POWERPLAY PROVIDES UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT STRETCHES 22,000 SQUARE MILES

Just a few years ago, it was typical for students in the Northeast Arizona Technological Institute of Vocational Education (N.A.T.I.V.E.) school district to move away from home to pursue an education. But thanks to the district’s use of the PowerPlay distance-learning system from BNI Solutions, students can remain at home with their families and in their own school, while still participating in lessons being offered as far as 200 miles away.

N.A.T.I.V.E. is a vocational public school district covering nearly 22,000 rural square miles of the Navajo Nation where, according to the 2000 census, 60% of the homes in the district lack telephone service. “Students here on the Navajo Nation have unique obstacles in getting an education and learning career skills,” says Superintendent Karen Lesher. “The unemployment here is very high, and improved access to education will open employment opportunities.”

N.A.T.I.V.E. has been an integral link in helping students obtain marketable skills. However, the vast distances covered by the district and poor road access has been an ongoing challenge, making it impossible to transport students to centralized training sites. Navajoland has 9,286 miles of public roads, with 78% of them dirt or gravel, according to the Navajo Transportation Department.

Distance learning is closing the distance and offering opportunities to all the students. The N.A.T.I.V.E. District system is made up of 66 mobile carts spread among eight sites, allowing users to “plug” into the network and connect to courses that are being offered at other sites.

But don’t be fooled by thinking that remote students just sit there and watch. “It’s not just sitting and watching a video,” Lesher says. “The classes are live and fully interactive. Remote participants are able to ask questions and interact as if they were all in the same room.” The school district has sites at eight high schools, and now students have a variety of courses and lessons to participate in including: Nursing Assistant, Graphic Arts, and Drafting.

Enhancement sessions connecting to off campus education providers in Culinary Arts, Veterinary Science, and Marketing have been experienced by students at the N.A.T.I.V.E. sites. While the nursing services program was the first and is the most popular with 125 students participating, many other courses are seeing similar success. “It really broadens what we can do,” says Lesher. “Classes that simply wouldn’t have enough participation to be viable at a single location can work when you open them up to all eight sites.” New courses are being considered all the time. N.A.T.I.V.E. plans to offer a medical assistant course and an engineering drafting course beginning in 2010.

In addition to the coursework being offered, the system is also being utilized to connect with agencies and businesses in cities such as Flagstaff, Phoenix, and New York City. “It gives kids the chance to interact with working professionals, share experiences and expertise, which brings out the best in everyone,” commented Lesher.

The school district’s use of distance learning began with the nursing services program three years ago, but that was just the beginning. They have embraced a new way of educating the students of N.A.T.I.V.E. and have seen many positive steps in the right direction. “Prior to distance learning implementation, Arizona Board of Nursing approved Nursing Assistant courses did not exist at any of the N.A.T.I.V.E. sites, and now these programs are offered at all eight of our sites,” Lesher says. “I want it to keep growing so students can get courses right at their home base. The medical field on the Navajo Nation offers many job opportunities for which N.A.T.I.V.E. students were not being trained. Now, with distance learning, our students are able to earn their state licenses and apply for local jobs in the regional hospitals and clinics. We have a goal that all students, regardless of their location, have the same opportunities, and our distance learning network has become an integral part in meeting this goal.”

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