KANSAS CITY, Mo.– The Barstow School is digitally connecting students and educators worldwide with its Hybrid Learning Consortium (HLC.) The K-12 school started up the HLC earlier this year partnering with schools in China, Japan and Australia. Now, the Kansas City school has added its first domestic member, a school in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Namira Ali is a junior at Barstow, she’s finishing up her first online class, pyshcology. Ali says the flexibility of online classes is why she’s excited about the program.
“I think that setting my own pace is probably the biggest advantage of this class,” said Ali.
Program Director Sarah Hofstra says the HLC creates a broader range of course offerings for students while allowing them to feel comfortable in a learning environment.
“Students who might not feel confident in a classroom to say what they are thinking or feeling when you are having a good healthy debate would do that online,” said Hofstra.
The school already has 1:1 programs with tablets, iPads and other devices, now it’s about taking digital learning to another level. Ancient History teacher Nicolas Shump, also teaches online with HLC says it’s about embracing the technology the students are used to.
“There’s a term, digital natives,” said Shump. “Our students are considered to be digital natives because their entire life they have had access to the internet, access to social media.”
There are currently 25 courses offered in the catalog.
For more on Barstow and the HLC
