Welcome to the second semester!
For the past 10 years in Galena I've offered students assignments and assessments here on my web page. It's my pleasure to do so again this semester. When I started offering a web-based classroom back in 2001, it was too far ahead to the times for many people to appreciate. Student achievement in those early years was strong, though, so I've kept at it. I'm finally at a moment when web-based teaching is considered to be a "new" way to communicate with students and parents. Computer-based texts, writing that uses computerized tools, research on the Internet, and integrating graphics, pictures, and web pages into student work is the way in which my students will read and write for the rest of their lives. It's nice to see everyone catch up to where we've been for more than a decade.
This semester, as it has been in the past, everything will be online and open to anyone who wants to see it. The readings, assignments, lesson plans, curriculum maps, homework, and practice tests will be available as they are created and presented to students. I invite anyone to write or call concerning what they see here, and especially share ideas about what will work best to teach the young men and women in my classroom, as many great successful ideas have come from parents and students themselves.
One medium-term goal that I've had for several years is the implementation of a classroom intranet. This intranet would use educational-based software to permit me to watch students as they write and create on classroom computers. The software is available, and has worked well in other places. All that is needed is available computers for each student in every class. That will be coming soon, no doubt.
Be well and have a good and productive winter and spring. Feel free to call or write; my door is always open.
Paul Apfelbeck
Galena Interior Learning Academy