ACCESS Assignment

ACCESS is an online educational program that allows students to learn by taking long distance classes online. ACCESS is an acronym for Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators and Students Worldwide. This program began in November 2004, and it is still advancing across the state of Alabama. ACCESS is used somewhat the same way online classes are taken by college students. The high school students usually take Advanced Placement and/or elective courses through the ACCESS program that aren't offered in their school's classroom settings.

The ACCESS program provides many technology uses that the teachers and students have to learn how to use. Interactive Video Conferencing (IVC) is one of them that is used in order for students and teachers to feel like they are in a real classroom setting. IVC allows the students to see and talk to their teacher in real time with the use of video and audio devices. The teacher can explain concepts by using visuals, show students how to perform experiments, and also take them on virtual field trips. The teachers and students also learn how to use various computer software that is essential in using the ACCESS program.

The schools provide many resources that the students make use of. The students high school provides them with laptop computers that are used for the ACCESS program. They are also provided with an ACCESS computer lab that is only used for the students to take their online classes. An ACCESS lab facilitator is also provided to help the students use the program during their class time in the lab.

During this fall semester, I visited Satsuma High School's ACCESS learning lab. The learning lab is set up almost like a regular classroom. However, it has technology uses such as the IVC devices and Internet access. The room is a little smaller than a regular classroom, but it is big enough for the students who use the ACCESS program.

Ms. Jennifer Phillips is the school's ACCESS lab facilitator. She wasn't able to be there during my visit, but the librarian, Ms. Catherine Smith, was available to help me during my tour. I asked various questions about the use of the ACCESS learning lab. I was told that the students don't use the lab as much and do most of their work in the library. The students don't use the IVC which is what I really wanted to see in action. The students are only able to make use of the computerized or web-based instruction portion of the ACCESS program. I was told that the ACCESS lab and the program may become more advanced used there next semester.

The courses that are mostly taken through the ACCESS program are German, Latin, and Creative Writing. Some of the assignments that the students have to do are broken down in weekly assignments that they can do at their own pace. There are some assignments that are fast paced as well. I was told that the creative writing teacher, Ms. D. Hartley, uses modules that show students when their assignments are due. The students have access to readings, quizzes, notes, e-mails, message boards, and much more while using this program.