The Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) is a web resource where teachers in the state of Alabama have instant access to a variety of information and educational materials. Teachers have the capabilities to search lesson plans, create a personal workspace for producing and modifying their own lessons, search course of study requirements, podcasts, professional development opportunities, as well as other web resources. Through this initiative, the state department of education hopes to help meet new technology standards and prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow. ALEX is a great resource for new and experienced teachers for lesson plans. The lessons are already geared specifically to the Alabama course of study objectives and can be searched very easily by topic, grade, or subject. In addition, the lessons can be bookmarked or emailed directly to someone which makes saving and finding them very easy. For teachers who may not have experience using technology with their classes, ALEX also provides a one stop resource for web tutorials and approved web resources that can be searched by subject.
I have used ALEX in the past for lesson plan ideas and it is a very valuable resource. I can say that in the past four years the ALEX website has been upgraded and improved substantially. However, I could find no reviews that accessed the impact the resource has had on student achievement directly. I did review the IMPACT survey that accessed the levels of technology use in the classroom. The percentages of technology use today had increased slightly since the last survey, however, there is no real way to connect that increase directly to the availability of ALEX.
ACCESS, or Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide, is the State of Alabama's module for providing distance learning to our public high schools. This program is an attempt to provide opportunities for advanced or elective courses to all students regardless of where they attend class. The program also provides AHSGE modules for students that need additional support for the graduation exam. Teachers may apply to become ACCESS teachers and receive training on how to facilitate online courses. ACCESS is monitored and evaluated by a third party each year to assess the programs accomplishments and areas that may need improvement. This is a great resource for the students in our state to be able to enroll in advanced placement classes, special needs classes, or graduation exam tutorial classes even if they live in a small, rural area. All students now have equitable access to the same educational opportunities thanks to this program.
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