The Principal's Bark

Week 19-Back to school!

Week 18-Merry Christmas to all!

Take time this holiday season to enjoy the family and friends that surround you.  This season more than ever, it has come to the attention of high school staff just how needy many HDHS students really are in these tough economic times.  Knowing this, Family and Consumer Science teacher, Jane Hoegh, and Counselor Tricia Christiansen have led an effort to find out which students are most in need of goods and materials this holiday season and ensure their needs are met.  HIgh school students have graciously let teachers know about friends and relatives who are without food, a coat, or Christmas gifts this year.  Then, staff have graciously brought in needed materials for these high school students.  Furthermore, some generous families in the community have donated roughly 12 coats for high school students who are without coats this cold winter season.  The holiday season is truly about giving and at HDHS this holiday season giving has been modeled and performed in classic fashion.

I personally want to wish the high school staff, district employees, parents, students, and community members a joyous holiday season and happy new year!

As the close of the 2009 year happens and we look forward to 2010 I especially think about preparing students for what is left of the 21st Century.  Whether for better or worse we may not agree or know.  None-the-less, our world is changing.  Jobs are different, people are more mobile than ever, technology continues to get cheaper and faster, the economy is questionable, terrorism has caused wars, and the world is indeed flatter than it has ever been.  We are striving to prepare H-D students for a world that we know will be different than what we grew up in and have lived.  But, we truly don't know exactly how it will look and what it will entail.  What is more scary is to realize that as we prepare students for the 21st century a decade has truly almost passed and our time to define the students of the 21st century is more demanding than ever before.

It has been said that it takes the pubic education system 30 years or more to actually change. And even then, one could argue that the changes that come still mimic 1900's school houses with traditional boards for teachers to write on and desks lined up in rows.  As we consider defining HDHS graduates for the 21st century we must first consider how to best educate them.  This may be the toughest part since educators are the ones who usually enjoyed and had success in the traditional education system.  But do bubble tests, lectures, and note taking truly prepare students to compete for jobs against students from India, China, and Europe.  Hard to tell.  But what we do know is that traditional teaching may not engage as many students as it has in years past.  How can teachers today compete with video games, cell phones, and computers.  They may not be able to. So, perhaps we should consider using these devices that students use so transparently outside of school inside of school.  Perhaps that is how educational will evolve.  Perhaps that is teaching in and for the 21st century?

Week 17-Semester tests approaching.

It's hard to believe that the holiday break is right around the corner.  Prior to the holiday break, high school students will engage in semester finals.  Semester finals are before the holiday break for a variety of reasons that include having the tests taken prior to break, giving the teachers time to grade tests, preparing students for college finals, and less time spent on reviewing for semester finals which allows for more instructional time for other content.  This year, after holiday break there will be 10 school days that teachers can use to get in one last unit for the semester.  The semester test scheduled for Friday, Dec. 18, Monday, Dec. 20, and Tuesday, Dec. 21st can be downloaded below.

Download Fall 09 Semester Test Schedule

On a separate note, I was scheduled to visit Westside High School in Omaha, NE this week.  Thanks to the good old Iowa weather the event was postponed.  Apple is hosting schools from around the midwest to see this Omaha high school because of its schedule and technology.  This high school has a premier set up with technology allowing each student to have a laptop for the school and personal use.  Though I was disappointed to put off this visit to this high school I'm hopeful to still make the trip.  Furthermore, I am hosting a couple Apple reps to Hampton-Dumont High School this week to analyze what it would take for our high school to put laptops in the hands of every student next year.  Some might question how this would work, the cost, or whether or not it is necessary.  I will briefly answer each of these questions one at a time with eagerness to get this initiative off the ground but caution that something like this will need both school board approval and community and staff support.

How would the 1:1 initiative work?  I have seen this initiative work on many occasions.  First, I was part of the first class at Buena Vista University that had a personal laptop on a wireless campus.  I am confident that my three years of using a personal laptop has made me a more effective professional today.  I have seen it work and want to give that same advantage to our students.

What is the cost of the 1:1 initiative?  The average cost of putting a personal computer in the hands of a student is approximately $400 per student each year.  This includes hardware, software, insurance, and formatting.  This does not include wireless access points and servers that would be necessary to equip the high school with.  If you do the math, this would mean that with just over 400 students in the high school, the cost to the district would be around $160,000/year.  This is a significant cost.  However, there are multiple ways in which giving each student a laptop will save money in other areas.  Most desktop computers at the high school could be used throughout the rest of the district limiting the technology need for other buildings.  With digital drop boxes on the computers the cost of printing would be reduced.  Like our social studies department, other curricular areas may consider to purchase less textbooks and purchase a cheaper online curriculum which would save money.  Lastly, the hope would be that students in our county that are attending other schools may consider wanting a laptop computer and come to HDHS which creates revenue for the school district.  Another timely revenue source is the Microsoft settlement funds that our district will receive.  Hampton-Dumont High School alone stands to receive almost $70,000.  This timely revenue source can be used on laptop computers and could jump start the 1:1 initiative.  None-the-less, this initiative is a substantial cost but very worthy.

Is the 1:1 laptop initiative necessary? In short, yes!  First, it is an educational game changer.  A laptop for every student would ensure that learning is a constant.  Student could use the laptop at home, during the school day, and whenever they need to.  In a district with 41% of our students earning free or reduced lunches it is realistic to say that not all students in our district have the same opportunities to learn.  Some students I work with have never been out of Franklin County let alone own their own computer.  As the Iowa Core Curriculum comes out and 21st Century Skills must be met and assessed for every student now is the time for us to prepare each and every student for college.  If they don't actually attend college at least they were prepared.  And if they were prepared for college they are most likely prepared for a career.  Though the state and district budgets are as tight as ever, we still only get one shot to educate each student each school year.  We don't have any "do overs" to prepare students for post-secondary success.  I am confident and comfortable in getting a laptop in the hands of every HDHS student.  I want them to be able to take this computer to each class, use it as instructed, and take it home to explore and continue to learn after the school day ends.  There will be issues to resolve with this innovative but the benefits for students far outweigh the potential issues that arise. 

Consider learning more about the 1:1 laptop initiative and related research in the following articles.

Download ItsMyLaptop

Download ResearchLearningPrograms

Download 1 to 1 Learning Analysis

Week 16-Get your questions answered here.