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Reality Based Learning
 Polly Stansell, Chief Development Officer for Reality Based Learning Company, a Washington-based educational delivery system, provided Friday’s program. Founded in 1997 by Gary H. Andersen, whose business background was in communications and multi-media educational tools – which are directly related to the learning objectives necessary for a child’s early educational foundation – it was his passion in this arena that brought him together with nationally-recognized educators to develop the RBL Learning System.
Polly, a native of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, operates as the Project Development Manager for the firm. She has had five years of classroom teaching experience, and she happens to be a neighbor of Rourke O’Brien, which prompted her appearance at the BBRC Friday.
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Polly Stansell talks with Rob Lemmon after Friday’s presentation.
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The RBL Learning System offers standards-based curriculum and assessment which are delivered through the internet. This holistic learning system integrates fully with a teacher’s established curriculum to provide real-time analysis of student’s capabilities, an individualized course work plan, and assessment to determine if the skills exist in long term memory. All information is delivered to educators and parents in easy-to-use Internet reports.
Polly has spent 15 years working in education to make it more efficient. “We recognize the success education has had, but the fact is, education is under attack. What we don’t know is: are children engaged in what they’re learning? Conversations with your children about what they’re learning go something like this: “What did you do today?” “NOTHING.” Think about the question in order to get a quality answer.
Polly’s first job was teaching in Salt Lake City, “in an open classroom with lots of eavesdroppers. One of my early projects was to teach my kids about clouds. I got them engaged in the process by using all kinds of different media. Validation came later by getting a letter from a student who remembered the cloud project and how it stuck with him.”
“I was increasingly dissatisfied with the process of teaching and learning. I returned to the university and got an MA in Education Technology. Next, I designed educational software for instructional use. My goal was to hold the kids’ interest. Then I was hired on at Edmark and began work on ’how do you show accountability?’ Or how to show success.”
Polly moved to RBL, the third staff person hired. “We built a data management collection center with continuous assessment. Our systems provide accountability, both for teaching and learning. Our programs get kids motivated.”
Education has great needs in these times. “I would make a request of each of you: if you want to make an investment in the education process, you can easily do so. Volunteer one hour a month or a week, just listening to kids read. Adult listeners make a huge difference. It’s so important …education is not just a job for the parent or teacher … it’s a job for everybody!”
From the audience a question: “How effective are computer-based systems?” Polly responds: “Computers will never take the place of teaching our children. Accountability is the issue. And, the RBL system collects the data learned and gives an assessment of what the child is learning. We have to remember that computers attract kids.”
How about things like Game Boys? “Reading books and planting trees teach youngsters. Game Boys don’t teach.”
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President Steve Goldfarb presents Polly with a certificate for 600 pounds of food donated in her name to Rotary First Harvest.
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What is Virtual Learning? “It’s creating an environment without actually being there. Doctors learn from videos on complex medical procedures. Students learn about dissecting frogs by video or a virtual reality program. It doesn’t take the place of doing things yourself.”
What about training teachers on technology? “It has to become a district-wide priority to be effective.”
Thanks to Rourke O’Brien for securing this program.
Polly was awarded a certificate of the BBRC’s Gift of 600 pounds of food to Rotary First Harvest.
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