Carolina High & Academy to Implement New Tech Academy
Carolina High and Academy, a magnet school for engineering and health professions, will implement the New Tech program beginning in the 2014-15 school year. Incoming freshmen will be introduced to New Tech in August, and a grade will be added each year until the program serves students school-wide.
The New Tech program utilizes a project-based learning approach that engages students with a dynamic, rigorous curriculum. Through project-based learning, students solve complex, real-world problems through collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. These engaging projects encourage students to master the skills necessary to be successful in higher education and careers.
Carolina High Academy’s New Tech program will provide every ninth grader with a personal device. Courses will be taught using integrated curriculum where students learn about the relationship of different subjects to each other and to a common theme. For example, World Bio will integrate World Geography with Biology, Digital Literacy will incorporate English 1 and Introduction to Computers, and Quantitative Thinking will incorporate Physical Science and Algebra 1.
The New Tech approach to learning will allow more Carolina students to take Advanced Placement and dual credit courses, as well as participate in internships with local businesses.
Teachers will use a computer-based management system to access projects that have been created by members of New Tech Network from around the world. In addition, New Tech’s structure changes the way teachers work, requiring that they receive a year of professional development before beginning to teach the program and yearly professional development until the program is fully implemented.
“We are changing the way we educate our students,” said Carolina Principal Michael Delaney. “They will have more control and choice over their education because the projects will bring relevance to the content. Students will investigate, explore, and define meaning in their classes,” said Principal Michael Delaney.
Carolina High and Academy will be one of two GCS schools to implement the New Tech program. Announced earlier, J. L. Mann High will launch New Tech @ Mann this fall.
About New Tech Network
The New Tech Network has 134 schools in 23 states and Australia, including two schools in South Carolina – Cougar New Tech in Walterboro and Scott’s Branch High School in Summerton. New Tech schools have a 97 percent graduation rate and 98 percent of their students are accepted into two- and four-year colleges.