FUTURE: Poly will offer new online, hybrid AP U.S. History and AP Art History courses beginning at the 2015-2016 school year.
By Matthew Saenz, Staff Writer
At Poly High School and throughout the entire United States, many students are extremely busy, attempting to juggle rigorous academic schedules and extracurricular activities. Often times, these students are unable to take certain classes they want to simply because they don’t have enough room in their schedules. With this in mind, Poly will begin to offer students the opportunity to take Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. History and AP Art History classes through an online, hybrid course that will combine elements of a regular classroom environment with online learning.
These online, hybrid courses will be offered during zero period, which typically runs an hour before regular school hours begin. The classes will have very few differences from the classes offered during regular school hours; students will still learn and complete the same rigorous work, but the coursework and tests will be completed online. They will also meet with the teacher once a week to address any questions or issues they may have (hence the “hybrid” label).
According to Ms. Kelly Poelstra, the teacher who will teach these online, hybrid classes, these courses were created with the students in mind. “With the inception of the AP Academy next year at Poly, it only makes sense to offer more AP classes and to make those AP classes accessible,” Poelstra stated. As the current AP Art History teacher for Poly and the Riverside Virtual School (RVS), Poelstra recognized the need for this online opportunity. “We [Poly faculty] thought it would be a good opportunity for Poly students to have an online experience before attending college,” Poelstra said.
Prospective students have been extremely receptive to the new offerings, especially incoming juniors. James Han (10) feels that these courses, which require students to come for zero period once a week, allows for greater flexibility in a student’s schedule. “I feel that it offers a great alternative for students who want to take more courses without having to make the commitment of waking up early every day,” Han expressed. He ultimately believes that making these classes accessible was a good decision because it “offers opportunities for students that are more compatible with their goals and busy lives.” Even students who do not plan to take these classes believe that these courses are beneficial. Danielle Oyama (10) decided the classes were not for her but said that the addition of these classes will be beneficial if the students are “capable of learning on their own time.” Poelstra also agrees with this assessment, saying, “I have found in the four years of teaching online classes that many high school students don’t realize the dedication and self-discipline needed to be successful in an online class.”
Previous students who have taken both of these classes in a regular classroom setting also have opinions on the new opportunities. Michael Tormey (12), who took AP U.S. History as a junior and is currently taking AP Art History, believes that these courses are beneficial to those who “prefer the quicker pace of taking such tests online.” Though he does not believe the online setting serves his needs, he thinks it’s a positive move for the school to offer opportunities which accommodate certain students. Yadira Schrom (12) took AP Art History last year and supports the idea of online AP history classes, describing them as the “ideal” subject material for such a class because much of it requires memorization. However, she warns prospective students that the amount of work is substantial and difficult to keep up with.
These online, hybrid classes, also known as “blended learning,” are becoming more prevalent around the nation. From Michigan Virtual School in Lansing, Michigan, to Albuquerque Public School’s eCADEMY in New Mexico, the online route is becoming more frequent. According to Knewton, an education technology company, more than three million students from grades K-12 have taken an online course, and more than 50 percent of post-secondary students will have taken one online course. Knewton believes, “Bleak budgets, looming teacher shortages and a greater demand for results are accelerating the growth of blended learning.” As schools are beginning to do more with less, these online programs provide a cheaper alternative. Poly faculty recognized the reality of this growing shift and its popularity at the college level, which motivated them to offer these courses.
These online courses offer students the liberty to learn at their own pace and the freedom to take classes without having to worry about the logistics. As the entire nation progresses toward change, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, “Today, our schools must prepare all students for college and careers—and do far more to personalize instruction and employ the smart use of technology.” For Poly students, these online, hybrid courses offer a rare opportunity to maintain their academic rigor under more flexible conditions.