OdysseyWare gives alternative high school students new class options

Brandi McClain, a student at Le Mars Community Alternative High School uses OdysseyWare, a online software program to complete her course work. The program provides instant feedback on tests and quizzes, something students really like, according to teacher Julie Theisen. [Click to enlarge]

Julie Theisen has led the Alternative High School, formerly known as the Individualized Learning Center (ILC), for 19 years and is excited about the software program and what it means for her students. The classroom is located in the Education Service Center at 940 Lincoln St. S.W.

"The Alternative High School is for those students who, for a variety of reasons, do not succeed in the high school setting," said Theisen.

The OdysseyWare online software curriculum offers students access to 50 courses of study including core curriculum and electives. Online classes range from algebra, biology, trigonometry, physics, health, Spanish, nutrition and business classes.

By using OdysseyWare, Theisen can tailor a course to the individual needs of the students, allowing them to work at a slower or faster pace, and geared to their individual learning abilities.

"The software curriculum allows the teacher to design a course that will mirror our high school curriculum as close as possible and also meet the state's core curriculum guidelines," Theisen said.

For example, some students struggle with reading and comprehension. Theisen can design an English course based on the core curriculum, while taking into account a student's reading level.

Once Theisen sets up the individual course requirements, the student can go online and work through the course at their own pace.

The OdysseyWare tracks the student's progress with chapters and quizzes. Students cannot jump ahead in their classwork until they have passed the current unit of study.

"Students get immediate feedback when they take a test. They really like that," said Theisen.

The pass threshhold for each student is set by the teacher, rather than having an arbitrary pass/fail point.

"I challenge them," said Theisen explaining how she sets a student's passing standards.

The program can be used for a number of students, including special education, those needing credit recovery, as an alternative for student retention, and accelerated learning.

Theisen said she has seen more students falling through the cracks following the elimination of the tutorial room and TAPS room at the high school due to budget cuts this school year.

This year she saw her first freshman student at the alternative high school. Most are juniors or seniors.

She also said the increase in graduation credits from 32 to 50 has more students coming for credit recovery, where they failed a portion of a course needed for graduation.

Students are in the alternative high school classroom three hours a day.

"It's intense," Theisen said.

Students can go online at home to work on their studies. Most of her students also have jobs which they work around the classroom time.

The school district was able to purchase the OdysseyWare software with the assistance of grants from the Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County, Premier Communications, Wells' Dairy Inc. and Walmart.

Theisen said the district was able to purchase five licenses for the program, which is also used at the high school by students in the afternoon hours.

"The software program allows us to give students more opportunities to choose classes for their required credits," Theisen said.

Theisen and teaching assistant Marlene Schipper are in the classroom to assist the students in any way they are needed. Most of their work is done one-on-one, as each student is studying something different.

Theisen currently has 34 students using OdysseyWare at the alternative school and the high school. Most students take one or two classes at a time, while some carry three or four classes.

On the average, a student can complete a course in three to four weeks, and earn their course credit.

"Some classes take longer," Theisen said. She added during the morning class time, students may do two to three hours of homework.

"It's not easy, some of the classwork can be difficult," she said.

Dr. Carl Turner, assistant superintendent, added that alternative students are tested and included in all performance totals reported by the district.

Students in the Le Mars Alternative High School come from Le Mars Community Schools and Gehlen Catholic Schools. One student currently attends from Remsen-Union. The students who attend are calculated into the certified enrollment which is the basis for state aid. Students from Remsen-Union are charged a per-day fee.

Turner said the cost of the alternative high school program is built into the school district's At-Risk funding. He also indicated the district would like to obtain more licenses for the program and plans to pursue more grant funding.

"A lot of my students will say they wish they could have gone to high school," Theisen said.

"We try to keep them here (in school) so they earn their high school diploma," she added.

"Technology is taking us this way," Theisen said. "We need to find any way we can to help kids become successful. We are giving them the opportunity. What they do with it is their choice."

Theisen said the biggest advantage of the OdysseyWare software program is that it expands options for students.

"It expands the types of classes I can offer and helps us to mirror the courses at the high school," Theisen said. "That's what the state wants alternative schools to do."