Students at the West Central School Corporation participated in their first e-learning day of instruction on Saturday, March 14. The school board reviewed returned surveys last week following the experience.
Superintendent Don Street said that the responses were favorable for this type of method in making up missed days of instruction.
“Out of the parents that responded to the survey, 87.4 percent found that the e-learning day was effective,” explained Street. “From the students that responded to the survey, 65.6 percent found e-learning to be effective. Forty-nine of our staff members responded with 85.7 percent stating that our students made the expectations for the day.”
Chris Shepperd, a parent, presented the school board with a petition asking the members to reconsider e-learning.
E-learning days allow students to make up required days of school using online programs to submit assignments. They are typically scheduled on Saturdays. This is an option available to schools to make up missed days of instruction. The West Central School Corporation had six days to make up due to weather-related school closures. Several days were built into the calendar, but not enough were scheduled to cover what was missed. Instead of adding days to the end of the school year, the West Central School Board approved e-learning days.
Street said a modification was made to the days and times assignments will be available to students.
“Our teachers are going to post and make available the assignments on Thursday so students will have Thursday evening to start working on assignments for their classes, and they will be due on Monday.”
Three e-learning days remain for this school year. Those Saturdays include April 11, April 18 and May 9.
