Tech Valley High School freshmen recently met Governor David Paterson, center, at the launch of a leading–edge research center.

When New York's Governor David Paterson announced plans for a multi-million research facility in Troy for the Beacon Institute recently, not surprisingly, the TVHS freshman class was invited.

TVHS students were among the scores of Tech Valley leaders who gathered on the banks of the Hudson River in Troy with the Governor to launch the Upper Hudson Research Center, where scientists will conduct educational and research initiatives and also help monitor and protect the river.

The students were there because they have been designing, creating, testing and deploying their own environmental sensors in the river as part of their environmental analysis class. One part of their project was to learn the process for designing and testing a water temperature sensor to monitor the Hudson River.

Governor Paterson singled out TVHS during the press conference saying: "Students at Tech Valley High are currently monitoring the river. It is important that the next generation of leadership already understands the river."

Summer Institute program scheduled
WHO: Administrators, teachers and those interested in learning about preparing students for the 21st century.

WHEN:

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

WHAT: Participants will explore the need for 21st century learning skills and experience the Tech Valley High School model. They will see how it can serve as an education model that addresses the needs of this century by preparing students for the college experience and/or the local and global workforce.

Keynote speaker: Margaret Honey, senior vice president of research of Wireless Generation, Brooklyn, and board member of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills will provide a context for the need for high school reform to meet the demands of the 21st century.

Experience the model: Participants will engage in a hands-on-simulation utilizing Tech Valley High's project-based learning practices.

Best practices workshops: Participants will learn strategies that they can utilize in their own classrooms.

• School-wide literacy practices: Mary Van Hoomissen, lead English teacher, will demonstrate how Tech Valley High integrates school-wide literacy practices and ways to encourage and develop critical "reading" abilities in students. Strategies include recognizing "text" in subject content and methods to encourage and develop critical reading and writing skills in students across the curriculum.
• Designing a project-based learning experience: Stacia Snow, lead social studies teacher, will demonstrate the nuts and bolts of designing and developing a project-based learning experience starting with the NYS learning standards and keeping the end in mind.
• Authentic assessment: Leah Penniman, lead science teacher, will demonstrate how student mastery of 21st century skills can be meaningfully measured using a range of performance assessment strategies, including rubrics, community partners and real-life applications.
• Scaffolding student collaboration: Michelle Sweeny, lead math teacher, will demonstrate scaffolding strategies that develop collaboration skills among students working in groups. Through these methods, students learn to hold each other accountable for the group's work.