EdTech is transforming the way schools and districts deliver education, and the Omaha Public Schools (OPS) are leading the way with their new partnership with StrongMind. StrongMind is an online learning platform that provides immersive, impactful digital courses based on 20 years of experience. The courses will be offered to students in grades 6-12 at the Omaha Virtual School (OVS) as part of their blended learning environment.
The StrongMind courses, which are research-based, Digital Promise-certified, and aligned to the Nebraska Content Area Standards, include a variety of rich media, interactive activities, assessments and performance tasks, project-based learning, and options for collaboration. Students will have access to opt-in scaffolds to support those who need extra help. The platform also provides full reporting that tracks student progress and learning in real-time.
The Omaha Virtual School (OVS) is committed to empowering life-long learners and developing collaborative relationships. The StrongMind courses will be accessed by OPS users from the district instance of Instructure Canvas, a learning management system (LMS). This provides the school with the flexibility and convenience of using the district LMS. Additionally, the platform will deliver training to teachers and administrators in using the courses, as well as ongoing implementation support and professional development.
Senior Vice President of Sales & Services, StrongMind, Melissa Slone, commented: “StrongMind is very excited to partner with the Omaha Virtual School (OVS) to provide high-quality digital courses for students in grades 6-12. We look forward to working with OVS to deliver best-in-class digital courses that offer a flexible pathway for students and families seeking a college and career-ready education outside the traditional classroom.”
Wendy Lowenstein, Director of the Omaha Virtual School, said: “Our middle/high school students appreciated the videos with ‘real people’ and not cartoon characters and the learning tools available to support their learning and independent curriculum navigation. Our teachers appreciated the abundance of teacher resources that were available to them to help with blended and virtual learning instructional models, as we support both.”
StrongMind and the Omaha Virtual School are working together to provide highly engaging, flexible learning options that let students and families thrive. EdTech is revolutionizing the way schools and districts deliver education, and the Omaha Public Schools are setting an example with their new partnership with StrongMind.
