Pedagogy

The ODYSSEYWARE® Approach to Teaching and Learning

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 ODYSSEYWARE Online®. Our interactive, fully Internet-based curriculum is designed with maximum flexibility to meet the criteria of any individualized learning plan. Correlated with state standards, it can be implemented and integrated into any learning environment. In fact, schools all over the country are incorporating ODYSSEYWARE Online as their e-learning 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
At ODYSSEYWARE, we believe 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 Online’s courses are organized into sequential units that build upon each other and include a complete scope and sequence. Before being allowed to progress 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 Learning Sequence
A fully Internet-based curriculum, ODYSSEYWARE Online enables teachers to effectively direct individual learning experiences for academic success. Using the following process, teachers and students move through units and courses directed toward student mastery.

  1. Establish educational purposes, learning goals, and performance objectives.
  2. Provide organized, structured, and developmentally sequenced instruction related to established objectives.
  3. Require timely completion of structured performance activities through varied learning experiences.
  4. Allow student feedback through self-checks and self-assessment.
  5. Provide teacher feedback through formative and summative assessments.
  6. Ensure mastery learning through frequent review, life application, and additional study.

Mastery learning can be an effective teaching and learning method when properly implemented and proficiently delivered.

Reference

Wiggins, G., and McTighe, J. (1998). Understanding by Design. Alexandria, VA: The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.