Students at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School now have the world at their feet -- or rather at their fingertips and before their eyes -- thanks to new upgrades in the school's science department.
The school has opened three new high-tech science labs, and two more are in the works. They come equipped with smart boards -- technology that turns a white board into an interactive medium with immediate Internet access and educational videos.
The labs replace outdated, 30-year-old equipment at the school.
"The technology was extremely limited," said Superintendent-elect Bill DeRosa.
The new labs will give Whittier students more opportunities in the classroom, but they also provided a unique learning opportunity: Students from the heating/ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, carpentry, electrical, plumbing and masonry programs aided in every aspect of construction.
Involving students in the construction, which began about a year ago, also saved taxpayers $450,000. Private contractors gave the school an estimated $1.55 million, but with the help of students, the cost was brought down to $1.1 million.
School officials agree that the new technology gives students a priceless opportunity in the increasingly competitive job market that awaits them upon graduation.
And educators are now able to teach a more interactive curriculum, integrating the Internet and videos with their notes. Some of the popular sites accessed by teachers are YouTube and the Discovery Channel.
"You can show them exactly what you want to," said biology and chemistry teacher Maureen Fritchy. "The students love it. It's very modern, and it's awesome that we're able to do so much in the classroom."
The upgrades will no doubt help students in the Class of 2010, the first class in Massachusetts that must pass the MCAS test in science, along with the English/language arts and math portions, in order to graduate.
Every student is required to take at least biology to graduate from Whittier Tech, but even concentrations not heavily based in the sciences -- like health occupations, cosmetology and culinary arts -- will benefit from the high-tech labs.
"(DeRosa's) vision is to take health occupations and other programs to the next level and these labs will be an integral part of that, I'm sure," said Assistant Principal Dennis LaBrance.
Students appreciate the new technology, perhaps not for the benefit to their education, but because of the "cool" factor.
"The air conditioning is nice," said Ken Dufresne, a ninth-grader from Haverhill, as he took time away from analyzing samples under a microscope.
"You learn a lot every day," said Elliot Veras, another Haverhill ninth-grader and Whittier Tech student. "I never thought I'd be using this kind of technology."
Two more science labs are to be constructed by the beginning of next school year, across the hall from the three completed labs. Before construction began on the new labs, the large rooms were used only by maintenance for storage, but now the space is hard at work for the 1,250 Whittier students who will all get a chance to use it.
Administrators believe the labs will give students the best chance at succeeding on the MCAS science exam, as well as a solid foundation in the sciences for higher education. They hope that foundation rivals the science programs of other public high schools.
"If we want our students to compete when they go to college, we need to have facilities like this," said LaBranche.
News
January 9, 2008
The world at their fingertips; Whittier Tech replaces 30-year-old science labs with help of its trade students
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