Posted: 10/31/06
Honors on-line working well at CHS
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Work at your own pace, take interesting classes, save money, get college credit.
And get to stay at good old Caledonia High School.
Whatís not to like about honors on-line?
Thatís the gist of what you are likely to hear if you ask students and staff about the program, which is in its second year in ISD #299.
Honors on-line came to Caledonia High School at the suggestion of superintendent Michael Moriarty. He had helped implement a similar program as superintendent his previous school district, Mabel-Canton.
Community education director Nancy Runningen facilitates it. Students must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average or higher to take an honors on-line class. They must also take a test, and do an orientation to the computer system.
Most classes are done in the media center or in Angie Zaigerís classroom. Runningen and Zaiger proctor exams that students take.
Taking a college class over the internet might sound complicated for some people, but todayís students can navigate it easily. Students go to the website and enter their passwords. There are areas for questions, discussion, and a drop box for assignments.
Zaiger oversees the students in the back of her computer-filled classroom.
Zaiger and Runningen have access to all the passwords, so they can check on progress and assignments. But Zaiger said she doesnít know the content. Students are working independently so itís up to them to do the work. ìI just basically make sure theyíre working and getting things done,î Zaiger said.
Students donít seem to have a problem with that. They are highly motivated, and for a lot of reasons. Jordan OíHeron and Danielle Frank explained a few things while sitting with Runningen in the community education office.
OíHeron likes her anatomy and physiology class because she loves science, learning about muscles and bones, and what causes diseases. ìAnd I kind of like where I can work at my own pace.î
She said with a laugh that she initially took it because she needed a class. But she knew it was a good idea to get a feel for college classes. She plans to major in nuclear medicine.
Frank finds her general psychology class fascinating. She showed me her huge book, and had me do a test to determine whether I was color blind. (Iím not.)
ìShe does have cool stuff in there,î OíHeron said, matching my own sentiments.
ìAnd the school district pays the tuition, fees, and books,î Runningen said.
Some students take Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO), where they attend classes on campus. ìToo much of a drive,î Runningen said.
And it would take away some good school activities, such as Homecoming, of which OíHeron was queen, and volleyball, of which Frank seems to set a new blocking record every time she takes the court.
ìThis was just an easier alternative [to PSEO],î Frank said.
Ashley King agreed with that. She likes the freedom of her general psychology on-line class, and likes being in school. ìYou donít miss out on the little things,î she said while working in Zaigerís classroom. She can get the work done in class too, so there isnít a lot of homework.
Kate Summers said she will sometimes go to work at Kwik Trip during her fourth block, and do her general psychology class class at home.
Financial benefit and more
School districts can benefit financially with honors on-line by keeping students on site rather than losing them to PSEO or open enrollment. High school students are worth about $6,400 in per pupil unit aid.
Moriarty isnít sure what the financial benefit to ISD #299 has been with students taking honors on-line classes. ìI donít think weíve been doing it long enough to do a trend line,î he said.
But he added that it would take only one or two students staying at CHS to make a financial difference if they stayed in school because of it. ìWhen they leave us all their money goes with them,î he said.
Moriarty stressed the benefits to students and not the financial benefits to the district. He called it a cost effective way for students to earn college credits to start their college careers.
It can save parents money too, he added.
ìThe students are the big winners,î Moriarty said. ìAnd thatís what weíre here for, to make sure the students are the big winners ... This provides them with an opportunity to take college level courses and remain in our setting.î
Nancy Runningen agrees with that. She feels the primary reason for having honors on-line is to give opportunities to students that wouldnít otherwise have them. They can take college level classes but remain here and participate.
Parents have a lot to say in students taking honors on-line classes ñ and staying at Caledonia ñ Moriarty feels. If parents know about it, they might be more persuaded to say, ìI think you should stay up here,î he said.
More coming
Caledonia is working on two other things with Southeast Tech, Moriarty said. One is offering classes through interactive television, which will be mostly for adults.
Concurrent classes, or classes taught both as high school and college credits, is the other upcoming program. Moriarty said the district should have a concurrent technology class in place next year because there will be an eligible teacher who has a masters degree in the subject area. An agreement stating the costs will then be signed by the two schools.
Concurrent classes are different than advanced placement (AP) classes, which the school already offers. In AP classes, student take tests to receive college credit. Concurrent classes require students to pass the class.
ìOur working relationship with Southeast [Technical College] has been very good and itís something weíre looking to build upon,î Moriarty added.
Runningen sees the school building as a regional campus for Southeast tech. ìBecause we have a great facility that will enable us to do it,î she said.
Three other honors on-line classes are being offered: foundations of child development, organic biochemistry, and developmental psychology. A total of eight students are taking classes during first semester. Students can still register for second semester. Contact the student services office at school.
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