At ODYSSEYWARE, we are committed to providing an online educational experience that meets high academic standards and promotes technological and critical thinking skills necessary for 21st century achievement. With this goal in mind, we assembled the most qualified teachers, designers, and developers available and asked them to create an innovative, Internet-based curriculum that is multifaceted, engaging, relevant, measurable, and effective.
The result is an interactive, fully Internet-based curriculum designed with maximum flexibility to meet the criteria of any individualized learning plan. Correlated with state standards, ODYSSEYWARE can be implemented and integrated into any learning environment. In fact, schools all over the country are incorporating ODYSSEYWARE as their eLearning solution.
Curriculum Design
ODYSSEYWARE's curriculum development team creates core and elective classes using the three fundamental steps of "backward design" (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998). Engaging student inquiry and uncovering ideas is essential to the process of learning in this paradigm.
1. Identify
At the root of every course in the ODYSSEYWARE curriculum is a big idea. We want students to identify and understand the ultimate goal or enduring principle at the heart of every subject.
2. Determine Acceptable Evidence
Once the enduring idea is established, coordinators define parameters for assessment that constitute understanding.
3. Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction
Finally, curriculum coordinators create a map or a series of lessons, projects, activities, and assessments that will lead students to understanding of the enduring idea.
Originally considered an alternative approach to curriculum design, "backward design" has become widely accepted in academic circles as a successful model. The ODYSSEYWARE curriculum development team employs this approach when developing courses for our online curriculum.
Team Approach
From conception to delivery, every course is designed using the insight and ideas of all team members. With all eyes focused on the goal of each course, the entire team works to pull together the essential components of the course and considers the varying perspectives of each member to map the most effective way to reach that goal. Using this team approach, ODYSSEYWARE is able to deliver an engaging, comprehensive, and effective web-based curriculum for students in grades 3-12. Through the use of everyone's strengths, we deliver a stronger curriculum.
Designed with Mastery in Mind
All children can learn when their appropriate learning conditions are met. As digital curriculum providers, our job is to ensure we identify the essential parameters to meet these conditions. Our online courses are created to engage students with diverse learning styles, so every child has the tools needed to succeed academically.
Our curriculum is focused on the process of mastering content. Based on well-defined learning objectives, ODYSSEYWARE courses are organized into sequential units that build upon each other and include a complete scope and sequence. Before progressing to the next unit, students must reach a predetermined mastery benchmark. This gives teachers maximum flexibility with assessment, management, and accountability, and it allows students to achieve academic success at the most appropriate pace.
The Guided Learning Process
A fully Internet-based curriculum, ODYSSEYWARE enables teachers to effectively direct individual learning experiences for academic success. Using the following Guided Learning Process, teachers and students move through units and courses that are directed toward student mastery.
- Through placement testing, teachers identify a student's skill/knowledge base for appropriate grade level placement.
- Based on the outcome and student learning style, teachers recommend an individualized strategy and customize curriculum to guide students toward meeting academic goals and performance objectives.
- Through the use of organized, structured, and developmentally sequenced instruction supporting established objectives, students direct their own guided learning through each course.
- Teachers are able to analyze student progress easily through observation and ongoing formative and summative assessment. Differentiated learning plans can be adjusted as needed.
- As the learning process continues, teachers evaluate student performance, determine the level of student mastery, and make changes to strategy as needed to ensure a student's academic success.
Guided learning is an effective teaching and learning method when properly implemented and proficiently delivered.
Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (1998). Understanding by Design. Alexandria, VA: The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
