Being Future Ready Enriches Lives And The Community
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tiger Pride-
“Our mission,” says David Robertson, chief academic officer, “is to inspire and equip all students to continuously acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others. We want our students to become all they were meant to be!”
Recognized nationally at the White House as a top 100 Future Ready School Corporation in November, WCS prepares students for the future through a wide variety of programs and practices, including technology as part of the curriculum, through the 1:1 program, the WILL STEM bus, Project Lead the Way K-12 and more.
Through the 1:1 program (one iPad for every student), each student in sixth grade has access to a device, with seventh and eighth grade being added for 2015-2016.
“We have an amazing technology team that is constantly adding new technologies and solutions to meet the needs of our students in an equitable manner,” says Brad Hagg, chief technology officer. Technology in the classroom is the gateway to 21st century learning.
“Students need to understand technology and its proper use,” says Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. “We’re working with a generation that doesn’t remember a world without Facebook or Twitter. We have to adapt our procedures and practices to match where our students are coming from. Our classrooms are where students properly learn how to use these skills.”
Technology in the classroom starts with dedicated teachers, intent upon learning and staying current.
“We’ve been careful to train teachers to use technology to accelerate learning rather than substitute technology in place of learning,” says Nicole Baird, instructional coach with a focus on STEM.
Robertson adds, “We seek to use technology with students in a way that prepares them for their future rather than just replacing old activities.”
The WILL (Warsaw Inquiry Learning Laboratory) STEM bus is a mobile lab that focuses on inquiry and provides the opportunity for student-driven learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“The WILL bus breaks apart the man-in-a-lab-coat stereotype by having students think like scientists and engineers, which are jobs that will be high need in the future,” says Baird.
Hagg adds, “WILL allows students to have amazing learning opportunities that continue back in the classroom.”
Project Lead the Way incorporates STEM-based education using a curriculum that brings real-life, project-based learning to students. The skills students acquire can then be transferred into future careers, thanks also to the partnership with OrthoWorx and the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
“I am currently teaching our PLTW Biomedical Program at Warsaw Area Career Center,” says Rosemary Love. “This curriculum provides students with the opportunity to solve real-world problems, and to obtain lab skills they will use in future college classes or careers. My students are challenged to learn in groups and individually with the instructor acting as a facilitator. This allows students to take an ownership of the content. This curriculum is amazing at presenting the chance for the students to explore many careers within the biomedical field. Plus, it grows them as leaders in the classroom and provides many opportunities to present their ideas to adults in the biomedical professions in our own community.”
Students participating in the advanced placement and dual-credit opportunities have a jump start on a successful higher-education experience and career.
“Dual-credit offerings at our school have not only increased in what we are offering, but have enabled our students to obtain around a semester’s worth of credit while they are in high school,” says Love. “This program is expanding exponentially and the course offerings have culminated in savings of over $1 million for our community.”
Being future-ready isn’t just for the success of students – it’s also to enhance the future of our community.
“Our community is rich with STEM-related industries (agriculture, orthopedic, poultry, manufacturing, and medical, just to name a few),” says Christine Bonifield, math instructional coach. “Whether our students remain in our community or further their boundaries, we need to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully pursue their dreams.”
WCS looks forward to the future as expansions of existing programs continue and new programs are introduced, encouraging students to take steps toward individual success.
“I enjoy listening to students share their knowledge. Daily I am taken aback by our amazing students,” says Bonifield. “Take a trip to our schools' websites and Facebook pages to see pictures and videos of the outstanding things happening in our classrooms each day of the week.”[[In-content Ad]]
“Our mission,” says David Robertson, chief academic officer, “is to inspire and equip all students to continuously acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others. We want our students to become all they were meant to be!”
Recognized nationally at the White House as a top 100 Future Ready School Corporation in November, WCS prepares students for the future through a wide variety of programs and practices, including technology as part of the curriculum, through the 1:1 program, the WILL STEM bus, Project Lead the Way K-12 and more.
Through the 1:1 program (one iPad for every student), each student in sixth grade has access to a device, with seventh and eighth grade being added for 2015-2016.
“We have an amazing technology team that is constantly adding new technologies and solutions to meet the needs of our students in an equitable manner,” says Brad Hagg, chief technology officer. Technology in the classroom is the gateway to 21st century learning.
“Students need to understand technology and its proper use,” says Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. “We’re working with a generation that doesn’t remember a world without Facebook or Twitter. We have to adapt our procedures and practices to match where our students are coming from. Our classrooms are where students properly learn how to use these skills.”
Technology in the classroom starts with dedicated teachers, intent upon learning and staying current.
“We’ve been careful to train teachers to use technology to accelerate learning rather than substitute technology in place of learning,” says Nicole Baird, instructional coach with a focus on STEM.
Robertson adds, “We seek to use technology with students in a way that prepares them for their future rather than just replacing old activities.”
The WILL (Warsaw Inquiry Learning Laboratory) STEM bus is a mobile lab that focuses on inquiry and provides the opportunity for student-driven learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“The WILL bus breaks apart the man-in-a-lab-coat stereotype by having students think like scientists and engineers, which are jobs that will be high need in the future,” says Baird.
Hagg adds, “WILL allows students to have amazing learning opportunities that continue back in the classroom.”
Project Lead the Way incorporates STEM-based education using a curriculum that brings real-life, project-based learning to students. The skills students acquire can then be transferred into future careers, thanks also to the partnership with OrthoWorx and the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
“I am currently teaching our PLTW Biomedical Program at Warsaw Area Career Center,” says Rosemary Love. “This curriculum provides students with the opportunity to solve real-world problems, and to obtain lab skills they will use in future college classes or careers. My students are challenged to learn in groups and individually with the instructor acting as a facilitator. This allows students to take an ownership of the content. This curriculum is amazing at presenting the chance for the students to explore many careers within the biomedical field. Plus, it grows them as leaders in the classroom and provides many opportunities to present their ideas to adults in the biomedical professions in our own community.”
Students participating in the advanced placement and dual-credit opportunities have a jump start on a successful higher-education experience and career.
“Dual-credit offerings at our school have not only increased in what we are offering, but have enabled our students to obtain around a semester’s worth of credit while they are in high school,” says Love. “This program is expanding exponentially and the course offerings have culminated in savings of over $1 million for our community.”
Being future-ready isn’t just for the success of students – it’s also to enhance the future of our community.
“Our community is rich with STEM-related industries (agriculture, orthopedic, poultry, manufacturing, and medical, just to name a few),” says Christine Bonifield, math instructional coach. “Whether our students remain in our community or further their boundaries, we need to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully pursue their dreams.”
WCS looks forward to the future as expansions of existing programs continue and new programs are introduced, encouraging students to take steps toward individual success.
“I enjoy listening to students share their knowledge. Daily I am taken aback by our amazing students,” says Bonifield. “Take a trip to our schools' websites and Facebook pages to see pictures and videos of the outstanding things happening in our classrooms each day of the week.”[[In-content Ad]]
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