Huntington North High School will be introducing the New Tech curriculum for the 2010-2011 school year. What is New Tech and is it for you? According to the New Tech Network’s web site, “Our goal is to enable students to gain the knowledge and 21st century skills they need to succeed in life, college and the careers of tomorrow. The New Tech model provides an instructional approach centered on project-based learning, a culture that empowers students and teachers, and integrated technology in the classroom. Our hands-on, multi-year approach gives schools structure and support to ensure long-term success.” No one can argue the benefits of attaining the knowledge and skills to succeed in life, college and the careers of tomorrow. Does the New Tech curriculum live up to these statements?
The information contained in this web site is compiled from the New Tech Foundation, several New Tech high schools throughout the United States, Huntington County Community School Corporation (HCCSC), and the Departments of Education of Indiana, Texas, North Carolina, and California. Additionally, interviews were conducted with principals from New Tech high schools throughout Indiana. (Click on the titles in the menu above to access the information.)
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinions and for doing research about whether or not New Tech is a good fit for your child. I find these kinds of forums very healthy as they raise dialogue about what education should look like and allow people to express their opinions. I also think it is great that your community believes in choice in education.
I hope you don’t mind if I add a few notes here to help insure accurate
information:
1) Adam Lowe is not an employee or representative of the New Tech Network though he is quoted as one in your section on ‘Does NT attract industries…?”
2) Manor New Tech has a very different school approach than the Huntington NT so I can see why some of their student generated videos (from their video production class) might seem exclusively about computers. However, their test score results for math, English, and science are below compared to the high school where students would normally attend down the road indicate that they take academics seriously as well:
Math English Science
Manor High School 31% 76% 33%
Manor New Tech 65% 88% 81%
3) The numbers shown on your attendance graphs reflect the whole school populations, not just the NT students. For example, Arsenal Technical is a campus of 3500 students. Decatur Central is a campus of 1630. Rochester and N. Daviess both have a slow transition into New Tech so they only had 1 or 2 years of NT students so the increases wouldn’t be seen until this year for Rochester and next year for N. Daviess. The NT schools do take and report separate attendance and find higher attendance rates than their comparison populations. (Arsenal New Tech is 97% for example.)
4) There are several elements to the New Tech model and one key factor is continually improving. The document that you quoted from 2005 might have been very accurate for 5 years ago–now we find that students from all categories are finding the school a good fit.
5) In considering schools that have implemented NT and have a more similar population to your community, you might want to research and compare Coppell NT in Texas, Tech Valley High in Albany, NY, or Bloomington and Columbus here in Indiana.
I highly encourage you to make a visit in person to a New Tech in your area, perhaps Wayne New Tech, at Fort Wayne, to see for yourself if the hype from Manor videos matches what you see.
Thank you for your comments. I agree that dialogue is helpful and healthy.
1) You are correct that Adam Lowe is not directly employed by the New Tech Network. However, he is employed by the Center of Excellence in Leadership Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis. CELL partners with New Tech and acts as “an intermediary between New Tech Network and the schools in Indiana.” I have since clarified his employment status on the page entitled, “Will New Tech Attract Industries to our Community?”
2) While the test scores from Manor New Tech are impressive, they are not representative of the New Tech Schools across the country. (For example, comparison scores at CamTech, Hillside, and Southeast Raleigh in North Carolina to name a few). New Tech Network’s own analysis of results from each New Tech school demonstrates that students of New Tech underperform comparison schools in algebra II, geometry, and chemistry. Reading achievement for New Tech students drops from 89% in 9th grade to 63% in the upper grades when reading skills should be improving. http://www.newtechnetwork.org/newtech_results
3) The numbers shown on the attendance graphs are taken from the Indiana Department of Education’s web site. It is unfortunate Indiana does not break down the attendance rates. Assuming every other aspect of the school curriculum and student population has not changed since the introduction of New Tech, and the New Tech student population demonstrates increased attendance rates, there should be some indication of improvement in the whole school attendance. However, Decatur Central’s attendance rates have actually decreased and Arsenal, Rochester, and North Daviess are virtually unchanged. New Tech has had no appreciable effect on the attendance rates for the North Carolina schools cited above.
4) The document you refer to is the Executive Summary of Napa New Tech High School prepared by International Center for Leadership in Education. At a public presentation of New Tech on December 10, 2008 in the Huntington North High School auditorium, I had the opportunity to the ask Mr. Howard Mahoney, the principal of Napa New Tech, about several issues contained in this document including the low number of juniors returning for their senior year. He responded, “That is an accurate description and it is an accurate challenge that I face as principal of Napa New Tech.” As late as October 2009, Napa was still recruiting new senior students for the school year that began in August. Mr. Mahoney addressed all the concerns I raised and did not find them to be inaccurate. To hear the entire Q&A, go to the “How Does New Tech Affect Graduation Rates?” page and click on the link entitled “12-10-08 Questions of New Tech.”
5) I do intend to visit Viking New Tech sometime this year. Ultimately, results will tell the story.
My son is a New Tech student at HNHS, he is ADHD. This way of teaching seems to be working for him, so far. I think the concept behind New Tech is great. Team work, research, and computer skills are invaluable. My concern is that he has had little or no homework. I realize it is early in the year, but I have a nephew who is in 10th grade and he has already had a report due. What happens to these kids after four years of new tech when they go to college. Are there any studies that show wheather these kids survive their first year out of New Tech? Will they be able to write a 10 page research paper in college? Are we setting them up to fail at college because we want to increase our attendance in high school? Reading this article has brought another concern to my attention, reading on line, is it the same as a physical book? One would think it is, but the decrease in reading scores is alarming! Seems like there are alot of “bugs” to work out and I hope my child doesn’t “suffer” from being in this “experimental” way of teaching! There have been good changes in teaching technics over the years, but it seems like they get rid of the ones that work or change in the middle of a childs schooling then the child is just totally confused! I hope this program isn’t one of those things they decide to change 2 years into it because the kids are behind and have to play catch up to be able to graduate. Would really like more info on this program but it doesn’t sound like there is much. Has there been anyone that has graduated and went on to college? I would like to hear from them.
I am a former Sacramento New Technology student. I graduated with the school’s first class of 2006. I just recently graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a degree in American Studies with honors in the major, and a minor in Politics. I commend you all for your discussion for it is a vital one that not enough people engage in. I really respect the concerns listed in the last comment because I believe all parents should want to discover a school or teaching style that will help their children succeed. I also respect the creator of the blog’s desire to make sure parents are making educated decisions about their child’s high school education.
The comment “Seems like there are alot of ‘bugs’ to work out and I hope my child doesn’t “suffer” from being in this “experimental” way of teaching!” especially caught my eye. When I attended SNTHS, the school in Napa was the only other New Technology High School. Our school was still under construction, projects were being used for the first time and tested, most of the teachers were young and new, and the school’s population was very small. I certainly felt like I was involved in an educational experiment yet my overall experience was the opposite of suffering. Unfortunately there are more students than you realize that are under prepared for college level writing, many of which attended large traditional high schools. I recently spoke to a UCSC Alumni who worked as a grader for an upper division college course who said that she was appalled at the level of the student’s writing. I was definitely not an exception. I had a difficult time adjusting to college level writing but I had an advantage that others who did not attend a New Tech School did not. The one on one attention I was provided at SNTHS helped me understand what specific troubles in writing I was having. The teachers had the ability to work close with me to help pinpoint my strengths and weaknesses. So instead of realizing I had a problem with writing I realized I had a problem with summarizing too much and not analyzing and inserting my own opinion. More importantly, New Tech provided me with the confidence and skills necessary to seek help and support once attending college. Many students entering college, even those entering UCs, are not prepared to write 10 page college level research papers but as a New Tech student I felt that I was more prepared to seek how to become a better writer and not fall between the cracks.
I started attending SNTHS my sophomore year so I have experience attending a larger traditional high school as well. There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to attending both and I would not say that New Tech is right for everyone. However it is so important to provide alternative ways of learning for the students that it could greatly benefit. Though I may not have been as prepared as students at traditional high schools in mathematics, or test taking the presentations, project based learning, and exposure to technology has given me the confidence, motivation, and skills to overcome those disadvantages and much more. If I did not attend SNTHS I would have not been involved in student government, I would have not attended School District Board meetings to share my opinion about education and the problems of today’s youth, I would have not been a facilitator at the Youth Voice Town hall getting students to talk about their frustrations and challenges, I would have not entered a speech and debate tournament, I would not have the same fiery passion for education and public policy, and I certainly would not have been valedictorian of my class. Going to New Tech has helped me think better of myself and to take risks and accomplish goals I would have not had the confidence to even attempt.
New Tech is teaching students how to think critically, solve problems, and live in this every increasingly complex society. It is preparing students for job interviews, business meetings, and the ability to work with others. It is fostering leadership in students who never believed they could be a leader. It is teaching students how to be punctual, professional, and polite. In one class we had a guest speaker who discussed the importance of staying out of debt and understanding credit. In one of our projects we had to look for apartments, and create a hypothetical budget. New Tech is helping students emerge out of their shells and is preparing them for life after education.
Many of my fellow alumni are returning to their parent’s home because they cannot find jobs in this harsh economic climate. The skills and confidence I gained at SNTHS helped me acquire a job with the school’s telephone outreach program eventually becoming a supervisor. Now, because of my ability to network, encourage, lead, and work with others I have been hired as an administrative assistant for UCSC University Relations. I have aspirations of going to grad school to get a master’s in public policy, and to create a meaningful career in public service. With out the New Tech teachers that challenged, encouraged, and listened to me I would not be where I am today.
So, when considering New Technology High school think about your child’s individual needs and personality. Its small size, emphasis on technology, presentations, project based learning may not be the right learning environment for your student. But it was for me and it was for many students who I believe feel a lot less lost in life because of their high-school experience.
Thank you so much for all of your comments on this subject. I guess there is no real way to prepare your kids for everything the world will throw at them, even if they attend a regular high school. Knowing how much New Tech helped you with your confidence, was incouraging to hear. We have a very large high school, it would be very easy to fall through the cracks. I will give this program a chance and hope my son enjoys it as much as you did. Thank you for your encouraging comments I feel alittle better about the program. I am very happy that you have a job you enjoy and are striving for more. Best wishes to you in all that you wish to accomplish in your career!