For the first time in its history, Noblesville High School will offer online summer courses this year. NHS Principal Jeff Bryant said traditional summer school classes will also be taught during the same time.“These (online courses) are for kids who are working ahead,” he said, adding that most traditional summer school students are retaking classes with the exception of physical education. “They take an athletic course or band, choir or art class – they work ahead to fit an elective class into their schedule.”
Bryant said the blended summer school will last five weeks and include economics, government, United States history, English 11 and composition 111 (a dual credit class through Ivy Tech). Bryant said all of the blended courses have been offered as summer classes before with the exception of composition 111.
Traditional summer school classes include first and second semesters of algebra, geometry, algebra II, physical education, biology, English 9 and 10. Session one runs June 3 through 21 and session two is June 24 through July 15. Each session is 15 days.
“Students can take two classes at the same time,” Bryant said of blended and traditional courses.
Bryant said the blended courses will include five on-site meetings (either as a whole class or small groups), imbedded videos, discussion forums (peer to peer and teacher to student), interactive activities, immediate feedback and problem based activities.
“It’s being done by our teachers and staff internally. That’s what is so exciting about this,” Supt. Libbie Conner said.
“This is a definite benefit for our students who pay to take courses offsite,” Bryant said.
While the blended courses will be taken online, students who do not internet capabilities at home have the option of returning to NHS.
“Students will have access to the library as if they were in school at that time,” Bryant said.
Discussion for the online courses began last March.
“This is exciting,” Bryant said. “This is the direction we need to be going.”