The Educational-Bandaid Industry — does it work? It would appear to be neither here nor there. There is nothing like the nuances of knowledge and background lore that an experienced teacher can bring to the discussion. Perhaps ya gotta wait 'till college for that, eh?
Here are the musings of a self-professed newbie in the field, a Ms. Jennifer Blackstone of
Blueprint Education. Hopeful and effervescent about the possibilities in "educational options" offered by her employer, I can't help but wonder: is she really that naive? Or is she just savvy to the inherent rationalizations that the TTI necessitates?
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Extended Insights
Posted: Apr 1, 2009
Natsap Conference ReflectionsBy: Jennifer Blackstone, MA Ed, Blueprint Education
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were not completely sure how you got there and unsure of where it might lead? Thinking back to the 2009 NATSAP conference in Austin, Texas, I found myself in one of those situations.
How I got there...Three years ago I was teaching eighth grade Language Arts and trying to instill into my students the techniques of effective public speaking: eye contact, effective use of a visual aid and enunciation of words. On this day at the NATSAP conference, as I do anytime I make a public presentation for Blueprint Education, I was recalling those eighth grade lesson plans. However, it was hard to concentrate on effective public speaking techniques when I was so eager to share my educational message with this new audience.
In the years following my teaching experience, I developed a passion for educational curriculum and helping students in non-traditional educational settings. This presentation at NATSAP delightfully fulfilled both of these passions. However, being a rather unseasoned therapeutic expert (two years experience), I wondered if my passion and conviction would come through in my message. Upon completion of the presentation, I knew that my partners at this conference had taught me well and knew how to most effectively help students.
The Dr. Beth Collins, Superintendent of Schools, mentors me in the educational world. She helped me craft and fine tune this presentation. Doug Covey, the CEO of Blueprint Education, has inspired me to think well into the future and taught me about therapeutic programs. With their help and my fervor, the presentation focused on aligning therapeutic curriculum to educational standards and providing a way for students attending therapeutic programs to earn academic credits. Ultimately, therapeutic programs are then able to help students overcome the negative affects associated with long term absence from their home school.
This presentation promoted the priorities of therapeutic schools and their holistic approach of serving student needs. The focus was on how Blueprint Education was aligning therapeutic objectives and experiential learning to educational standards while revising and enhancing curriculum in order to award high school credit. Part of the presentation centered on motivating young people attending a therapeutic program by preparing them academically, thus providing a successful academic transition back into their home school. Participants left the presentation with solution-oriented options to overcome possible barriers at their individual programs.
What it might lead to…The Healthy Kids website states that "Lost class time, at any age and for any reason, can impose an acute as well as a cumulative handicap on students." One goal at the NATSAP presentation for the attendees, and all therapeutic programs who aspire to enhance their educational offerings, was to understand how a curriculum review process can easily fit into their current program. This will lead to other educational options for students, ultimately resulting in affecting the lives of many people around the world. I have the confidence after attending the 2009 NATSAP conference that the Blueprint Education message of this presentation will provide opportunities for enhancement and expansion of experiential learning.
It was just a few years ago that distance learning, or online learning, was unheard of. But today Harvard University offers over 100 online classes that are an extension of the classroom. Experiential learning, like distance learning and other forms on "non-traditional" educational settings, are on the verge of exploding onto the educational forefront. No Child Left Behind is more than a goal; it is a call for action. It means implementing creative delivery systems of learning to fit the various needs of all students in all situations. The value added component of experiential learning allows students to connect content immediately to the real world. Higher level thinking skills relate to the cognitive realm of Bloom's Taxonomy with application, synthesis, and evaluation of content daily. These factors alone make experiential learning a highly effective educational practice.
To date, Blueprint Education has positively impacted over 2,000 students who otherwise would not have had the chance to earn high school credits and gain academic ground while also making headway toward recovery in therapeutic programs. I wonder what this number will be five years from now. As therapeutic programs continue to enhance their experiential learning curriculum, the content will become knowledge rich. Earning high school credit will take a back seat to the life skills and practical knowledge gained that will last a lifetime.
About the Author: Jennifer Blackstone is the Assistant Superintendent of Distance Learning for Blueprint Education, overseeing the curriculum and instruction for the distance learning branch of the company. Prior to coming to Blueprint, Jennifer taught Language Arts and Social Studies in grades 6 - 12 in school districts and charter schools in both Arizona and Ohio. Jennifer has been part of her schools' Curriculum and School Improvement Committees. Upon earning her Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction, she decided to join Blueprint Education in order to fulfill her career goals of helping all students succeed. For more information on the author and Blueprint Education programs and services, please go to http://www.blueprinteducation.org.Copyright © 2009, Woodbury Reports, Inc.