Vincennes Community School
Vincennes, Indiana
(Pearson Digital Learning NovaNet)

“We have a diverse population from special needs and dropouts to students with medical concerns. NovaNET helped us meet each of their requirements.”

Sally Mandon, Chairperson, Vincennes Community School Alternative Education Program

The instructional goals for the learners include: 

• Receiving credit towards graduation
• Improving classroom skills and behavior
• Regaining control of their academic standing in order to successfully re-enter the traditional school setting
• Increasing classroom attendance
• Working towards their GED certificates

According to Sally Mandon, teacher and chairperson of VCSAEP, and the person responsible for selecting NovaNET’s curricula, “In this environment, the temptations to misbehave and to intentionally perform poorly are minimized because of individualized instruction and the lack of negative academic stigmas. NovaNET allows students to achieve mastery and feel success at their own pace.” 

NovaNET has helped VCSAEP accelerate and boost academic performance. As learners build their performance levels and self-image, they also earn course credits, which are awarded after class completion. The five separate curricula areas at VCSAEP consist of: High School, Middle School, GED training, Transitional subjects (for students with special needs) and Intermediate (for students with specific struggles who are not special needs students). 

Subjects taught at the alternative school (grades 7-12), are coordinated with the middle and high school curricula and align smoothly with the 10,000-plus hours of courseware available through the NovaNET online library. Within their daily three-hour regimen, students also have the opportunity to work on skill-specific activities, search the Internet, or even interact with other students at NovaNET’s chat room. 

A student once stated quite proudly, “My teacher told me I was smart...so I was!” VCSAEP and NovaNET model that statement by meeting learners where they are, and by providing immediate, meaningful and encouraging feedback throughout the program. Educators, especially those working in alternative instruction settings, must not forget that inaccurate student placement and the absence of continuous, positive reinforcement are catalysts for failure. 

Through NovaNET, VCSAEP gives each student an initial assessment test, the Adult Basic Learning Exam (ABLE^®), to determine ability level and the proper placement location. Then each pupil is assigned individualized, computer-based, instructional lessons in the various curricular areas to match particular strengths and weaknesses. As students progress they are praised for answering questions correctly, or given constructive feedback for incorrect responses. Throughout the process, each learner is tracked daily by NovaNET and the VCSAEP instructional staff. Upon completion of each curriculum module, learner progress and mastery is again evaluated. Not coincidentally, confidence and knowledge bases grow with each finished activity. 
 

Results 
The collaboration of VCSAEP and NovaNET has produced inspiring results. Between the August 1997 and February 1998, middle schoolers’ and special needs students’ scores jumped 16 percent in vocabulary, 11 percent in reading and 29 percent in number operations. High school student achievement scores increased 18 percent in vocabulary, 5 percent in spelling and 8 percent in problem solving. In addition, three out of four GED pre-test takers received their certificates on their first attempts. One student, who returned to the classroom as a sophomore following drug rehabilitation, will now graduate in 1999 with nearly a “B” average. 

With double-digit percentage-point increases in student performance each of the last two school years, success is permeating through the Vincennes Community Schools Alternative Education Program. With the solid educational grounding, and the breadth of NovaNET’s curricula, the teachers and staff connected to this innovative program are determined to help at-risk learners to stay in school, to do well academically an ultimately become a success. 
 

For more information on how Pearson Digital Learning can help you achieve results, visit http://www.pearsonedtech.com or call 888/627-5327; Canada and other international locations: 800/400-6192.

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