Leap Frogging

In this world of rapid technological changes, I keep wondering, “Is there a way for alternative schools to leap-frog into new models rather than continue to try to do more with less?”

I’m not sure what this would look like, but here are a few ideas:

Code: It’s a marketable skill and one rarely taught in high schools.  I’ve always wondered – what would it take to help our over-age, under-credited students to learn how to write computer code?  In cash-strapped alternative schools it’s been hard to image how that might happen.

Now there is Code HS that provides a classroom in a box with online video instruction and tutoring.  If you know of anyone trying this in alternative schools we’d love to hear from them.

Flip: Alternative schools serve students with an incredibly wide range of academic skills – usually running the gamut from 4^th grade to 10^th grade.  From what I can tell, it’s nearly impossible for an experienced teacher to differentiate for more than 3 grade levels at a time.  Furthermore, alternative schools rarely have the ability to have teachers with the highest level of knowledge of the disciplines.  In fact, alternative schools have been a dumping ground for teachers not making it in regular high schools.  This is going to cause trouble as we push ourselves toward helping students meet the higher expectations of Common Core State Standards.

One idea is to “flip” the classroom so students watch videos for new instruction and then practice (do homework) in the classroom where they can get help from the teachers when they are struggling with a concept.  (See Tina Rosenberg’s article in the NYT When Schools Do Flips for more information).

Imagine a collaboration of alternative schools working to build a library of the very best videos by charismatic, caring teachers who know their stuff and can provide context in a way that is meaningful to students.  Imagine being able to have students choosing among videos based on their favorite instructors. Maybe some will be more meaningful for young men of color,  or for rural students without a strong sense of what they can create for their future.

Seriously, maybe we should create MOOC’s for alternative schools where our teachers in the classroom help students stick with online courses and we work with our best instructors/lecturers to create dynamic videos and curriculum that speak to our kids.  (I’m taking my first MOOC now – it does take a lot of discipline and willingness to get outside my comfort zone to participate.)

Other ideas? Let’s leap-frog our way into models with the help of ed-tech.