Educational achievement in the United States is
often observed along socioeconomic lines, but the ultimate goal of this
observation is to formulate strategies that effectively reduce the achievement
gap. Rocketship Education, an American provider of public charter school
solutions in disadvantaged communities, has a solid track record of lowering
the achievement gap across various grades.
A couple of years ago, the principals of this
educational provider issued a few responses to media reports that detailed some
of the methodology applied in the classrooms administered by Rocketship. One of
the issues that elicited public attention was Rocketship's efforts to integrate
technology into the traditional public charter school curriculum.
It should not be surprising to learn that
Rocketship Education makes use of technology to bridge the achievement gap;
after all, limited access to educational technology is something that
disadvantaged communities often face. Young students are more likely to respond
positively to technology in the classroom; to this effect, Rocketship uses
software platforms such as Dreambox, Lexia and ST Math to improve the learning
skills of pupils at their schools.
In the case of ST Math, students approach
arithmetic and geometry concepts in a visual manner that allows them to try
different exercises that lead to the same result; this method engages their
critical thinking skills through animated feedback. By visualizing math
concepts, Rocketship students develop confidence that translates into higher
test scores because it reduces the potential of feeling intimidated by exam
questions. When students see formulas such as (4 + 6) - 10 in a math test, they
will remember the colorful and whimsical animations of their ST Math lessons on
the topics of addition and subtraction.
When students enroll in public charter school
managed by Rocketship Education, teachers and counselors know that not all of
them can be expected to be fully familiar with a technology-centric curriculum.
To face this issue, teachers apply a computer lab rotation schedule that puts a
group of students to work on academic software while other groups may spend
more time with their teachers for guided instruction. The goal is to make the
entire classroom learn and advance at the same pace, and this is another
important aspect that comes into play when bridging the achievement gap.
Some of the values that Rocketship schools
observe as they seek to reduce academic disparity include:
Transparency: This is key when expecting
constructing feedback from education officials, parents and the community.
Innovation: As previously mentioned, the
Rocketship model encourages implementation of technology in the classroom. As
long as innovation can make a meaningful impact in terms of academic achievement, it will be welcome in Rocketship
classrooms.
Excellence: In the United States, academic achievement
is largely measured and quantified by means of test scores. In the nearly 10
years that Rocketship has been operating charter schools, their test scores
speak for themselves in terms of commitment to excellence.
A typical day for Rocketship student involves
learning about STEM topics and humanities while spending time at the learning
lab. In addition to these three blocks, students also get to work on personal
enrichment for the purpose of improving their academic potential.
The Rocketship model is also focused on community
development. Through a partnership with the YMCA of San Jose, California, the
Rocketship Mateo Sheedy Elementary School hosted a special virtual and
augmented reality summer program for 48 students. In this program, which was
supported by technology giant Google, students were able to explore space and
even walk alongside dinosaurs during their summer vacation. Exposing students
to cool and emerging technologies increases their interest in STEM, an
important aspect of life in a community such as San Jose, which is located in
the heart of Silicon Valley.
