NC Kansas News

Jesse Janssen, school superintendent of the Waconda Unified School District in Cawker City, Kan., said the software teaching method Acellus, using video-based lessons, has stepped up to help solve disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve been able to switch gears and use Acellus as the primary source of information for students and teachers,” Janssen said during an interview with NC Kansas News.

Acellus is a program designed by the International Academy of Science. A website boasts that Acellus is a “learning accelerator” using cutting-edge technology to accelerate learning ability and raise standardized test scores.

The company also claims that its programs reduce dropout rates among students and improve their ability to deal with college classes.

The system reportedly uses “interactive” techniques providing courses for K-12 and high school students and allows assessments of student skills, pinpointing deficiencies and allowing students to concentrate on and master foundational skills.

Janssen said the system filled a crucial need with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It [Acellus] is definitely a hinge we can revolve around,” he said. “We’ve made it more of a primary [teaching] resource.

Janssen said schools went to at-home learning early in the pandemic. Today some schools are offering hybrid instruction, part in-person teaching, part virtual, revolving classes of students with 50% in attendance while the other half are learning at home. Other schools are still using fully remote learning.

He said the system can offer elective classes, class recovery to make up for failed courses, or classes not normally offered.

Janssen was also asked if the system has value.

“It has great value,” he said. “We’ve received many benefits this year. It’s a source of instruction where the students can learn and be assessed on individualized levels. Each student can learn at their own pace. Teachers can monitor students remotely or in the classroom.”

Janssen said of particular value is the system's ability to offer core classes such as math, science, English and history, or electives like a foreign language.

“We’re a small district, so we can’t provide [without Acellus] all of those [electives],” he said. 

Janssen said he introduced Acellus to teachers in the Waconda District, where it made a good impression on both teachers and students.

“It made sense to continue with it,” he said.