Students of all kinds are returning to classes as schools in the area reopen. This includes the adult students at the MERS Goodwill Excel Center, who are taking classes to earn their high school diplomas.
The Goodwill Excel Centers in the area returned to classes for term one last week in a virtual setting, including the center in Poplar Bluff.
The Poplar Bluff center services about 125-130 students on average at a time.
Director Blane Keel said enrollment dropped to about 100 before March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but has gone back up to around normal.
“When we went under lockdown in late March, then those numbers rose back up because people could actually attend online when they weren’t able to attend in person,” he said. “But, what goes along with that is that our dropout rate for a term is also fairly high.
“So, our dropout rate is probably 20%. So if we get 100 people, you know, 20 of them will drop before the end of the eight-week term.”
For the time being, they offer classes online. Keel said the center offers in-person tutoring every weekday and by appointment in the evenings.
“Online course work’s a little harder because it’s more reliant on the student’s personal motivation, and the students’ personal discipline to go in and work on the classes,” Keel said. “But, teachers are very open to what’s going on.
“It’s very flexible. Overall, I think it’s going to be a good experience.”
Keel said the staff alternates days in the building when they’re available for tutoring, but students can come as much as they need.
“I think some of the struggles we’re trying to alleviate as much as possible this term have been that sometimes students just need face-to-face tutoring or time when they can talk to the instructor just about some of their own problems or get focused in on some of the assignments and class work that’s been offered,” Keel said.
Technology, he said, is the most challenging part of conducting classes online because not all students have access to what they need.
The center loaned out 90 Chromebooks to students who needed them.
They’ve also offered classes and tutoring on the technology being used.
The center is using Google Classroom, Keel said, which allows teachers to interact with students, answering questions and conducting video lessons.
“Some students have a good grasp of technology, and some students don’t,” he said.
Another aspect of the technology issue, he said, is some students don’t have internet, which means they need to go somewhere that offers free internet in order to get the course work done.
“That’s something we’ve had to work with,” he said.
Through this, the center offers all regular high school classes.
Keel said the average class is 15-30 students. Some upper level classes, such as geometry, are on the smaller side.
Despite the challenges, Keel continued, there are positives about offering online courses. Mainly, more students can attend online than could in person because of work or other responsibilities.
“We’ve had a few more that’s been able to enroll because we’re online,” he said.
Keel said 23 students are scheduled to graduate Sept. 26, and the term ends Oct. 8.
Those interested in the program, may call 573-686-6004 for more information.