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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana was praised yesterday as a national leader in new
methods of teaching and learning in high schools.
The Cincinnati-based KnowledgeWorks Foundation joined Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels in
announcing that it is giving $10 million to the New Technology Foundation (New
Tech), based in Napa, Calif. Both organizations promote so-called high-tech high
schools.
Lecture time is limited in such schools, and students work on projects to
learn lessons in teams and integrate technology into academics, apply what they
are learning to solve problems, and defend their solutions in formal
presentations.
Chad Wick, CEO of KnowledgeWorks, said it chose Indiana
to make yesterday’s announcement because it found the state leading the way, with
businesses, economic leaders, communities and school districts working to create
a network of high schools where students get the knowledge and skills they need
in a 21st Century economy.
Six high schools in Indiana already use the learning and teaching model, with
four more set to start up this fall and 18 more in the exploratory stage. Existing schools include New Tech High Academy at Arsenal in Indianapolis. Others in Indiana are in Decatur, Rochester, Elnora, Bloomington and Columbus.
There
are about 40 high-tech high schools in the nation, with others in California,
Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Texas.
The $10 million will be used in part to create a database of projects that
high schools can use, emulate and perhaps build upon. In Indiana, the investment
in the New Technology Foundation will help expand the initiative to more
schools.
Daniels began the new-tech approach in Indiana in 2006 by awarding grants
from the National Governors Association to three school districts to support
planning for converting to the system. Three new high-tech high schools began in
2007 and three more last year.
“We plan its rapid expansion over the next few years,” Daniels said. “I would
like to see us become the state of new-tech education – math- and science-based,
technology-based, collaborative projects … as a new way of learning and a new
emphasis on the skills that are the most relevant to our future.”
The high school in Rochester, about 40 miles south of South Bend, converted
to high-tech in 2007. The school, which has about 600 students, is now called
Zebra New Tech High.
Debra Howe, superintendent of Rochester Community Schools, said it has been a
success so far.
An example of a project topic, she said, was how to make nuclear power available
nationwide.
“Not only did they have to engage in the chemistry of that, but they had to
include the political, the financial, the health and safety aspects of that as
well,” Howe said. “So you are integrating everything that you would want our
kids to be thinking on a problem-solving basis. You are seeing a very high level
of engagement with students.”
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