Highland Community

Highland Park Senior High School is currently making attempts to redefine our mission, values and goals. Our administrator has worked diligently to get our staff to take ownership of our school with hopes to create a common focus. In her attempts to open a discussion she has planned 3 community meetings. Each meeting she has opened with the You tube video clip " Did you know...challenges for the future" which was an updated version of the piece we saw called "Shift Happens." This is a great way to start looking at what we do in our classrooms and to consider looking at what we do in a different way. It is hard to envision taking advantage of the technology and jumping into the information literacy when the money necessary to equip and train seems so sparce. It is a challenge to plan and incorparate the technology into our classrooms with so many demands.
One of the items our technology group agreed upon was creating a computer lab space closer to the library. This space would allow students research space close enough to the media specialist so that the students would utilize the most reliable resources with the assistance and support they need. We talked about more opportunities for the students to stay after school to complete papers and research. Students would have more fair and equal access to the technology.
Technology is only one piece. We need to be creating a culture of accountability for each student. We want a student body that values working together and sharing ideas. Study groups should be encouraged. Communication via the most up-to-date technology would enhance any of these efforts. Just getting the technology is not enough. We have to be ready to use it and Prepare for its use. So much for my ramblings...