08/28/2007

Teachers in (cyber)space

Three institute online courses as graduation requirement resource

BY JOLYNN PAIGE
Special to the Record-Eagle

Record-Eagle/Douglas Tesner
Marsha Myles works with her two co-founders Dave Hendrix, left, and Lauren Chapple as they make plans for offering online courses. The three were meeting in the basement of Horizon Books in downtown Traverse City.

TRAVERSE CITY — The future looks bright for learners who are willing to give online education a try.

Three Traverse City school teachers have recognized that and, as a result, have launched CyberEdSchools.com.

At the Web site, students can sign up for courses that have been developed by certified and qualified teachers. If they pass the courses, their local school district decides whether to grant credit for the course work.

Dave Hendrix, an English teacher at Traverse City Central High School and one of the founders, said CyberEd classes are directly aligned with Michigan's core curriculum.

"All of our courses can be done independently, so the student can access the material 24/7,” Hendrix said. "The courses are self-paced and there are regular assessments throughout the course that lets the student know whether they'll be able to progress on to the next module. It's very individualized learning.”

The Web site was established by Hendrix, Lauren Chapple and Marsha Myles in response to new graduation requirements instituted by the Michigan Department of Education. The state now mandates that all students successfully pass both courses and standardized tests in core areas. Pre-algebra, algebra, biology, ninth- and 10th-grade English, world history and modern history are among the offerings.

"We want to stress that we are not here to replace teachers,” said Hendrix. "We are here to help augment and support the changing needs of the student population.”

Currently, courses cost $250 per semester/trimester, and learners need to have access to the Internet.

One of the course developers/instructors is Rod Taplin, a former Marine. He has a master's degree in education, and is qualified to teach social studies and history.

"The courses we have developed are rigorous, and they are individualized at the same time,” said Taplin. "Students move through the material at their own pace. Some of them may have to go through modules more than once in order to pass the test, and others can get it the first time through.”

Taplin said his experience as a communications officer in the military has been helpful as he starts working with young people in the cyber world.

"In many cases, training aspects in the military were all done online, and I know that many companies have gone the same way. It only makes sense that the same kind of instructional format will become an integral part of the schools. Students are ready for it. These materials are highly engaging, and very interactive,” Tablin said.

The CyberEd teachers have been working with local school districts to make them aware of what their group has to offer.

"We really launched the site in the spring, and we've had several students working with us successfully,” said Hendrix. "We think there's a lot of excitement out there for supporting this type of learning, and it is now a state mandate that students get some kind of on-line learning experience, so this is right in line with meeting those requirements.”

CyberEdSchools.com is seeking state of Michigan certification and highly qualified teachers to help develop courses. Visit the Web site for more information.