Danville High's New Tech 'upper house' already a hit
|
DANVILLE – When it comes to school, Ashish Patel and Lynze Bray like:
a) Learning by doing hands-on projects and activities,
b) Using computers and the latest technology,
c) Working with their peers in groups, or
d) All of the above.
The answer is "d." That's why Patel and Bray, both incoming juniors, jumped at the chance to be part of Danville High School's New Tech "upper house" this year.
"I think it will be cool," Bray said of the New Tech program, which will incorporate those elements and more. "I'm into technology. And I'm not the kind of person who learns well from reading textbooks. I don't really memorize that well. I think project-based learning will be a lot more interesting."
"Your teachers aren't telling you what to do or what to learn. You're figuring it out for yourself," Patel added. "That's how they do things in the real world."
Danville High officials are looking to fill about 30 more openings in the program for the upcoming school year.
"We have about 220 right now," said Kathy Houpt, director of secondary education. The program will have a maximum of 250 sophomores and juniors the first year, and 350 to 400 sophomores through seniors in subsequent years.
New Tech is one of three upper houses, or small learning communities, that's being put in place this year as part of the school's restructuring plan to boost student achievement.
The other two houses are: GLOBAL (Global Leadership Outlooks through Business, Action and Learning) House, which will equip students with the tools needed to thrive as world citizens who can contribute to the global and local community; and ACE (Academy of Creative Experiences) House, which will integrate music, art and creativity into core classes and use the arts to teach key concepts and lessons.
New Tech was partially funded by a Vermilion Healthcare Foundation grant and modeled on the successful Napa New Technology High School. The program uses a project-based approach to learning, in which students gain information and skills by doing multilayered, "real world" projects, and gives them 21st century skills – such as critical thinking, communication and working together as a team – desired by employers.
The mission is to prepare students to excel in an information and collaboration-based technically advanced society, said Assistant Principal Darin Chambliss, New Tech's administrator.
Also in New Tech:
– Students will take core classes including English, math, science and social studies, as well as electives and state-mandated classes such as consumer education, physical education and auto safety.
– English and social studies classes will be double-blocked (110 minutes long), and teachers will use a team-teaching approach that integrates both curriculums.
– Students will work on their own Hewlett-Packard laptop and use a Web-based program for their classes, which they can access at home. The program will have their e-mail, a grade portal, the school calendar, and everything they need for their classes and assignments. Teachers can grade assignments online.
– Students will learn to use digital and Web cameras and other technology, and computer software such as Microsoft's Office and Movie Maker and Adobe's Dreamweaver and Photoshop.
– Classes are student directed, and teachers are project facilitators, rather than lecturers.
– Students still will have homework, quizzes and tests. They also will do projects that begin with an entry document highlighting the tasks and learning skills that students will discover, and end with students making a presentation before a panel of local business and community leaders, just as they would do in college and the business world. (Student projects will be assessed on content literacy, written communication, oral communication, critical thinking, collaboration and work ethic.)
– Projects focus on building character, a strong work ethic and good citizenship.
– There will be involvement from people in the local business and industry, as well as increased parental involvement.
a) Learning by doing hands-on projects and activities,
b) Using computers and the latest technology,
c) Working with their peers in groups, or
d) All of the above.
The answer is "d." That's why Patel and Bray, both incoming juniors, jumped at the chance to be part of Danville High School's New Tech "upper house" this year.
"I think it will be cool," Bray said of the New Tech program, which will incorporate those elements and more. "I'm into technology. And I'm not the kind of person who learns well from reading textbooks. I don't really memorize that well. I think project-based learning will be a lot more interesting."
"Your teachers aren't telling you what to do or what to learn. You're figuring it out for yourself," Patel added. "That's how they do things in the real world."
Danville High officials are looking to fill about 30 more openings in the program for the upcoming school year.
"We have about 220 right now," said Kathy Houpt, director of secondary education. The program will have a maximum of 250 sophomores and juniors the first year, and 350 to 400 sophomores through seniors in subsequent years.
New Tech is one of three upper houses, or small learning communities, that's being put in place this year as part of the school's restructuring plan to boost student achievement.
The other two houses are: GLOBAL (Global Leadership Outlooks through Business, Action and Learning) House, which will equip students with the tools needed to thrive as world citizens who can contribute to the global and local community; and ACE (Academy of Creative Experiences) House, which will integrate music, art and creativity into core classes and use the arts to teach key concepts and lessons.
New Tech was partially funded by a Vermilion Healthcare Foundation grant and modeled on the successful Napa New Technology High School. The program uses a project-based approach to learning, in which students gain information and skills by doing multilayered, "real world" projects, and gives them 21st century skills – such as critical thinking, communication and working together as a team – desired by employers.
The mission is to prepare students to excel in an information and collaboration-based technically advanced society, said Assistant Principal Darin Chambliss, New Tech's administrator.
Also in New Tech:
– Students will take core classes including English, math, science and social studies, as well as electives and state-mandated classes such as consumer education, physical education and auto safety.
– English and social studies classes will be double-blocked (110 minutes long), and teachers will use a team-teaching approach that integrates both curriculums.
– Students will work on their own Hewlett-Packard laptop and use a Web-based program for their classes, which they can access at home. The program will have their e-mail, a grade portal, the school calendar, and everything they need for their classes and assignments. Teachers can grade assignments online.
– Students will learn to use digital and Web cameras and other technology, and computer software such as Microsoft's Office and Movie Maker and Adobe's Dreamweaver and Photoshop.
– Classes are student directed, and teachers are project facilitators, rather than lecturers.
– Students still will have homework, quizzes and tests. They also will do projects that begin with an entry document highlighting the tasks and learning skills that students will discover, and end with students making a presentation before a panel of local business and community leaders, just as they would do in college and the business world. (Student projects will be assessed on content literacy, written communication, oral communication, critical thinking, collaboration and work ethic.)
– Projects focus on building character, a strong work ethic and good citizenship.
– There will be involvement from people in the local business and industry, as well as increased parental involvement.
Photo by: Noelle McGee
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.