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Home : News Boro students close books and open online learning

Ohanian Comment: Okay, I admit that when I read this article, my first thought was, "I'd like to kill somebody." Good thing we have Krashen to introduce some calm, methodical/historical research.

Stephen Krashen letter sent to NewJersey.com, Jan 2, 2009

Discarding what works
The Washington Park Elementary School is spending a lot of money on an untested product while discarding what really works ("Boro students close books and open online learning," Dec. 31). The product is "Study Island," a "Web-based instruction, practice, assessment program."

The only studies that exist on the effect of using Study Island are uncontrolled, poorly described, and unscientific. They would never be accepted for publication in any respectable journal, nor even be acceptable as an undergraduate student paper.

In contrast, the research on the positive impact of reading and libraries on school achievement is scientific and is overwhelming.

For individuals, Study Island cost $49. Think of how many good books a school could buy for that.

by Andrea Coan

TOTOWA — From kindergarten to eighth grade, Totowa students are ditching the books and clicking online to new online learning quizzes, games, and lessons.

Washington Park students recently began using Study Island, a Web-based instruction, practice, assessment program that uses material listed in NJ state standards to formulate material. "NJ state standards are listed in clusters like algebra or numbers and operations," said Principal John Vanderberg. "Study Island is set up with the same clusters as those standards."

Students are largely questioned on areas in the fields of mathematics and language arts and win blue ribbons for good work. Right now, third and fourth graders are doing virtual storytelling with the program.

As they go through the lessons, teachers are able to see where students need help and address it in the classroom. Once students read through several lessons and quizzes, they can advance and participate in a game with the program. Study Island can be used for homework assignments and parents may access it as well.

Although Study Island has been in existence for several years, Principal Vanderberg noted that the program went through many changes. "They did recent updates to the program and I think it is much better now than it was five years ago," Vanderberg said.

Over at Memorial School, the younger students are experiencing online learning with their new program, Reading Street. This program starts with engaging literature and adds instruction and assessments designed for kindergarteners on up. Once again, the program is completely aligned with state standards for reading and parents are able to access it at home with their child to continue learning with it at home. "It was tough at first for the students with not typing skills, but now they seem to get it," said Principal Lindsey.

Washington Park students have had a big technology infusion in recent months. Third and fourth graders are now making podcasts with video, sounds, and photos, on their class work. Third graders created a podcast on landforms in NJ while fourth graders created a podcast on inventions.

With thirty new laptops in the classrooms, students are able to use the computers as microscopes or watch an astronomy simulation. "Google earth is a big thing now," said Principal Vanderberg. "Students learning about energy can pull up Saudi Arabia on Google Earth and see its size and oil production," Vanderberg. Eventually, the new laptops may be used for Study Island as well.

— Andrea Coan with refutation by Stephen Krashen
North Jersey.com
2009-12-31
http://www.northjersey.com/news/80396802.html

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