Webinar Background
This Friday, IIA is hosting a webinar along with education organization iNACOL on the effect broadband has on education. Particpating is Kawme Simmons, principal of the Kramer Middle School in Washington, D.C. Simmons is implementing a blended learning – a mix of online and traditional instruction – to engage students with interactive lessons and achieve a 40-point turnaround in test scores by 2017. For some background on Simmons’ plan for Kramer Middle School, see this report from the Washington Post‘s Bill Turque from last May:
Educators are hoping that the interactive lessons will engage students below grade level, helping them to make up ground while teachers work personally with more advanced students. Dashboards will keep students updated on their progress and what they need to do to improve. It will also allow teachers to give more timely feedback and support in areas where kids are struggling.
About 70 percent of Kramer students are a year or more behind their grade level, according to DCPS. But principal Kwame Simmons said he believes students can gain 13 to 15 points a year under the new system.
D.C.‘s WJLA also aired this report on Kramer’s shift to blended learning. Check it out:


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