ELNORA — Superintendent Robert Bell presented the North Daviess school board with information about 21st Century Learning and the outcome of the trip to the New Technology High School in Napa, Calif., where three teachers and three school board members toured.

The focal point of 21st Century Learning is project-based learning, where students work in groups to solve challenging problems that are real, curriculum-based and often interdisciplinary. The students decide how to approach a problem and what activities to pursue. The program integrates technology into nearly every aspect of learning.

Board member Bob Woodruff said that students would still be in the traditional classroom with one or more teachers, but that students would be in groups learning from each other and taking a more hands-on approach to learning. Woodruff, who attended the trip to Napa, said that four-year high school students at the new tech school completed up to 130 projects which focused on work ethic, collaboration and oral and written communication skills. He’s learned that Fortune 500 companies have expressed to higher learning institutes that these things are what they look for in employees.

“These are confident and articulate kids in Napa,” said Woodruff, adding that giving students the confidence and ability to communicate prepares them for life after college in the corporate world.

Russell Dart, a North Daviess teacher, explained in a press release, “As teachers, what we’ve always been doing is trying to get students to learn how to learn. What we have here is a program that takes students and teaches them to think critically, responsibly, to synthesize and to explain it to others.”

Board member Brad Roark added that his main concern after learning about the program was how to get all students involved. He learned that the program actually brought children out of their shells and helped them.

While only 35 schools in the country have implemented this new way of learning, and according to Bell they have more questions then they do answers at this time, those making the trip agreed on the excitement they have for bringing this program to North Daviess High School.

There would be costs involved with training the staff and modifying classrooms to accommodate the new learning concept. The superintendent and high school Principal Jed Jerrels have applied for a $50,000 grant to help implement the program.

Jerrels concluded he wants to take baby steps with this new plan to get the students, parents and community involved. He said the school will most likely begin with an American studies course for freshmen.

The board will meet again at 7 p.m. April 21.

In other business

PERSONNEL

The board approved Jeff Doyle and Martin Rebeck as driver’s ed instructors, Ken Andis and Zach Stoll as varsity assistant baseball coaches, Kyle Marron as volunteer assistant baseball coach and Carol Steele and Jane Ann Beard as volunteer assistant tennis coaches.

DRIVERS ED

The board approved offering drivers education at a cost of $325 per student, which causes the school to take a loss due to high gas prices. Fifteen students have signed up for the program.