Castle Learning and Olean City Schools: Using Castle as a Regents Review Tool

The web-based assessment program, Castle Learning, is a K-12 resource which provides core testing content using a variety of formats.  Instant grading, detailed assessment reports, and instructional feedback are benefits that save time and improve academic success.  Just ask Christine Lightner, Earth Science Teacher for Olean Summer School, 2013. Olean Summer School offers Earth Science review and  instruction supplemented by online credit recovery and the use of past regents’ exam questions created for student assignments using Castle Learning.

Pictured here is Ms. Lightner with three of her eager students.  The strong and positive relationship between students and teacher was evident as the author helped the teacher discover the reports and assignment results feature offered by Castle Learning.  Grading became easy for Ms. Lightner as Aleeya finished up using a former regents 50 question exam as her mid-term test at summer school.  

Aleeya said that she likes the repetition of questions and subject matter.  It helps her remember things better.  She is an athlete during the school year and appreciates “drilling”.  She prefers being on a computer to study and learn.

Amber appreciates that in an “open” Castle Learning assignment she will make an attempt at an answer and yet, if the feedback states that she is wrong, she is allowed a second attempt.  Overall, however, this student does prefer to study with books.  She is a fan of receiving additional information and background from contextual clues offered by holding a book in her hand and reading.  

The differentiation of instruction for learning styles is a challenge well-met by this Olean Summer School teacher.


By Maggie Jensen, CA BOCES Learning Resources