School districts add resources with e-sites

School districts throughout the nation are using Web services to maximize limited teaching resources, accommodate students with special needs and encourage dropouts to resume their studies.

By Christine Tatum Chicago Tribune

But online classrooms also challenge the thinking that pigeonholes students as artists, jocks, nerds and slackers, said Baxter Brings, president and chief executive of Advanced Academics Inc., an e-learning company based in Oklahoma City.

"You can’t judge a person by their skin color and clothing or guess at their sexual orientation in an online class environment," he said. "The things that distract and ultimately discourage a lot of kids aren’t there."

The company devises a curriculum to meet a particular state’s requirements and provides state-certified teachers and teaching assistants who work in shifts around the clock every day.

Students are assigned times to meet with their online instructors and can log on to do homework anytime they want. Students needing help simply click on a link, and an instructor replies via e-mail or instant messaging. A toll-free number is available for students who prefer phone conversations.

Parents are able to review a student’s work. The company’s records track a variety of information, including teacher comments and the amount of time a student spent on individual assignments.

More than 180 school districts in 15 states steer students into the company’s courses. Students in Guilford County, N.C., are studying Spanish online so that their school could afford to hire a calculus teacher. Educators in Seattle offer the company’s services to students at risk of dropping out.

More online: For more information about distance learning, visit chicagotribune.com/downloads.

Educational jump-start: Young adults looking for free technology training should check out Youth Service Project’s e-Business Program. The 12-week course will teach Web design, database development, a variety of software programs, and principles of accounting and business management.

Those who complete the course will receive a certificate from DePaul University’s Egan Urban Center and will be eligible for internships and job placement.

Participants must be 18-21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent and reside in one of eight neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West Sides. For more information, call 773-772-6270.

More online: Find a tech course that is right for you at chicagotribune.com/tech.

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