 "Photo: Erik Reyna/The Daily Texan")
A recent high school graduate who made use of a Hispanic achievement program that helps Spanish-speaking students transition to American schools explained from the Valley via videolink how the program helped her succeed academically.
The forum was one of three UT programs that are part of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan discussed Monday at the Thompson Conference Center by FCC Commissioner Meredith Baker.
“The Internet is a critical educational tool,” Baker said. “We came to Austin first. It is a model for educational benefits over the Internet.”
The FCC began its national tour Monday with the forum, drawing attention to the broadband plan with the student’s explanation presented through videolink. The plan — meant to accelerate the use of broadband programs in education — is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in February to increase employment and college affordability, among other things.
Sheila Alvarado graduated from Donna High School with the help of the Language Learners at the University of Texas at Austin Center for Hispanic Achievement, which, along with the transitional program, offers online courses.
“I challenged myself to improve my English,” Alvarado said, explaining how far the program pushed her. “This program was a great help to me.”
The Migrant Student Graduation Enhancement Program, another form of distance learning offered by UT’s Continuing and Innovative Education division, offers children of migrant workers an alternative to classroom schooling.
Amy Pro, principal of the UT Online High School, said that children of migrant workers have the lowest graduation rate and TAKS scores.
“Migrations result in frequent disruptions in education,” she said.
The UT Online High School is a basic distant learning program, which offers 48 online courses in various subjects.
Pro said that thanks to the program and a grant from the Texas Education Agency, these children can learn through print, CD-ROM and online lessons at no cost to schools or the students.
Erick Sanchez said that before entering the program, he constantly fell behind on his school work. The 17-year-old is now a high school graduate attending St. Edward’s University — something he attributes to the migrant program.
Dean Judy Ashcroft of the continuing education organization, said the online school, the Hispanic achievement program and the migrant program are working to help students from across the world graduate high school by offering more flexible and personal alternatives.
Kathleen Tyner, assistant professor in the Communication School, said although students miss out on visual and verbal cues, distance education technology is improving.
“Distance education can now create a learning environment and dialogue through the use of chat,” Tyner said. “It is increasingly accommodating to both content delivery and critical dialogue.”
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