Submitted by Stephen J Rodriguez, Principal
Note: The information in this profile represents SY2012-13 unless otherwise indicated.
School Overview
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School Description
Pottstown High School wished to implement a technology initiative that would increase student achievement, provide differentiated learning in a consistent fashion, and address the realities of both increasing class sizes and budget constraints.
Blended Learning Program
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Program Model
Program model: Station Rotation
Model description
Every classroom has three stations set up: Direct Instruction, Collaborative, and Independent Learning. Students rotate through these stations on a daily basis.
Program Description
How much time do students spend on campus in this blended-learning program? How much of this time do students spend learning online or with educational software?
Students spend 85 minutes per day in the blended-learning program for one semester. Some students are taking two math classes this year, and therefore will have two semesters of blended learning. Approximately 80% of all class periods are spent in a rotational model.
Briefly describe the offline components of this blended-learning program.
Students receive direct instruction from the teacher at one of the rotations and work in a small collaborative student group or in pairs on an activity another station. Collaborative projects typically span multiple days.
How does this blended-learning program fit into the rest of the students’ school day?
Students are in their Hybrid class for their math instruction. It fits seamlessly into the rest of their day.
What are the teachers’ roles and responsibilities in both the online and offline components of this blended-learning program?
The teachers are responsible for creating all aspects of the blended learning program. They develop lessons for the direct instruction component, create collaborative activities and assign digital content. They create a Digital Agenda for students to access which is a roadmap for their week ahead.
What other adults are involved in this blended-learning program (e.g., paraprofessionals, learning coaches, counselors) and what are their roles and responsibilities?
An Instructional Coach provided by the PA Intermediate Unit (IU) goes onsite to help the Hybrid Learning teachers with implementing in their classroom via training and coaching.
Briefly describe the set-up of physical space for this blended-learning program.
The Hybrid Learning Classrooms are double the size of a typical classroom. Half of the classroom has desks for direct instruction. There are computer stations along one of the walls of both sides of the classroom, and the second classroom area is set up with tables for collaborative work.
How are students grouped within this blended-learning program?
Students are grouped based on the grades they have earned for prior assignments/assessments. The teachers sometimes use heterogeneous groupings and sometimes use homogeneous groupings.
Do students have some element of control over the pacing of their learning? Are students tied to a semester-based course schedule or can they complete courses at any time? Briefly describe any requirements or benchmarks in place to ensure student progress.
Students have control over the pace at which they complete their online work. Specific due dates are provided to students to complete the digital content, but within that time period the student can work at their own pace.
Describe any other distinctive characteristics of this blended-learning program if they have not been captured above.
As a member of the Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Initiative, Pottstown High School has a comprehensive and customized Evaluation Plan. The purpose of the Evaluation Plan is to provide information designed to improve educational programs and to demonstrate accountability to program objectives. PA HLI uses a rigorous and systematic process to evaluate whether new hybrid school implementations are achieving their desired effects. In the PA HLI Evaluation Plan, every hybrid learning task is tied to a specific desired outcome in order to track results. Data is being collected by a Program Management Analyst through monthly visitations and observations, surveys of students, teachers and parents, and a variety comparative data. Pottstown High School receives monthly status reports as well as quarterly program reviews in conjunction with their Intermediate Unit so they can work on any identified opportunities.
Describe the academic results of the program, using quantitative data where possible.
Not yet measured. Still in first year of program.
Contact Information
Name: Dr. Jeffrey Hartmann
Title: Principal
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pottstownschools.com