Everybody Learns in the Distance Learning Center

Walk into the Distance Learning Center (DLC) on any given day and you may find our students exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, touring a Presidential Library, keeping the beat with the Manhattan School of Music, or participating in an engaging discussion with a best-selling author.

Because of this DLC programming, our PK-12 students have been given unlimited access to places and people around the world, enhancing their educational experience, since 2008. Housed in the Veritas Research Center just across from the library, the DLC is modeled after The Zone at FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis.

Sara Casey, Director of Library Services, collaborates with our teachers to find programs that enhance our curriculum. Katie Marking, SAA 4^th grade teacher, tries to get her class to the DLC at least once a month. “My students love the DLC! The DLC gives us an opportunity to delve deeper into topics that we might not have such beautiful, expert guided access to otherwise. We have met with historians, authors, environmentalists, and museum curators. Sometimes they have us do hands on activities, and sometimes the girls take copious notes. The girls always love the question/answer part of a presentation. They are so curious!”

Mrs. Marking’s students share her enthusiasm about their DLC visits. Cecelia shared, "What I like about the DLC is that I get to learn new things about authors, American history, and more. What I also like about the DLC is I get to ask different questions and meet new people." Classmate Isobelle said, "I enjoy the DLC because I love learning, asking questions, and getting answers. I really love getting to meet different authors and learning history.

One program that is scheduled every year in the DLC is hosted by AIMS (Adventures in Medicine and Science) at St. Louis University. AIMS is an outreach program that utilizes distance learning to bring lessons of anatomy and science to life for students around the world. Our Upper School science students enhance their learning of organs of the body by watching medical students at SLU dissect a cadaver. These cadaver demonstrations feature the physiological and anatomic relationships of the major organ systems of the body and how those organ systems can relate to various human diseases.

Even our littlest Stars and Suns travel the world virtually with visits to sites from the Aquarium of the Pacific to the Center for Puppetry Arts. “We like to have a visit to the DLC with every unit since we are too young to go on field trips,” explained PK teacher Kathi Davidson. “Mrs. Casey works with us at the beginning of each year to set up all the presentations and keeps her eyes open in case anything age appropriate comes her way. She knows we are always willing to try something new and different. The children love going to see the “real” places and talk with the people there.”

In addition to providing experiential learning opportunities for our students, our Distance Learning Center is also used after hours for adult and family programming such as the upcoming Bodies in Progress mother-daughter presentation. If you have any questions regarding the DLC, please contact Mrs. Casey at scasey@saa-sds.org.