It's a GREAT day to be a Knight!
Norway Vulcan Area School News for February 17, 2014

In the Norway-Vulcan Area Schools, change is everywhere. If you think back to last year at this time, how much different is the way you go about your normal school day? I know mine is almost completely different. I think back to last year having a locker full of books and papers. Now I look in my locker and see only 2 books and 2 notebooks. I think about the teachers having to argue over who had the rights to the computer lab each hours. Now I see technology everywhere. I think about the teachers that I couldn't imagine using all the technology that our school has given us the opportunity to have and yet they are using it in more ways than I could have imagined.

One of the changes is a new course offered here at Norway High School. It is called Tech Integration and Applications. This course teaches students a whole new level of technology. In addition to lessons completed in a new NHS iTunesU course, students get hands-on and project based learning experience in troubleshooting, integrating technology and so much more. The students who take this course get to facilitate the iPad distribution and maintenance and see what it is like to help run the technology in a 1:1 (every student has a device) school district. This could prove to be an invaluable skill since this is likely how every school environment will be someday soon. The 'techies', as they are called, will also be instructing on technology topics using video and screencasting on the school YouTube channel. This course allows students to really learn the ins and outs of technology and in addition, run the new coffee shop and tech help desk. I am enrolled in this course and in my opinion the tech class is and will be one of the most useful courses offered. For students looking to get into computer technologies after high school this is an ideal class. It doesn't only benefit the students though because the students in the course are accustomed to explaining technology to their own parents or elders, and can explain to other students, teachers or anybody else who has a tech question in a simplified way to help them understand. I think the 1:1 program is a great thing. It puts students into a better, more exciting, learning environment. I honestly think this is one of the best things in education.

Another change is the increased communication between teachers, students and parents. Norway High School sophomore Jamie LaCount states, "The way we are learning has changed. We can always have contact with our teachers for questions and answers with our school provided iPads using GMail and edmodo". Several use Remind101 or edmodo to alert students and parents of upcoming tests, important class announcements and more. Teachers around the building are using their Weebly website pages to help students learn by posting the notes, practice problems, videos, & homework!  Mr. Adams is very active on his Weebly page posting extra credit assignments for students to complete if they just take the time to complete it. The Apple TVs in all of the classrooms throughout the school are great for when students have projects that are on their iPads. All they have to do is connect to the Apple TV and they can present to the entire class right from their desk! Certain high school courses are available now in iTunes U and our school is applying to be an iTunes U approved institution and has just become an edmodo school with their own domain. A walk down the halls of our school will show a brand new gym and bleachers, a new weight room, flat screen TVs which will soon display announcements, QR codes on the walls, students using iPads at every turn and even six new teachers and a new technology director. Change is everywhere and it truly is a 'GREAT day to be a Knight'.