Distance Learning

Cumberland County Schools Adopts Distance Learning for AP Courses, Credit Recovery

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 08/31/15

Cumberland County Schools is expanding its "Global Communications Network," an initiative that allows students to virtually enroll in Advanced Placement, honors and credit recovery courses.

Using videoconferencing technology from Vidyo, more than 200 students at 15 schools in the district are enrolled in classes through the program.

The initiative also "connects teachers and administrators across the school system for real-time face-to-face meetings, trainings and office hours," according to a news release. "Video conferencing technology is used for teacher training, consultations with education specialists and leadership meetings in which principals from Cumberland's 85 schools can be seen at one time using a VidyoPanorama room system."

"One of our primary goals in implementing the distance learning model was to ensure students across the system had the equal opportunity to access the best curriculum available and to create a consistent learning experience at every school," said Kevin Coleman, executive Ddirector of technology at Cumberland County Schools, in a prepared statement. "The ability to scale without blowing the budget with Vidyo's technology is key to our ability to expand deployment of the Global Communications Network to include middle schools, virtual visits from international faculty and other distance learning applications."