The Grand Rapids Public Schools District is making the transition from face-to-face learning to a virtual classroom housed on the internet.
“We are securing learning management systems that are effectively used across the country to support teaching and learning but online.”
That’s John Helmholdt, Director of Communications at GRPS. He says the challenge is a large percentage of GRPS families don’t have the technology for engaging in a virtual classroom.
“And so, we would look to distribute wireless hotspots along with the technology.”
Helmholdt is concerned distance learning will further increase the learning gap between students.
“If nothing else what this crisis is doing is putting a giant spotlight on the inequities that exist in public education between the have and have nots.”
Officials at GRPS plan to implement virtual classrooms in the next weeks.