Westside Students Use Technology to Master Education

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Teachers and students at Westside High School are taking a different approach to teaching and learning. Blended learning is a style of teaching that’s allowing students to take control of their education.

“It allows the students to have more ownership of what they’re doing because I’m not the holder of all information,” according to Social Studies teacher Sydney Elkin.

This style of teaching incorporates both face-to-face instruction with technology based materials. Activities that otherwise would have taken place during class time, are now completed online.

Westside senior Bailey Vincent said, “We were able to do all of our chemistry online and take all of our quizzes and tests online.”

Students are given netbooks that allow them access to their grades, course content, and gives teachers the opportunity to provide personalized feedback to each student.

“It allows me to focus on the students who need more help, whereas the students who are advanced can just keep moving,” Elkin said.

Students like it because they can learn at their own pace and receive test results on the spot.

“You get the opportunity to be the own master of your work, you’re not sitting in class everyday and listening to a lecture,” said Vincent.

Senior Brittany Lynch said, “You have to really stay focused and it puts it more on you.”

According to Elkin, if a student is lagging behind, there’s help. Those students who choose to jet set ahead are also given enrichment activities.

“There are some people who have been teaching for years and think this is not the way you’re supposed to do things, but I want to prove that it is,” said Elkin.

Westside High School was awarded a blended learning grant in 2010. The 1.7 million dollars provided the school with a course management system and netbooks for every student.