There is good news for students who are bored with normal high school classes. Greenbush IDL is an interesting new alternative way for teachers to present beneficial lessons to their class. IDL stands for Interactive Distance Learning, but most students at KHS don’t even know IDL exists.

Teachers in USD 331 have a list of IDL lessons available and they can arrange for the large flat screen television and camera complete with its connection to Greenbush to visit their room. The instructor presents the lesson to the students via this television. The class can see and hear the instructor and the instructor can see and hear the class.

The IDL system is gaining popularity among teachers at Kingman Elementary. Third grade teacher Melissa Tetrick explained that prior to the lesson the teacher is sent information about what is needed along with a student and teacher packet. The teacher is responsible for having all of the materials ready and available during the lesson. The students listen to the instructor, who is usually located at Greenbush, present a lesson. Over all, the students answer questions and follow the directions of the instructor just as if the teacher were in the classroom. During the lesson, there’s not a lot for the regular classroom teacher to do. He or she is involved in preparing the students for the lesson and following up with additional information if desired following the lesson. Mrs. Tetrick stated that the students really seem to respond well to the lessons and most of the lessons have activities or experiments included in the presentation so they get more hands-on learning.

In order to see how the IDL lessons work, this reporter had a chance to see an IDL class in Mrs. Holder’s 3rd grade class at Kingman elementary school. In front of the students there was a big TV and camera, and students were concentrating on what the IDL instructor was saying. That day’s class was "card game" lesson and the students had to listen to what the instructor said to them in order to know the game’s rules. As they worked, the instructor checked what students were doing or talking about during the lesson.

After the class, students’ responses to the learning experience were spontaneous. "It’s really interesting!" Kayla Roth, KES 3rd grader said. "Awesome," Hannah Orr commented on how she felt about this class with just one word.

With all the optimistic responses from the KES students and teachers, the IDL program waits to catch on at the high school as an alternative instruction method. Mr. Henry stated that he believes that IDL programs will be used more as teachers become more aware of the learning opportunities it provides, and also it’s possible that next year the system will be used to share classes between KHS and other schools.