BNTHS+New+Student+Survival+Guide

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====**__Bloomington New Tech High School Survival Guide __**==== ====First off, welcome to New Tech. We hope this guide will be helpful and informative, and will aid you in your transtition into a New Tech high school. ====

Your first question is probably "What is New Tech? What is different about a New Tech school?".

There are 41 New Tech schools across nine states in the United States, including eight in Indiana. Sixty-five percent are located on a campus with another school and the rest stand alone. New Tech is based around the theory of project based learning and group collaboration.

**__ Technology At New Tech __** New Tech is different other high schools. For example, New Tech is based on technology. When it’s appropriate, you can use cell phones, iPods, computers/laptops, etc. New Tech has an acceptable use policy for all electronics. You can only use electronics when it’s appropriate. For example, when a teacher is speaking, you shouldn’t be using technology. Also, every classroom has a sign for use of technology. One says “No Tech”, which means you shouldn’t be using technology at the time. Another one says “Tech OK”, which means at that moment in time, it’s acceptable to use your technology. There are responsibilities and consequences of having your technology to use. Your responsibilities for using this technology are that you should look out for the technology. Don’t lose track of or break any of the technology. Use your technology when it’s necessary. Now the consequences for using your technology are that if you use the technology when it isn’t appropriate, the teacher or any other staff has the right to take it away until the end of class. Use your technology __WHEN IT’S NECESSARY__. 

Tip: Personal laptops are permitted at New Tech but internet access is not permitted, so just leave it at home.

**__ Project Based Learning __** Here at New Tech, the focus is on project-based learning (PBL). Project-based learning brings together intellectual inquiry, rigorous real-world standards and student engagement in relevant and meaningful work. Many other schools offer project-based learning but New Tech is unique because students are thoroughly immersed in it. Project-based learning looks different at New Tech than other schools. Students are used to the learning technique like in elementary and middle school. Project-based learning prepares students for when they get out in the real world. Businesses operate off of projects in groups, like New Tech does. New Tech is very different from other schools. One reason, as you should know by now, is the project-based learning. Every thing you do will be a project in groups. It’s just like having a real job. You can get assigned group roles and get fired from your group, which you shouldn’t do. If your group does a good job, you will get a good grade on the project.

Part of the main framework of New Tech schools is a website called PeBL. PeBL is used to organize your classes, view calendars and events for your classes and also is a large utility for teachers.


 * PeBL Screenshots (Below)

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***Below is a slideshow presentation of the Indiana Core 40 graduation requirements. **



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 Below are some interviews of current students and staff at Bloomington New Tech High School.

__**Cris Leyton - Sophmore - Class of 2012**__

Q: What are your hobbies? A: My favorite hobby is soccer.

Q: What are your interests? A: I’m interested in math, soccer, science and medicine.

Q: What was your favorite vacation and why? A: My favorite vacation was 2004-2005 to Chile. Got to see relatives for the first time and also got to see my homeland.

Q: What do you like about New Tech High School? A: I like how New Tech has different learning styles that are different than mainstream schools.

Q: How do you think this school could be improved? A: I’d like to see more sports teams.

Q: Why did you decide to come to New Tech? A: I wanted to try something new.

Q: Why do you think that New Tech is better than the other schools here in Bloomington? A: More freedom about what we get to learn.

Q: How did New Tech change your view at using technology while you are at school? A: Learned the right and wrong times to use my iPod or cell phone.

Q: How does PeBL affect your learning? A: It helps me keep up with my assignments and due dates for my various classes.

Q: How can you be a successful student and New Tech citizen? A: Turning homework in on time and coming to class prepared helps me be a successful student and a successful New Tech citizen.

**__Griffin Sinn - Sophmore - Class of 2012 __**

 Q: What are your hobbies? A: My hobbies are guitar, long board, chilling with friends, shooting friends in airsoft, and videogames (occasionally).

Q: What was your favorite vacation and why? A: My favorite vacation was when we drove 3,000 miles to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, and other places. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Q: What do you like about New Tech High School? A: I like the freedom and the opportunities of a project-based learning school

Q: How do you think that this School could be improved? A: I think that there could be more hands-on field trips and big speakers when walking into the school. “If we could have different genres of music everyday; like Madness Monday, Techno Tuesday, Wild Wednesday, Tricky Thursday, and Frap Friday.”

Q: Why did you decide to go to New Tech? A: “cuz”

Q: Why do you think that New Tech is better than the other schools here in Bloomington? A: I like New Tech better because there is more freedom, never having to ask the question why we are learning this, no busy work, and project-based learning.

Q: How did New Tech change your view at using technology while you are at school? A: “I think that using technology at school should be allowed because most students know the wrong and right times to use them.”

Q: How can students become successful and a good New Tech citizen? A: “Thy shall becometh a good student at New Techeth byeth doing all work that your groupeth shalt tell you to doeth.”

Q: How does Pebl affect students learning? A: It helps us manage time and helps us to be responsible.

Fun Quote by Griffin

“No running, no climbing or jumping, no offensive language, no unsportsmanlike conduct, and no physical contact.”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">**__Mrs.Burke - Biology<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> __** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Q: What are your hobbies? A: My hobbies are gardening, reading, hiking, and sewing. For example she makes quilts and clothing.

Q: What was your favorite vacation and why? A: My favorite vacation was my trip to Tanzania in Africa. I wanted to go there for a long time. The people there were wonderful and I enjoyed the wildlife.

Q: What do you like about New Tech High School? A: I like New Tech because of the faculty. I love the people that I work with and the students. I love the projects and the freedom.

Q: How do you think that this school could be improved? A: I think this school needs an outside green space.

Q: Why did you decide to work here at New Tech? A: I decided to work here at New Tech because I have always been project oriented and I like the size of the school.

Q: Why do you think that New Tech is better than other schools here in Bloomington? A: I think that different schools are better than others. I think that projects at New Tech really connect to real world experiences.

Q: How did New Tech change your view at using technology while you are at school? A: Using technology here at New Tech did not change my view of how we used them before.

Q: How can Students become successful and a good New Tech citizen? A: I think students can be successful and good New Tech citizens if they are responsible and if they are self motivated.

Q: How does PeBL affect students learning? A: I think PeBL affect students learning by making it really easy to find classes information, due dates, and it helps keep students organized. “It’s like a giant briefcase”

Fun Quote: “Great Spirits have always encouraged violent oppositions from mediocre minds.” - Albert Einstein

__**<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Mr.Schrader - American Studies **__ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Q: What are your hobbies? A: My hobbies are golf, messing around on the computer, and spending time with my five month old daughter.

Q: What was your favorite vacation and why? A: My favorite vacation is when I go to the beach in Georgia with my family.

Q: What do you like about New Tech High School? A: I like teaching in an environment where students have more freedom.

Q: How do you think that this school could be improved? A: I think that the school days should be longer and we should have a balance year long calendar.

Q: Why did you decide to work at New Tech? A: I thought that this was a one chance thing and working here was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Q: Do you think New Tech is better than other schools? Why? A: I think that this method of learning is better not necessarily the school.

Q: How did New Tech change your view at using technology while you are in school? A: It basically didn’t

Q: How can students become successful and a good citizen New Tech citizen? A: I think that the better you do here and the more willing to try better opportunities.

Q: How does PeBL and any other websites we use here at school affect students learning? A: It teaches them to use tools like adults in the real world.

Fun Quote: “Be what you ain’t, cuz if you be what you ain’t, you ain’t what you is.”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">__**Mr. Wood - Geometry Teacher**__ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Q: What are your hobbies? A: My hobbies are rock climbing, playing music (instruments: banjo, fiddle, and guitar). I have three dogs and I like to go hiking with them. I also like buildings and carpentry.

Q: What was your favorite vacation and why? A: My favorite vacation is when I go on any climbing vacation with my dogs and my wife.

Q: What do you like about New Tech High School? A: I like to teach skills that are extremely valuable. “I like the fact that I can teach math but I can also teach collaborative techniques.

Q: How do you think that this school could be improved? A: I think that we should have more funding and support from the MCCSC administration.

Q: Why did you decide to work here at New Tech? A: I wanted to teach math through PeBL to be more meaningful to students. “When I went to school, it felt like a prison.”

Q: Do you think New Tech is better than other school? Why? A: I like teaching skills that are not taught in other schools and project base learning is meaningful. “This school is designed to fit 21 century.”

Q: How did New Tech change your view at using technology during school? A: I think that technology went from being a distraction to creating a powerful product.

Q: How can students become successful and a good New Tech citizen? A: I think that students have to be open to try something new “their way,” they have to be willing to work through the project base learning system.

Q: How does PeBL and any other websites we use here at school affect student learning? A: PeBL, Moodle, and Google Docs create a frame work for all the work we do and it organizes time.

Fun Quote: “Students are people too.”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">​ **__Mrs.Gross - Councilor__** Q: What are your hobbies? A: My hobbies are hiking with my dog, running, reading, collecting pottery, and I travel quite a bit.

Q: What was your favorite vacation and why? A: my favorite vacation was going to Quebec. I had a mountain lodge, it was fall, had good friends, and the weather was nice.

Q: What do you like about New Tech High School? A: At first it was the size of the school because it was easier to get to know everyone and their families. It was also easier to accomplish tasks.

Q: How do you think that this school could be improved? A: I think that improvement will come with time. I think that we are doing everything well and everything will get better as the years go by.

Q: Why did you decided to work here at New Tech? A: I thought that working at an opening school would be a professional move and I was drawn to New Tech mostly by the size.

Q: Do you think New Tech is better than other schools and why? I think that this school has different things to offer. We can be with the student and get to know them, better opportunities, and better experiences. So I don’t think that this better but its just different.

Q: How did new Tech change your view at using technology during school? A: Well, I think that I am the least drawn to technology here. I was kind of forced to learn but it was good.

Q: How can students become more successful and a good New Tech citizen? A: I think that students should take advantage of the opportunities. They should take advantage of what they learn in class and it will help with the real world.

Q: How does PeBL and any other website we use here at school affect students learning? A: They are just wonderful tools. It gives students access 24/7 to any assignments and grades.

Fun Quote: “In the end What matters most Is what was true And truly felt And how we treated One another.”

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">*Thanks to Mrs.Gross for the slideshow presentation.

All pictures, screenshots, and videos were taken by Miles Reiter