at area schools, from pre-K to grad school. To suggest a story, contact H.M. Cauley at hm_cauley@yahoo.com or 770-744-3042.
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