Students sit in those familiar yellow seats in each class four or five times a week, listening to peers repeatedly ask the same questions about what the teacher is talking about. Fast forward to fall of 2012. Social studies teachers Brian Powell, Anthony DelPuppo, and Jacob Hollin are planning to present a proposal to Vice Principal for Academics Gary Scholl to bring online classes to the social studies department, cutting down on in-class time.

“It’s a different style of teaching and learning. It’s really important that people know that it is not replacing the classroom, it’s another way to add courses to our curriculum to benefit our students, but won’t require a full time teacher in the classroom,” Powell said.

Social studies is not the only department that would be able to use this. Powell said that if the English department wanted to start using online classes, then this would be a great way for the material that they are teaching to become more alive.

“Let’s say [English teacher Eric] Sutton likes one particular author and he’s an expert on it, he would be able to create a course that explores that author and their writings. It would be academic and it wouldn’t take all of Mr. Sutton’s time or any English teacher’s. They would be able to bring their passion to the classroom and the students would be able to learn in a really flexible environment,” Powell said.

According to Powell, online courses are becoming very popular, particularly in college. Virtual learning has already been established at some schools in Maryland. Chesapeake High School in Essex has adapted the use of history and English classes on the computer.

“Also as a college preparatory school, I think JC would be wise to offer at least a few classes in a hybrid – half and half — format to help our students prepare for college where many of you are likely to take a few classes that are similar,” Hollin said.

“It’s a skill that I feel that students that are preparing for college need to have. You need to be autonomous in your learning, in charge of where, when, and what you learn, you choose. And really a lot of colleges are offering that,” Powell said.

“I feel like it’s a cool idea. I mean that’s what people do in college classes. JC is apparently a college prep school so why not try something new,” senior T’Keyah Lisbon said.

“One of the goals is to keep the social studies department relevant. We have things like the STEM program coming in, and we just want to stay relevant,” DelPuppo said.

Because the STEM program will add the opportunity for more classes, having online classes will help out with scheduling, giving students the opportunity to take the required classes and an elective without having to be in a classroom for all of them.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea because I think you need a physical being there for class,” junior Mike Owona said.

“There’s also a downfall to it. If a person loses internet then how do they make up for the class? How would you know if the students are actually attending the class not letting them slide?” Lisbon said.

Currently, the only online class at JC is the Latin class, in which the class completes online assignments and meets for class once a month.

Powell and Hollin will be wrapping up their proposal in December hoping to have more half online classes begin next year.

“I think it would be a great thing for the students – allowing them to take different courses and also taking courses in a new and innovative way that also may suit some of their own individual learning styles,” Powell said.

Imani Love is a Sports Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.