Elizabeth Campell
Institute Communications and Public Affairs
How do high
schools provide advanced classes to one or two bright
students who have completed all the math classes
their high schools offer? Fulton County Schools has found
a solution — partnering with Georgia Tech to provide
college-level calculus classes through distance-learning
technologies.
Georgia Tech is piloting an effort to provide
advanced calculus courses to students at five Fulton
County high
schools via distance learning. Through live two-way
videoconferencing technologies 34 high school seniors, juniors and sophomores
are able to continue their math studies, after completing all the math courses
offered at their high schools.
“We approached this partnership with the mindset of how can Georgia Tech
reach out and help the state of Georgia assist students who have the academic
desire to achieve beyond what’s available at their local school,” says
Nelson Baker, associate vice provost for Distance
Learning and Professional Education.
“This joint venture is one of many we hope to
develop with Georgia Tech,” says
Judy Dennison, director of core academics for Fulton
County Schools. “We
have many students who need the challenge of college-level classes, and
through this distance learning effort, we’re able to provide that
in a cost-effective way.”
 |
|
| Professor Tom Morley lectures
to Tech students and to Fulton County high school
students through distance learning. |
|
The high school students taking the calculus
distance learning courses have already completed advanced placement calculus
and passed the exam
for college
credit.
The distance learning class is a good deal for the high school students,
since they receive both high school credit as well as college credit
for the class.
The HOPE Scholarship program pays the tuition costs to Georgia Tech,
and Fulton County Schools pays the transmission costs
and provides the videoconferencing
equipment required for each school.
“It was a little tough getting used to the fact that your teacher isn’t
in the room and is on the screen, but I’ve gotten used to it,” said
Molly McLaughlin, a senior at Roswell High School who is interested in studying
chemical engineering. “The distance learning calculus classes are going
to prepare me for college so I’ll know what to expect next year.”
“We face the double challenge of finding qualified math teachers to teach
higher level calculus and the logistical challenge of serving the small number
of exceptionally advanced students sprinkled throughout the county. We’re
finding that distance learning is a great solution,” says Dennison.
“The students enrolled in the distance learning
calculus class are highly qualified students who we
would be interested in recruiting to Georgia Tech for
college,” says Rick Clark, assistant director in Georgia
Tech’s admission
office. “Through this program we’re able to provide
them a glimpse of life at Georgia Tech, so it’s important
that this be a positive experience for them.”
Just like the
traditional Tech students enrolled in Calculus III, the high
school students attend three lectures per week and
a smaller
recitation
period with
a teaching assistant between lectures.
“These students are incredible,” says Tom Morley, professor in the
School of Mathematics who teaches the distance learning calculus class. “There’s
a big gap between high school and college in terms of expectations, and they
are doing well. They don’t seem intimidated by the Tech students or the
videoconferencing dynamic.
“This partnership is providing a service to Georgia students that they
couldn’t get elsewhere,” he added. “There are many small and
large counties that have the same issues. I’d really like to grow this
program to address the specialized needs of students throughout the state.” |
