Journal features Hillcrest, Northridge high schools

Online social studies projects deemed models for other teachers

Teachers at two Tuscaloosa high schools are using an array of free online tools and resources to enrich the study of government and American history for their students. Because of these innovations, the schools are featured in the latest issue of the Working Toward Excellence journal.

Working Toward Excellence, the journal of the Alabama Best Practices Center, is published in print and online formats to help professional educators adopt the best ways to teach. The latest edition, "Alabama's 21st Century Schools Are Blazing Trails Through Cyberspace," focuses on Alabama teachers who are changing the way they teach to better prepare their students to succeed in life and the digital economy.

Find the online version of "Alabama's 21st Century Schools Are Blazing Trails Through Cyberspace" at www.abpc21.org.

Hillcrest and Northridge are among the 40 schools that participated in the Alabama Best Practices Center’s 21st Century Learning Project, underwritten by Microsoft Corp. and the Wachovia Foundtion. This project does two things for teachers: helps them understand what students need to know to be successful in our ever-changing world, and provides them with the skills and tools to effectively engage their students.

Hillcrest, a Tuscaloosa County school, won notice for Scarlett Gaddy's Political Parties and Elections Project. Students conducted mock presidential elections, complete with political parties, campaign platforms and commercials.

Northridge High School, a Tuscaloosa City school, was featured because the way Elizabeth Kincaid integrates blogs, wikis and online access to original source documents into her American History classes. Students turn in their homework by posting it on their individual blogs, and the classroom blog functions as a virtual syllabus.

“The work of teachers Scarlett Gaddy and Elizabeth Kincaid is noteworthy. They have worked hard to expand their use of effective teaching strategies that not only help students learn more, but get excited about what they are learning!" said Gassenheimer. "In this Digital Age, in addition to the basics, children will need a broad range of skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving and how to effectively collaborate with others."

The A+ Education Foundation in Montgomery is home of the Alabama Best Practices Center, which receives major support from Microsoft Corp. and the Wachovia Foundation. Since 1991, A+ has advanced policies, programs and initiatives that result in high achievement by every child in Alabama's K-12 education system. A+ believes Alabama's economic future depends on strong public schools.

KEY LINKS

Digital version, Working Toward Excellence journal: www.abpc21.org

FIND IT FAST
This article features the Tuscaloosa high schools
http://www.abpc21.org/classroom20.html

PDF (449 Kb) of the Working Toward Excellence journal's 16-page print edition, www.bestpracticescenter.org

###

News Release Archive