Featured Network: Project: CIRCUIT
Dec 14, 2006
We have been providing distance education programs since: Project CIRCUIT (Curriculum Improvement Resulting from the Creative Use of Instructional Television) was founded in 1978 and offered its first class in 1980. It was the first fully interactive distance learning network in the country.
Number of member sites: There are eight school districts as members of Project CIRCUIT.
Our membership includes (type of sites, eg, high schools, technical colleges, etc.): All members are high school districts but there is a strong partnership with Western Technical College and UW Eau Claire.
Our member sites are located in these Wisconsin counties: Trempealeau and Jackson Counties.
An interesting program we recently provided was: All eight high schools participate in after school varsity and junior varsity Quiz Bowl. This year there were 42 matches at each level and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau was the undefeated varsity champ. Quiz Bowl provides an additional level of activity for students not usually involved in athletics.
A showcase program we are offering is: College Writing through UW Eau Claire has been offered by Project CIRCUIT since 1994. It is taught by June Pellowski from GET. This year there are 81 students taking the five credit class.
The number of programs we offer on a typical day is: Project CIRCUIT offers twelve classes first semester and fifteen classes second semester with about 300 students each semester. This year 38% of Project CIRCUIT seniors will take at least one distance learning class. In addition the network is used for Quiz Bowl, virtual field trips and meetings.
Audiences attending our programs include: The typical audience is a high school student. There have been a few sessions with elementary students, but the classrooms are filled with high school classes.
Our most surprising success story was: The most exciting success story is the growth of classes from the technical college. In 1996 the network offered one class to three students. It now offers twelve classes to about 200 students.
Our favorite tip for distance education teachers is: "Good Teaching Works"
A popular topic area for our courses this year is: Psychology has become a popular area. We now offer three levels - high school, technical college and university.
On average, the number of people attending our programs last year was: Project CIRCUIT had about 300 students in 12 to 15 classes each semester in 2005-06.
Students taking our programs often comment on: Students like to take advantage of classes and teachers not available at their own school. One student recently noted that ITV classes were more interesting than face to face classes. They also like to have contact with students from other schools creating learning communities not possible prior to distance learning.
A Virtual Field Trip we offered helped students learn about: A really worthwhile Virtual Field Trip was with elementary special needs students to an elephant sanctuary. They were involved in each animal, its history and lifestyle. The network has not taken advantage of Virtual Field Trips as much as it could.
An interesting thing about our network is: A unique feature of Project CIRCUIT is a second classroom in each school. This is ideal for flexibility and scheduling.
At our network, we try our best to: The network provides enhanced curriculum to rural schools.
For more information contact: Sam Boynton. sboynton@cesa10.k12.wi.us
Our Network's web site url is: http://www.cesa10.k12.wi.us/services/educational_technology/distance_learning.htm