iTech: The ‘OG’ of online learning

The average Mat-Su Borough School District student now has access to a variety of education options to help meet their academic goals. There are traditional, correspondence, online and hybrid models, and the academic options continue to evolve.

But there is a particular program that has stood the test of time.

iTech.

“It’s kind of the OG,” Mat-Su Borough School District Director of Innovative Learning Ali Larijani said. “It’s the original online or hybrid learning model that existed in the district."

Larijani said the online learning program predates the pandemic — which flipped traditional education upside down —  and is about 15 years old. It started with grant funding. The grant helped redesign some physical spaces in schools and gave schools access to improved technology with computers and software.

“A flexible learning space at the core-area high schools, with a flexible feel where students would come and go and engage with their online learning courses,” Larijani said of those spaces, dubbed cybercenters, during the early stage of the program.

There was also support from a mentor or staff member at the school, he said.

Fast forward to today, Larijani said iTech has evolved into a great way for students to have academic flexibility while remaining at their traditional brick and mortar school. Program staff members also help create another opportunity for not only students on track to graduate, but also those interested in accelerating their path or in need of recovering credits.

Students now have access to courses offered throughout the district, thanks to the iTech program’s robust online catalog.

For example, if a Palmer High School student wants to enroll in a particular course that is not on the PHS master schedule, but it part of the iTech course list, the student can take that route.

“Here’s another way for (the student) to do that and still stay connected to (their) school and get access to more courses,” Larijani said.

There’s also the additional flexibility it creates for students. Larijani used the example of students who also maintain jobs. Rather than physically attending a class, for example during the final period of the school day, the student can enroll in an online class, free up that time in the afternoon to help maintain a job. Online courses allow students the option to work on that course on evenings or weekends, if needed.

“There's lots of different scenarios that pop up for students to take online courses,” Larijani said.

Larijani said there are certain courses that may not be ideal for online learning, such a science course that is heavy with hands-on lab work. The experience is better suited for the classroom, he said. But the catalog is extensive, and many of iTech’s courses are approved by the NCAA, College Board, and meet eligibility for the Alaska Performance Scholarship. 

There is no formal application process, but Larijani said his department uses an online readiness assessment tool.

“It’s just a conversation piece, basically a quiz,” he said.

Larijani said each student receives a readiness score, which helps members of his team gauge whether the student is a good fit for online learning. They can also help determine a realistic volume of online courses.

“We do set up some guardrails,” Larijani said.

It helps educate not only the students, but also parents and counselors, he said.

There is not a specific number of online classes staff expects all students to hit. Students and their situations are different, Larijani said. Staff members tailor specific game plans for each student. For some, it’s just one online course at a time. Others show the ability and time management skills to tackle multiple online classes. Pace also varies. If a student enrolls in an online course in August and is finished by Halloween, that student can immediately enroll in another course.

“That additional flexibility to allow a kid to maybe double up on the number of credits that they're earning,” Larijani said.

The iTech program has six staff members in its own department, along with Larijani. There are four teachers — with their own areas of emphasis — a counselor and administrative assistant. The members of this staff work with the students enrolled in online learning and their boundary school. There are also staff members at the individual schools who work as mentors in the program.

Course programs are free, and students interested are urged to start the process by speaking with their current school counselor.

Larijani did stress that iTech and online correspondence learning, or homeschooling, are not the same thing. If a student is planning to take a full or nearly full course load strictly online, Larijani said his office would steer that student somewhere more appropriate, such as Mat-Su Central.

“That's not really what we do. We're really trying to help kids maintain connected to their community school, their boundary school,” Larijani said.

For more, see matsuk12.us/programs/itech-online-learning.

Jeremiah Bartz is the Community Relations Coordinator for the Mat-Su Borough School District.