Tuesday, October 27, 2009

ACCESS Distance Learning Program

photo of the ACCESS banner including a graphic of the state of Alabama, a picture of a white and black student in the classroom, a picture of a globe with five hands on it, and a picture of a young black girl with long hair in an orange shirt writing and smiling. It also has the words, providing classroom courses and teachers via technology
The ACCESS (Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators and Students Statewide) Distance Learning Program was begun in 2004. It is a program that brings technology into Alabama high school classrooms that gives the students opportunities to access programs outside of their own school. ACCESS was developed to provide distance learning opportunities that will improve student achievement, such as Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses. It also offers core subjects and electives like foreign language or ACT preparation, in addition to remediation materials for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. It is extremely beneficial to rural schools that can't offer courses that urban schools can. ACCESS also provides support for teachers and administration.

How can this program not be good for high schools in Alabama? It provides many students with the means to advance in their education where they wouldn't have been able to previously. As a prospective physical education teacher, I don't believe I will be able to utilize ACCESS to the extreme that other teachers will, but I know it is available and I can encourage its use. I would like to observe a class that uses the program to get a better feel for its effectiveness, however, I don't need much proof as I think the concept is outstanding.

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