THOMASVILLE (CNHI) — With the advancements of technology, most people are able to have a computer in their pocket in the mode of a smartphone. But can this technology be applied to the classroom?

The Customizing Instruction To Yield (CITY) program is a first-year program offered to students that emphasizes how students can learn best.

“We find that more and more students just don’t fit the same mold, they aren’t all the same, they all have different needs in this digital age,” said Daniel Oldham, assistant support for curriculum and instruction for the Thomasville City School System.

The CITY program gives students two options. Students can either take all virtual classes or hybrid classes. With the hybrid option, students can take a mixture of traditional classes and virtual classes. The virtual classes’ content is provided through Odysseyware, which offers a complete online curriculum. An on-site virtual lab will also be set up for grades six through 12. The lab will feature a teacher at all times, but there will be a rotation of teachers from each discipline of study, like science. Virtual classes can be taken either at home or in the on-site lab.

This is the first year of the program.

“This is the first time where we have set up an actual hybrid virtual program where they can be blended and take courses on-site,” Oldham said. “We really want to find kids that fit the program that really can benefit.”

According to the program’s official website on tcitys.org, the program is for kindergarten through twelfth grade. Kindergarten through fifth grade is enrolled at Scott Elementary School and sixth through twelfth grade is held at the Scholars Academy.

The program has been expanded for not only current students, but also homeschool students.  

The program allows for customization through each individual schedule. Though the program allows for customization, the program has to follow a master schedule. However, this program allows for much more flexibility than a regular school day.  

According to Oldham, this program will be a benefit to nontraditional students.

“We feel like with the inundation of technology that our kids have today, why not try to embrace it and provide something that they may flourish in, instead of trying to just put them in the box in the classroom,”  Oldham said. “We feel like this is a way to serve our parents and our kids in a unique and better way.”   

On July 14-15, there will be seminars held for parents. Parents will be able to meet with guidance counselors, school staff and an Odysseyware representative. An open house will be held on July 28, where parents can meet the teachers and be shown the lab. Both events will be held in the multipurpose room at the Scholars Academy.

For more information, go to tcitys.org or contact Oldham at oldhamd@tcitys.org.