ACCESS Distance Learning

ACCESS Distance Learning (Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators and Students Statewide) was initiated by the Alabama Department of Education. ACCESS has e-teachers to teach the students the videoconferencing. It allows Alabama public high school students to access courses that are not available on campus. Students can sign up for a variety of courses. Some of the objectives of ACCESS are to provide advanced diploma courses, advanced placement or dual enrollment courses, and remediation and supplemental courses. There are also additional courses offered. Some of the courses will transfer as credit to the students college.The classes are web-based and have a video and audio. The students are able to see and hear their teachers on monitors. The students have available to them a videoconferencing labs. There are many labs throughout Alabama. There is even one in my county, which is Monroe County. About half of the schools that have ACCESS are funded but the State and the other half are funded by ARC (Appalachian Regional Commission). Students must be provided computers with internet connection to use the courses. Courses that are offered to the students are all taught during school hours. ACCESS is free to the Alabama public high schools.

I believe that ACCESS is a really good program for students. Students that need advanced courses that the school does not provide could really profit from ACCESS. I think it is great for students to be able to challenge theirselves through ACCESS.