March 2007

Individualizing Learning through the DLC

Coupeville School District, Glenda Merwine, Director of Student Learning, and Tom Eller, High School Teacher

"Our middle school and high school teachers are enjoying the ease with which they can use the DLC…[and] are amazed at how valuable it is for their planning as well as for their students," says Glenda Merwine, Director of Student Learning for the Coupeville School District on Whidbey Island.

The schools, which joined for the first time this past fall, have jumped right in and are taking advantage of the DLC's online courses, digital library resources, and portfolio tool as well as Apex Learning ClassTools online curricula. Tom Eller, a high school teacher, is using Math ClassTools with a group of remedial math students.

Individualizing learning for remedial math students

Eller says that since students are able to work at their own pace with Math ClassTools, there is no pressure to keep up with their peers. "As a teacher I am able to help students at the absolute level they need, not moving them along as a class," Eller explains.

Eller likes the ease with which he is able to monitor students' individual progress through the ClassTools online platform. The Math ClassTools diagnostics report shows students' scores for each math concept they need to master at a given level.

"I don't have to call them out in front of other students. I can just call them to my desk…This allows the student and me to have a rich discussion to master those concepts before they move forward…I can then have the students do the review for that chapter, rework the lessons…or create my own lesson for them if necessary. Once the students have reviewed those concepts, I then give them the test for a retake to check for understanding. This is a real win-win for both the students and teacher," Eller says.

"I truly believe, for the most part, [students] enjoy being in this class. They are more relaxed, not pressured to hurry and learn today's concept before they get behind…If these students were in our Algebra I class, I believe they would not be successful, or as successful, as they now are in ClassTools."

Parting advice for teachers working with remedial math students

Eller encourages teachers new to the DLC to "get online and use [Math ClassTools] for struggling math students. Any level, elementary, middle, or high school. This is a very unique way for students to master concepts."

Want to read more? Browse the Success Stories page.