Students Learn New Tech Way

LINCOLN — School officials and administrators agreed four years ago to implement real-world experience with a new initiative to create higher achievement for its students.

Lincoln’s New Tech High School is the initiative which brings students together in project- based learning to help one another. The goal was to help students take charge of their own learning, according to school officials at the time of its implementation. Teachers tell students what to learn based on education standards and from there students research their subject, learning as they go.

“During the 2009-2010 school year, a team of administrators, teachers and school board members visited New Tech Schools in Texas and Illinois and attended a New Tech Conference in Chicago,” said master teacher Crystal Beshears.

“In the spring of 2010, planning for implementation began for the high school, which was then 9-12th grades,” said Beshears. “Since implementing, the high school has increased the use of project and problem-based learning across all content areas. Teachers continue to work to embed college and job-ready skills, such as oral and written communication and collaboration expectations, within their content standards.”

“When Lincoln New Tech High School’s Annual Report to the Public was held [in September], it provided an overview of the past school year and highlighted some of our student and staff ’s achievements,” said Becki Griscom, executive director of support services.

Students work in teams to acquire and apply knowledge and skills to solve problems. As a one-to-one computer school, students use technology to complete projects while learning the skills they’ll need to be self-starting adults outside high school, according to Griscom

Lincoln New Tech High School is fully accredited yearly by the Arkansas Department of Education and AdvancED since 2009.