What's it like to teach in a New Tech School?

With 62 high schools across the country, New Tech Network creates an environment in which teachers are empowered and students are deeply engaged in the kind of learning that is rarely seen in traditional high schools.
Unlike students in traditional high schools, where most teachers lecture and use textbooks as a teaching approach, teachers in New Tech high schools design rigorous, real-world projects tied to state and district standards and customize them to their location and the interests of students. As a result, students develop important skills such as critical thinking and collaboration.

There are three key elements of New Tech’s success:

“Gone are the days of assembly line education. The New Tech approach is exactly what increasingly competitive and global business leaders expect and demand in today’s public schools.”
— Barry Schuler, Former CEO of America Online

• A new instructional approach that engages learners - Project-based learning (PBL) is at the heart of our instructional approach. PBL uses technology and inquiry to engage students with issues and questions that are relevant to their lives. In New Tech classrooms, teachers design rigorous projects aligned to state and district standards and customize them to their location and the interests of students. Students then work in teams to acquire and apply knowledge and skills to solve problems. Students acquire not only subject-matter knowledge, but also the skills they need to thrive in college, career and life.
• A culture that empowers students and teachers - Trust, respect and responsibility are the hallmarks of New Tech culture. At New Tech schools, students and teachers alike have exceptional ownership of school administration and the learning experience. Students acquire a level of responsibility similar to what they would experience in a professional work environment. Working on projects and in teams, students are accountable to their peers, while taking individual responsibility to get work done. In this trusted, respectful environment, students decide how to allocate their time, team roles and how to collaborate.
• Fully applied technology that supports deep learning - Smart use of technology supports our innovative approaches to instruction and culture. All classrooms have a one-to-one computing ratio. With access to Web-enabled computers, every student becomes a self-directed learner who no longer needs to rely primarily on teachers or textbooks for knowledge and direction. A proprietary Web-based system — New Tech Learning Platform — unifies students’ learning experiences, enabling them to share projects online, collaborate, communicate, research and create new knowledge.

The Results

From North Carolina to California to New York, New Tech is working nationwide with schools, districts and communities, providing services and support that enable schools to fundamentally rethink teaching and learning. We want to enable students to gain the knowledge and 21st century skills they need to succeed in life, college and the careers of tomorrow. Across the New Tech Network, students are going to school more often and graduating in higher numbers. They are outperforming peers in similar schools and going on to college ready to take the next step toward success in the careers of tomorrow