A MODEL OF 21ST CENTURY
TEACHING & LEARNING:
TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
CHALLENGE
To create a rigorous, relevant,
student-centered learning
environment that better
prepares all students for the
21st century.
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VISION
Tech Valley High School serves as a model – in the region, the state
and beyond – of innovative public education that is based in strong
partnerships and focuses on educating and inspiring students to
embrace the increasingly important world of math and science.
MISSION
Tech Valley High School provides a unique and innovative studentcentered educational opportunity, engages students in current
emerging technologies, and supports the growth and economy of the
region.
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CONTEXT
Our current education system: Built for another era.
American workers: In direct competition with workers around
the world.
Tech Valley’s leaders agree: Tomorrow’s workforce must be
able to collaborate, think critically, communicate & be selfdirected.
New Technology Foundation of Napa, Calif.: Identifies region
as “promising” & gives $400,000 grant for high school to be a
“replication site.”
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A PROVEN MODEL: NEW TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION
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Established in 1999
Project of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Network of 42 schools across US
Technology tools
Training & professional development/coaching
$400,000 grant to Tech Valley High – its first in NYS & Northeast
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Tech Valley High School in Brief
• Regional public high school with math-science-technology theme
• Joint venture of Questar III & Capital Region BOCES
• Launched in fall 2007 with 40 freshmen by design; 38 more
in fall 2008
• Open to students in 47 school districts in seven counties
• Diverse student body
• Located at Pitney Bowes Software; Fall, 2009 will be located at
University at Albany East Campus
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MODEL OF 21ST CENTURY TEACHING & LEARNING:
TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
1.
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Small school
Project-based & studentcentered learning
3. Integrated curriculum
4. 21st century skills & NYS
learning standards
5. Technology platform
6. Partnerships
7. Contributing to high school reform movement
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TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL MODEL:
SMALL SCHOOL
Why?
• Better able to establish positive culture
(respect, responsibility & trust)
• Individual learning – Student Learning Teams
• Teachers “share” students, encourage
collaboration
• “Professional” environment
• Students help manage school
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TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL MODEL:
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, STUDENT-CENTERED
• Real-world challenges & implications
• Real-world assessment
• Students find solutions to unforeseen
problems & unpredicted obstacles
• Immersed in teamwork
• Responsible for own learning & team learning
• Integrates NYS Learning Standards & Key Ideas
• Goes beyond state standards
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Sample Project: “Probing the Hudson”
Real-World Challenge: Determine if the Hudson River will be safe for
swimming in 2009.
Project: Students develop river analysis plan, do field research,
investigate data & publish a report.
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“Probing the Hudson:” Meets NYS Learning Standards &
Key Ideas
• MST Standard 1: Analysis, inquiry & design using scientific inquiry
methods
• MST Standard 2: Use appropriate information technologies
• MST Standard 3: Applying mathematics in real world settings
• MST Standard 7: Applying mathematics, science & technology to
address real-life problems
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“Probing the Hudson:” Co-designed, co-taught & coevaluated in conjunction with experts
• Beacon Institute Center for
Advanced Environmental
Technology
• Hudson River Basin Watch
• NYS Department of Environment
Conservation
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TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL MODEL:
INTEGRATED CURRICULUM
Global Analysis & Media
Explorations (G.A.M.E.)
• Global History & Geography
• English
Environmental Analysis
• Integrated Algebra
• Environmental Science
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http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/
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TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL MODEL:
21ST CENTURY SKILLS & NYS LEARNING STANDARDS
Content: New York State Learning Standards
21ST century skills
Collaboration
Information literacy
Critical thinking
Innovation
Communication: oral, written, mathematical, graphic & artistic
Citizenship & ethics
Technology literacy
Self-direction
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Global competition
requires a different
kind of education.
In order for America to
compete globally and secure
its future, US workers must
develop a high level of
creativity and innovation that
requires a new approach to
education.
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TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL MODEL:
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
Tools for communicating,
collaborating & learning
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Role of Technology & 1:1 Computer Environment
Teachers:
• Store projects in digital briefcases
• Post daily course agendas & student grades to the Web
Students:
• Teams share work digitally
• Have own e-mail accounts & server space
• Create digital portfolios of their work
• Performance is captured digitally
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Technology
Tools:
Project
Briefcase
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Technology
Tools:
Course
Calendar
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TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL MODEL:
PARTNERSHIPS
More than 125 entrepreneurial Tech Valley leaders are shaping & sustaining the
school:
K-12
 Corporations
Technology companies
 Economic developers
 Chambers of commerce
 Colleges & universities
 Organized labor
 Government
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Partners Help Co-Design, Co-Teach & Co-Assess Projects
 1st Playable Productions
 Applied Nano Works
 Center for Advanced Environmental
Technology
 Cornell University Cooperative
Extension
 Denison Farm
 NYSDEC
 Hudson Basin River Watch
 IBM
 Local #7 Plumbers & Steamfitters
 Mohawk Paper Company
 North Albany Wastewater
Treatment Plant
 Northeast Analytical
 Q-Drive
 Rensselaer County Soil & Water
Conservation District
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
 US Geological Survey
 Wadsworth Center
 WAMC
 WMHT
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TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL MODEL:
CONTRIBUTING TO HIGH SCHOOL REFORM MOVEMENT
Tech Valley High School Promise
“…we will deliver a superb academic program…
…use Tech Valley High as a crucible within which we will
innovate and create educational improvement and spread
that within the region…
…create opportunities for schools like this across the State
of New York….”
Paul Puccio, Chair, Tech Valley High School Operating Board
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Results:
Standardized exams
College and Work Readiness Assessment
NTN School Success Rubric
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COLLEGE AND WORK READINESS
ASSESSMENT (CWRA)
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The College and Work Readiness Assessment (CWRA) measures how students
perform on constructed response tasks that require an integrated set of critical
thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication skills. The
CWRA is delivered entirely over the Internet in a proctored setting.
PARTICIPATING IN THE CWRA PROJECT All schools in the project test freshmen
in the fall and seniors in the spring. This assessment provides at the end of the first
year a measure of change between freshmen and senior years and by following the
freshmen for the remaining three years, schools may track the progress of each
successive freshman class. Most importantly, the CWRA allows you to compare the
value-added results from your school to results at other, similar institutions and to
college freshmen in our national sample of colleges and universities
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QUESTIONS?
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