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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 2020)
SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020 | 3A Focus on online learning makes this school year one for the history books Your Turn Chris Long Willamette Connections Academy principal The new school year is around the corner, yet many Oregon parents are frustrated and confused about what to expect for their child’s education. This will be a back-to-school season for the history books due to the corona- virus, but there are ways it can be a good learning experience for their students. As an educator with 20 years of expe- rience, I’m excited about the new Pear- son Global Learner Survey. The survey, which captures the opinions of learners, shows 86% of those surveyed in the U.S. agree online learning will be part of chil- dren’s K-12 education experience going forward, and 74% felt more K-12 stu- dents will attend school virtually versus attending traditional school within the next decade. The survey also points out, despite frustrations with online learning at the start of the pandemic, people thought schools adjusted to the crisis but want- ed a better experience. This is evi- denced by 88% of learners in the U.S. saying they want educational institu- tions to maximize learning using tech- nology. While many brick-and-mortar public schools have turned to online learning formats out of necessity due to the coro- Colleges Continued from Page 2A Thorsett. “But right now, for the Salem and Willamette University community, you have that choice. “You and I both know that even de- spite Willamette’s best efforts, people could still get sick or worse if it reopens this fall, and I urge you, with everything that school and cancer have taught me, to reconsider,” Harper wrote. “The Willamette that rescued me from the desert would close the cam- pus,” he said. “That Willamette took no chances with my health and safety, but this one, just 10 years later, seems to be doing exactly that.” Chemeketa sees enrollment changes Chemeketa Community College is operating remotely for the entirety of its summer and fall terms. Chemeketa has campuses in Salem, McMinnville, Brooks, Dallas and Wood- burn, and serves more than 10,000 full- time students. And while they’ve seen a drop in enrollment likely due to CO- VID-19, they expect that to improve as more schools switch to online options. As of Aug. 11, Chemeketa’s enrollment was down by about 12%, said Marie Hu- lett, executive director of institutional advancement for the college. But because some four-year univer- sities are switching solely to remote this fall, Hulett said they expect a number of university students to change their col- lege-going plans and enroll at Cheme- keta instead. “We are already seeing some of this occurring as students tell us they don’t want to pay $30,000-$50,000 to a uni- versity when it’s all for online/remote instruction,” she said. “Chemeketa of- fers the same general education classes as the universities ... for a fraction of the price — and our courses will transfer to the four-year institutions.” navirus, full-time virtual public charter schools like Willamette Connections Academy are built for online learning. The traditional public schools should be commended for what they accom- plished in such a short time. However, full-time online schools have a special digital curriculum and teachers are spe- cifically trained to teach in this environ- ment. Students are also provided social and emotional support including online clubs, activities, and other ways to con- nect with their peers and teachers. Since our school was built for online learning from day one, we were able to provide a continuity of learning for our families during the onset of the pan- demic. We are grateful that we can con- tinue to provide this to families across the state. Many parents have expressed con- cern about the state guidelines con- stantly changing and the potential for circumstances to oscillate between the classroom, online, or a hybrid of the two later in the fall. Full-time online learning often provides families the stability and consistency they’re seeking. Parents are fortunate to have many education options for their children in Oregon and Willamette Connections Academy is a school of choice. In our an- nual parent survey 90% of parents say their children are enjoying the program and 95% feel the school’s technology improves their student’s learning expe- rience. I understand that many families had a difficult time adjusting to their new Hulett still encouraged students to talk with counselors to ensure they are taking the right courses, but said stu- dents don’t need to take a gap year or put off their education because of the circumstances. “They’ll save a ton of money and they won’t fall behind on their educational goals,” she said. “It’s win-win because students are saving money, staying safe and staying focused on their future.” Corban welcomes back students, staff After a positive test this summer, Corban University has had no cases since and is offering in-person and re- mote options this fall. The religious university serves about nearly 1,200 students on the Salem campus. Like many other institutions, Corban has made changes to its fall schedule, planning for a potential second wave of COVID-19 in late fall or early winter. The university is welcoming stu- dents on campus Aug. 21, with classes starting Aug. 24. The fall semester will end early, with Nov. 20 as the final day of class instruc- tion. Students will have the option to take a three-week intensive course from Nov. 30–Dec. 18 to help students earn more credits. While the university has a remote learning option for students and staff, officials said the vast majority are re- turning to campus. Chris Vetter, vice provost for enroll- ment management, said the univer- sity’s enrollment is close to this time last year and their retention is also solid. He said there have been some concerns from members of the community re- garding reopening in person, but not many. Students still have a few days to opt into the entirely online options, staff have flexibility for their safety and some classes will have a hybrid format any- way to comply with social distance guidelines. normal of working and learning from home, but there is a bright side. As reported by the Global Learner Survey, 77% of people see the potential for online learning to expand access to quality education. As an educator, this resonates with me because online schools like Willamette Connections Academy are able to offer a more per- sonalized learning experience thanks to its virtual platform. Whether families have decided to en- roll their child in the neighborhood brick-and-mortar public school, a full- time statewide virtual public school, a charter school, private school, or turn to home schooling, here are some tips on getting the new school year off to a good start: Set aside a spot for students to study. Children feel invested in learning when their school materials are organized in a dedicated space. Make sure it’s a quiet spot away from noisy distractions like television. There should be plenty of storage for additional school materials. Be sure there are plenty of outlets for all the technology needs, computer, printer, and other gadgets. Check in with your teachers Before classes start, families should check in with their teachers to see how they prefer to communicate and ask Western gives students options Western Oregon University is using a choice-based model this fall. Students can opt to take classes in person, online via two different formats or a hybrid of online and in-person learning. Based in Monmouth, Western is the state’s oldest public university and serves nearly 5,000 students. Staff are working to manage the number of people in classrooms, resi- dence halls, dining facilities, the fitness center and other common spaces. Fall term classes begin on Sept. 28. The last date of in-person classes will be Nov. 25, though university officials are www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC Garry Falor CFP ® FINANCIAL ADVISOR South | 503-362-5439 FINANCIAL ADVISOR West | 503-588-5426 Caitlin Davis CFP ® Chip Hutchings FINANCIAL ADVISOR West | 503-585-1464 FINANCIAL ADVISOR Lancaster | 503-585-4689 Jeff Davis Tim Sparks FINANCIAL ADVISOR Mission | 503-363-0445 FINANCIAL ADVISOR Commercial | 503-370-6159 Students should attend the regularly scheduled live classroom sessions of- fered by their online programs. The LiveLesson(R) sessions at Willamette Connections Academy are a great way for students to connect with teachers and classmates, and enhance their con- nection to the larger school community. Utilize the flexibility of online learning The flexibility of online learning al- lows students to customize their daily schedule. Establish 30-50 minute learn- ing blocks at times that work best for your student. Remember to incorporate breaks to stay focused. Try taking a walk, playing games, or other fun things. Willamette Connections Academy is looking forward to a good school year and is happy to share our knowledge with Oregon families because we want all students to succeed. For more information about Willam- ette Connections Academy go to Wil- lametteConnectionsAcademy.com planning for the possibility they may have to move to remote learning for all courses before that if another wave comes. All classes will meet remotely after Thanksgiving break for the remainder of the semester, officials said. WOU:Sa- lem, the newest addition to the univer- sity, is included. Natalie Pate is the education reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at npate@StatesmanJour- nal.com, 503-399-6745, Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejour- nalist. 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