Educationally Speaking - High school district pursues 21st Century Learning for all students

The Fallbrook Union High School District is in its third year of implementing a plan with the goal of ensuring that all graduates possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to effectively participate in the 21st century. There is an additional goal of expanding learning opportunities so that students are not limited by time (bell schedule), location (physically at school), or resources (textbooks).

Since the development of this plan, the board of trustees has adopted two foundational documents to guide the District’s work. The “Framework for 21st Century Learning” published by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, describes the critical elements of our plan. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) sets educational technology standards for students, teachers, and administrators and serves as the foundation for expectations for the use of educational technology. The present focus of time and energy is to increase engagement in learning and critical and creative thinking. Technology is being used as a tool to support these efforts.

There are a variety of technology resources available for students. Fallbrook High School has four computer labs, three mobile laptop carts, and two mobile iPad carts. New iMacs are being deployed for the film program. Ivy High School has one computer lab along with a computer bank in each classroom. Oasis High School is using technology to assign student work and for student work submission. Regardless of the school, opportunities are increasing for students to utilize technology to access information, to collaborate with others, and to create products.

The District has implemented a system that enables both students and parents to immediately access attendance, grades, and transcript information.

As evidence of the District’s commitment to 21st century learning, in June the board of trustees approved a new graduation requirement effective with the incoming freshmen class. Beginning with this class, students must complete a minimum of ten units by taking an online class. The District is also preparing for the 2012-2013 school year to implement a fully online educational program housed at Oasis High School and a blended online program at Fallbrook High School in which students can enroll in a combination of online and regular classroom courses. More details about how to enroll in these two programs will be communicated later this fall and winter.

Today’s students need to be actively engaged in their learning and maximizing the technological resources that are available. The Fallbrook High School District is striving to make this a reality for all students.