It's not one size fits all when it comes to education and the Lima City Schools is about to set on a journey to provide an individualized education for each of its students.
It's called "Watson in the Classroom" and should be up and running in a month or so. The web-based program allows schools to enter information on each student from test scores to how they are feeling on a certain day to help teachers better understand how that child will learn best. Lima City Schools have been working for nearly a year and a half with IBM and Office Depot to get "Watson" launched. It will begin with 5th through 8th grades, then training for the high school faculty in October and the elementary schools in February.
"It is a platform by which teachers would be able to have a 360-degree view of their students right in the palm of their hand through an iPad so every individual student in that classroom could have a personalized learning plan in there. It will tell you everything you want to know about a kid," explained Jill Ackerman, Lima City Schools Superintendent.
Ackerman says the information in "Watson" will stay with and follow the student as long as they attend Lima City Schools.
