Carlsbad Students Succeed with Distance Learning

In baseball, being on the DL (Disabled List) means you’re not out on the field playing ball.  At the (CVA) this summer, the DL stands for Distance Learning. Students in the DL program are improving their academic achievement through online learning.

The 2011 summer school program serves 22 students, mostly entering seniors from CVA as well as from Carlsbad High and Carlsbad Seaside Academy. On a typical day, each is ensconced at a computer and deeply engaged in the online learning of English, math, history and other subjects, under the tutelage of CVA teacher Rachel Newman. The program, which ends June 30, enables students to achieve credit recovery for a course not completed successfully or to pursue first-time course credit.

Newman says the students take well to the intensive program. “They’re here four days a week, five hours a day. They not only put in the time, but work hard and do well at this user-friendly but very rigorous program.”

Student Jose Quintero says, “I like learning on the computer. I can take my time when I need to and understand what I’m doing without being in a rush.” Carly Mitchell concurs, saying, “This is a great way to improve my grades. It’s easier online where you can go at your own speed; sometimes slower and sometimes faster.” 

Distance learning was offered as a pilot CVA class during the previous school year and will be offered again in 2011-12. Students will be able to take a course within the school day or as an at-home seventh period. “Distance learning will never eliminate the need for classrooms, but the blended model works very well,” Newman says, explaining that in this mix, socialization and student-teacher interaction also can flourish.

“It’s all about choices,” believes District Superintendent John A. Roach, Ed.D. “In this and in many other programs, K-12, the options we provide to students give them choices and an opportunity to succeed.”