Austin-On Monday, Kearney Public Schools selected CompassLearning Odyssey to help accelerate student learning.
The program creates personalized learning paths for students based on their knowledge, academic strengths and weaknesses. Educators integrate assessment data from Northwest Evaluation Association's, (NWEA), Measures of Academic Progress, (MAP), assessment into the program. This allows teachers to keep students fully engaged and ensure results that meet or achieve state standards, and allowing more time for teachers to spend on instruction.
"From the MAP assessment, we have a tremendous amount of data from the last 3 or 4 years about our students, what they know, what they need to grow, and the diversity we have in every classroom," said Dick Meyer, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for Kearney Public Schools.
"We can more efficiently and effectively create learning experiences for our students that help them accelerate learning, achieve academic success and personal growth. Teachers not only have access to data to make their jobs easier, the technology is giving them more time to focus on what they do best , teach to the individual needs of each child," said Meyer.
CompassLearning Odyssey is a comprehensive, online, K-12 learning solution that includes lessons and activities based on current and confirmed research about the way today's students think and learn. Through regular built-in assessments in the Odyssey curriculum, teachers have access to more timely data on how student performance is progressing and can adjust lesson plans accordingly.
"Our teachers are focused on student learning," said Meyer. "But with more than 20 students all with varying needs in a classroom, it is difficult for a teacher to easily see what an individual student might be missing or where they are above target."
More than 5,000 students across grades K-12 will use the CompassLearning Odyssey program. For students who are struggling, Odyssey will help bring those students back to their current grade level, and, at the same time, provide content for accelerated students to help keep them fully engaged.
"We believe technology can be used to accelerate student learning, not just be cool and unique," said Meyer.
CompassLearning will be implemented in Kearney schools beginning in the fall semester.
