Innovation at Dalat #11 Technology Contract

It is no secret that there is a significant downside to using technology in the classrooms. It means that our students spend more time looking at computer screens and there are more distractions when work needs to be done. Computers open up a world of new opportunities good and bad and I have heard compelling arguments for both schools that adopt 1 to 1 programs and those that eschew technology altogether.  

What tips the scales in favor of keeping them at Dalat is the opportunity we now have to teach students to use the technology well, to use their time wisely, and to make good decisions about what they access online.  Once they graduate and leave our care, we lose the opportunity to mentor them as they navigate a digital world. No matter where they go and what they do, they will use technology. So I believe we should be investing in teaching them wisdom rather than sheltering them. Our role as a school is to partner with families in this education process, not to replace the family.  We want to empower parents to engage in the process of guiding young minds to learn how to make good decisions regarding the use of technology.

Our 9^th-grade students piloted a trial program this school year working with their parents to develop their own “Family Technology Contract.”  Students spent time talking with their parents about expectations for technology use and care of devices. The questions on the plan help families think through important questions and establish expectations up front so that the kids and parents know the family guidelines.

Next year we will require the plan of all students and their parents in high school. Filling it out each year as the student progresses will allow families the opportunity to talk about what is working or not, and reevaluate the rules and expectations as the student matures.

As summertime approaches with extra free time, the challenges families face to establish healthy boundaries may increase. I am offering the questions from the technology plan below for families that want to get a head start. You are encouraged to take some time and work with all of your kids to talk through the questions below.

Innovation at Dalat #10 Small Groups

“We’re connected but alone.” This is how MIT professor Sherry Turkle describes the state of most people and their relationships in our world today.  In her well-known TED Talk, Turkle describes the alarming shift in human relationships that has come through the growth of technology.  She describes how more and more young people, as well as adults, no longer feel comfortable talking in person with others.  People relate to each other more and more through virtual platforms, which can create a feeling of connection but in reality, does not substitute for humans’ innate need for meaningful human connection.  The result is that the number of people reporting loneliness and isolation continues to increase, along with resulting maladies like depression and anxiety. 

In a world that is slowly becoming devoid of face to face relationships, Dalat has chosen to innovate by reintroducing the lost art of having face to face conversations.  As part of our high school Bible program, students in high school Bible classes spend one day a week with a small group led by a mentor-adult.  After a snack and some light conversation about how the week is going, small groups discuss their thoughts about some of life’s deeper questions.  Small groups also spent the service day together and were able to work as a team to impact our community. 

So why take class time to invest in a small group program?  Learning to talk and listen are skills that have to be developed; they do not come naturally for everyone and require a safe space for growth.  Though this simple skill of learning to work in groups and relate to others might have been a normal part of the world a few decades ago, this is not a skill that people are developing as much anymore.  Beyond learning conversation skills, being part of a small group is an opportunity for our students to experience community and deeper relationships, as well as give them a safe place to talk about whatever they are facing.  As a significant part of Dalat’s Christian tradition, these are values that we hold dear.  Small groups are one way we prioritize these things in a world that is increasingly connected but alone.

Innovation at Dalat #9 Student Leadership

Student Council, the Junior class experience, and the Senior class experience are instrumental in developing strong leaders. But they don’t provide a lot of opportunity for our grade 9 and 10 students to practice their leadership skills.  

“How can we do this better?”

This was the question that led to a significant change, to the structure of our leadership program, which was announced to the Student Council earlier this week. Our goal is to expand the leadership development experience for our younger students and have a more consistent and thoughtful  approach to all of our student leadership.

Next year our Ninth and tenth-grade students will each be led by two sponsors and will elect officers to lead Executive Committees (Ex-Coms) of 8-10 students. Every Monday during X-block, either the Ex-Com or volunteers from the entire class will meet to work and plan activities and events.

Ninth grade students will have a number of opportunities to plan and participate in, like class parties and hosting an event for the entire high school. Tenth-grade students will work with their sponsors to run a lunchtime store (what is currently the StuCo store) and to organize events such as our Christmas Banquet. Throughout the year, both grade levels will have opportunities to learn leadership lessons and come into the Jr. year more prepared. Overall, more students will be able to get involved and find out what they enjoy/where they are gifted.

Out of all the student Ex-Coms, a group will also be given the opportunity to serve on the Principal’s Advisory League (PAL). PAL students will meet regularly with the principal to advise, support, and communicate with the administration about student issues.

All of the leadership groups—each class Ex-Com, PALs, Dorm Council, and Spiritual Leadership—will make up what is called Student Government. 

Innovation at Dalat #8 Agendas

Sometimes being innovative means “going old school”. In the past few years, Dalat HS students used digital day planners (also known as a daily agenda) to keep track of their assignments and activities. For some, it worked well to keep this information on a computer. But for others, the digital version was a challenge. Last semester we asked for some feedback and many students told us that an old-fashioned paper daily agenda notebook would be more useful. So we designed and printed copies of a Dalat branded book and are offering them to any HS student who wants to use one.

Using a daily planner to keep track of daily assignments is a critical life skill needed for success in nearly any occupation. As an educator, I think the simplest way to predict a students success as a student is to see if they regularly use an agenda. Our 9th-grade teachers recognize its importance and even make it an assignment and occasionally will mark our students on how well they are using an agenda.

If a student loses their agenda and needs a replacement, for a small cost, all they need to do is come and see one of the friendly ladies at the front desk. If your student is having trouble staying organized, perhaps a first step to help them is to encourage them to stop by and pick one up.

Innovation at Dalat #7 CLEP

Did you know that Dalat is the only The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) testing center in South East Asia? Many of you have heard of Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the related exams, but you may be less familiar with the CLEP program. Both programs are run by the College Board.

However, unlike the AP classes, a CLEP test can be taken without taking a class and students may sign up at any time of the year. CLEP allows students to show proficiency in 33 different subject areas and many US universities will give credit to students who pass a subject test. If you are headed to the US for University this is definitely worth looking into, but keep in mind CLEP is not well recognized at other systems around the world.

Dalat HS students in some of our Science, Math, English, and Social Studies classes may have the opportunity to take a CLEP exam instead of a final exam at the year-end. Our students have traditionally done well on these exams and earn credits that may save the family money by not needing to pay for introductory courses in university.

If you are interested in finding out what tests are available, take a look at the CLEP website. https://clep.collegeboard.org/. If you would like to know more about scheduling an exam, you are invited to talk with our test coordinator Marsha Yost myost@dalat.org.

Innovation at Dalat #6  - Next Level Fitness Challenge

I am going to switch gears from academics to athletics in this email and talk about an innovative challenge that we have given to all of our student-athletes. As our sports program has developed, the Athletic Director has worked to find ways for our students to both get in shape during the offseason and to identify areas of fitness to work on. Out of that initiative comes the NextLevel fitness challenge which measures a broad range of fitness attributes including cardio, strength, agility, speed, flexibility, endurance,  and balance.

The exercises can be done in the Dalat gym/weight room.  Here is a list of the 7 events…

•          Rowing
•          Paper Challenge
•          Agility Sprint
•          Beep Test
•          Deadlift
•          Handstand hold
•          GHD sit-ups

All the details of the 7 events of the fitness challenges and the rules of the competition are in this document.  Fitness Challenge Instructions

To make in interesting and fun, they can submit scores through links on the school intranet. Anyone can try the challenge as often as they like. Who knows, even parents may want to give it a try or to do it with your kids. This is a great way to work to get ready for the next sports season or just to help you get back in shape.

Innovation at Dalat #5 Service Learning

While service learning is not new at Dalat, I am including it in this series of innovation updates because it is such a unique and valuable part of our education process.  For nearly 15 years, Dalat has required all HS students to engage in a minimum of ten hours of community service each year as part of the student graduation requirements. This first exposure to service is often the spark that leads students to commit to many more hours of service than are required, and eventually, we hope, a life of service to others. Dalat recognizes those students who go above the minimum service hours with student “Service Awards” that are handed out by our service learning coordinator, Mrs. Pagee.   

What is new this year is “Track it Forward”. This software platform gives simple and accurate recording of all of the hours students have served. Track it Forward gives simple verification from a community organizer of the quality of work done and helps the students record and communicate their hours in a way that is simple and fun. We have introduced it this semester for students in grades 9-11.

Several teachers are connectors in our community who know where needs are and how our students can reach out and help meet those needs. They regularly organize trips to an orphanage, the old folks home, SKTT school near Tesco, and a host of other outings to provide outreach opportunities for our students. It is a joy to see students learning to use the gifts that they have in service to others.

Dalat’s new “Impact” trip program is taking the concept of service learning a step further. It creates opportunities for students to engage in another culture at a deeper level for a full week of service, often in remote locations around SE Asia. Students commit to many weeks of training before they leave to prepare them to be able to serve well. This year four teams of students will care for young prisoners, work to develop seed storage techniques, care for young girls who have become pregnant, and run programs for children who have been abandoned.  

If you know a place where our students can serve or want to engage in any of these programs, communicate with our service learning coordinator Mrs. Pagee or the Impact coordinator Mr. McClary. We would love to hear from you.