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Health & Fitness

Nexus Academy senior: all students learn differently

Phillip Williams is convinced that every student learns differently - while a more traditional setting might work for some students, others may need a more individualized approach or a more flexible schedule to work at their own pace. Why is he so sure about this? Because he is a perfect example.

Phillip was experiencing trouble in school during his sophomore year. He was enrolled in a Catholic high school in Cleveland and found it difficult getting help with his school work when he needed it.

“I had a pre-calculus class where the teacher would quickly go through the material and I often found myself struggling to understand the material,” Phillip said. “What made it more challenging is there were a lot of students in the class so there were few opportunities to ask questions or seek individual help.”

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Phillip said he prefers an environment where there is more opportunity for visual input and collaboration. He is a better, more motivated learner when there is an opportunity to be an active participant in the process. Something that Nexus Academy of Cleveland offered him.

Phillip enrolled in Nexus Academy when the school opened in the fall of 2012. Nexus Academy is a blended high school near downtown that offers students an online curriculum within a more traditional brick-and-mortar facility. The students attend classes for four hours, four days a week and are afforded the flexibility to progress at their own pace.

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For Phillip, he immediately appreciated the different environment. “I was used to being lectured to and would have difficulty when the concepts couldn’t be discussed to help me better understand them,” Phillip said. “At Nexus, it’s much more collaborative. The teachers are able to be more involved and better able to understand the student’s needs.”

Looking ahead to graduation in the spring of 2014, Phillip is planning to attend the University of Toledo or Akron University and major in Business Management. He believes the culture and approach taken at Nexus Academy has prepared him well to take that next step.

“I’m pretty self-motivated and can move at my own pace so I believe I will do well at college,” Phillip said. “Because of the online curriculum, I am able to dig in and really explore the material which helps be to better understand things. At the same time, the learning coaches and counselors have also taught me the importance of managing my time which will also serve me well next year.”

 





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