Local students show Straight A projects

VW independent/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Crestview and Lincolnview school districts each sent a contingent of students, teachers, and administrators to be a part of  “Straight A Day” at the Statehouse in Columbus last Thursday. The concept behind the day was to have schools that received Straight A Fund grants showcase the innovative projects created through the grant.

Lincolnview and Crestview were a part of a consortium that also included Paulding and Wayne Trace districts which was awarded a grant. The consortium’s innovative project is called “Beyond the Classroom” and focuses on integrating technology in the classroom to foster 21st century learning skills and promote college and career readiness.

The Beyond the Classroom initiative was centered around grades 7-12 and used grant funds to purchase student devices and applications, teacher hardware and professional development centered on blended learning. Crestview, Lincolnview, Wayne Trace, and Paulding also formed partnerships with Vantage Career Center, as well as Van Wert and Paulding County business development entities to create opportunities for students to make local college and career connections.

During the “Straight A Day”, Lincolnview, Crestview and nearly 50 other districts and consortiums presented to state leaders how their innovative projects are being used in the classroom.

Crestview seventh grade math teacher Deanna Ray and students Lexi Gregory and Wyatt Richardson illustrated what blended learning looks like. They explained how Mrs. Ray “flips” her classroom.

As “homework”, students watch a teacher-created 5-10 minute instructional video on their school laptops and take notes at home. The next day during class time, Mrs. Ray has students work on their practice problems so she can provide help and facilitate their practice groups. This helps students learn at their own pace and allows the teacher to make individual contact more often with each student.

Students also have access to the videos via Google Classroom so they can revisit them for review and additional help.

Lincolnview Junior High School social studies teacher Paula Johnson demonstrated how she uses Google Classroom as a blended learning technique. Mrs. Johnson has students access the site using the Chromebook laptop computers that were purchased for the junior and senior high students as a part of the “Beyond the Classroom” initiative. Google Classroom allows Mrs. Johnson to post assignments electronically, manage student work, and provide feedback based on automated scoring add-ons from Google.

Students can also collaborate using Google Docs in various ways, as well as ask questions of the teacher, who can also embed videos and links within the site and allow students to share response to the various forms of media.

Lincolnview sophomores Nick Motycka and Andrew Fickert were available to explain the  benefits of the blended learning environment and the 1:1 initiative from a student’s perspective.  They each demonstrated different ways their teachers use a variety of  online resources for assessments and digital instruction to keep learning interesting and engaging.

During the day, students were given to a tour of the Statehouse, had a surprise visit by Governor John Kasich and a private tour of the Lincoln Room and the Governor’s office. State Senator Cliff Hite (R-1st District) also spent time talking with the groups about how funding decisions are made and what a week in the life of a state senator looks like.

The day was a celebration of innovation and how two Van Wert county districts are attempting to make a difference in student learning.