Keeping Students in School With Blended Learning

Online learning is no longer an up and coming concept; it is a rapidly evolving trend that is changing all levels of education.

With learning management systems, educational apps and other web-based learning tools now being implemented in many K-12 schools, students have numerous opportunities to learn both in the classroom and outside of school.

Furthermore, with the development of virtual courses and programs, students now have the option to attend school virtually if they wish.

Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS), located in Tennessee, began expanding its students’ learning opportunities in 2012 when it implemented Connections Learning, a Pearson program that delivers a full range of targeted digital learning solutions to the K–12 education community. This program gives students in the district the option to take online courses for certain subjects rather than attend them in a traditional brick and mortar setting.

The driving force behind CMCSS’s implementation of Connections Learning was their need to provide students with a virtual learning option to expand their learning opportunities and entice them to not only stay in school and graduate, but also stay in CMCSS, rather than move to a new all-virtual school that had recently opened.

girl virtual learning

Students’ learning opportunities are expanded when they have a virtual learning option such as Connections Learning.

“The new Tennessee virtual school had open enrollment and could take students from anywhere in the state of Tennessee,” says Julie Combs, the at-risk coordinator at CMCSS. “Students who wanted an online option could leave their school system and attend the virtual school. We didn’t want that to happen. We wanted to keep our students in our district so we knew that we had to come up with an option.”

CMCSS chose to implement Connections Learning because it not only provided a virtual learning option for students, but also provided highly qualified teachers and a program manager, a point of contact who assists a district’s program coordinator in ensuring that the program runs smoothly.

“The system itself can be very complicated without having a real life person who you can talk to at any time,” says Combs. “Since I’ve been on board, one of the most comforting things I have is that connection with the program manager. If I have a question about anything I can call the program manager and they either have the answer or we come up with an answer together.”

Implementing Connections Learning has allowed students at CMCSS to participate in blended learning opportunities that allow them to take courses online as well as in their brick and mortar school. Furthermore, students wishing to participate in extra-curricular activities such as band and chorus can still do so even if they are taking all of their courses through Connections Learning.

“We can provide full time or part time [virtual learning opportunities], and Connections Learning is a really nice option for schools and school districts to keep students and be able to provide an additional option for them; it’s not going to compete against what is going on in the district,” says Claudette Williams, regional manager for Connections Learning by Pearson.