Jennings Stays Connected With Students

Presenting projects in front of fellow students is normal for members of Laurie Jennings’ class at Har-Ber High School, but now students may be presenting business plans and marketing strategies will be made virtually through Alternative Methods of Instruction. 

Jennings teaches Management, Business Law, and Marketing where her classes are collaborative and project-based. She is embracing AMI, where her students will be able to continue their schoolwork and utilize technology.

Jennings is using technology to post daily assignments, materials, and tools for school work. She is posting video updates to communicate and explain what’s going on with grades as well as how classes may be conducted.

“In my 12 years of teaching, I have never been in a situation where I am teaching remotely, Jennings said. “However, the internet is making it easier than ever to have daily communication and to be able to check-in with students.

She is focusing the content of her assignments to relate to current events like COVID-19 in all of her classes as a way to keep students engaged. In Jennings’ management class, students are assuming the roles of the management team of a business.

“Students are coming up with action plans, statements, and are making tough decisions as if they were a part of management,” Jennings said. “This is relevant because businesses all around us are having to make these decisions.”

Before the AMI, marketing students were learning about pricing. With price gouging and panic buying in the news, Jennings’ students are researching laws against price gouging and applying current events to their material on pricing. 

To keep her students motivated, Jennings is connecting with students via Google Classroom to check in and help them with whatever they might need.

“It is important to be kind and thoughtful and let students know I am here for them,” Jennings said. “Home looks different for everyone, so I want my students to know I understand this is a new learning process to take on.”

Jennings is using Google Docs and other collaborative platforms so that students can continue to work together and will present their findings to her and the class as AMI continues. 

“We need to be understanding of our students as well as our teachers as we navigate how to use Alternative Methods of Instruction together,” Jennings said. 

Jennings and the other amazing district teachers are a huge reason Springdale Public Schools are #THEChoice.