The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Mar. 29, 2024

VWCS staff, parents meet on New Tech

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A group of Van Wert High School and Middle School parents met with Van Wert City Schools teachers and administrators on Thursday to talk about concerns parents have with the district’s New Tech project-based learning curriculum.

Some of the parents who attended a meeting on Van Wert City Schools' project-based learning curriculum listen to discussion on the issue. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)
Some of the parents who attended a meeting on Van Wert City Schools’ project-based learning curriculum listen to discussion on the issue. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

The meeting was a continuation of one held in August to begin a dialogue between parents and educators and provide more information on project-based learning (PBL).

During Thursday’s meeting, VWHS Principal Bill Clifton led the discussion on PBL, while Chris Covey, lead teacher on the New Tech curriculum, provided more information on the program and math teacher Charlie Witten gave statistics showing district Ohio Graduation Test scores remained strong for students in the New Tech program.

Superintendent Ken Amstutz also began the meeting with a welcome to parents who attended the meeting.

The bulk of the meeting was used to answer five basic concerns parents had expressed during the August meeting. Those concerns included:

  • Improvement of the group contract process and student accountability
  • Assuring time is used in a productive manner under New Tech
  • Providing data supporting PBL at VWCS
  • Ensuring there is enough focus on the New Tech teaching model
  • Are students who do the project work assigned receiving appropriate grades?

The first concern was addressed by Covey, who said a sample contract is being developed that would be consistent for all PBL classes, while guidelines for managing group dynamics are being developed for teachers.

Teachers will also take an early and active role in issuing warnings and dismissals when necessary, taking some of the burden for “firing” non-productive group members off the shoulders of other students in that group. The wording would also be changed from “firing” to dismissal, removal or reassignment.

Covey said teachers would conduct random contract checks periodically and that contracts would visible to students on a daily basis.

To held ensure students are more productive, a new cell phone policy has been adopted banning cell-phone use during class periods, unless a student receives limited permission from a teacher.

Teachers will also be encouraged to use a Task Management Log to keep students on task, while group sizes may also be reduced to better distribute work on a given project. A system such as Class Dojo or Invisible Notes could also be used to help monitor time spent on task, while additional or supplemental activities or assignments can be provided during presentations or work time.

For their part, parents would be asked to support the district’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)/cell phone policy and encourage students to use all technology appropriately.

Parents had also challenged district teachers and administrators to show that PBL is not an experiment and that students are learning in the teaching model.

Clifton said that a data team has been formed to collect local data from the New Tech and other district PBL programs, while information from the OGT, Plan Test and ACT test scores from this year’s juniors later in the year would be collected and provided to parents.

To parents’ concern that state content is being addressed adequately, the district responded that content scores remain solid for students in the New Tech program, while adding that teachers start with the standards when developing projects for the students.

Clifton, Amstutz and other VWCS staff also assured parents that each student was graded only on their work on a particular project, noting that a student who does not do the work assigned would not impact the grades of others in that group.

Prior to the start of the meeting, parents also filled out sticky notes with additional concerns that will be addressed during a meeting to be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 16, in the Goedde Building.

POSTED: 09/19/14 at 7:44 am. FILED UNDER: News