The Van Meter Example

Posted on April 5, 2010 by malbell

I have mentioned Van Meter schools a few times in various blog posts that I have made.I first came upon the school by chance as a link to the Van Meter Library website
http://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com/
which is run by the innovative and ever enthusiastic librarian/teacher Shannon Miller under the direction of the High School Principal, Deron Durflinger and the vision and leadership of the Van Meter Schools Superintendent, John Carver.

I have been fortunate to keep in touch with all three of these innovative and visionary people on Twitter and have noticed that they have slowly begun to command media attention for what they are attempting to do, which, with their 1 to 1 laptop use for all grades 7 and above children, is no less than change the way that the children in their schools are educated and bring education from the 19th/20th centuries into the 21st century.

The video shows what they are doing and John argues very strongly for the need to get other schools to follow their lead. He wrote to me a few weeks ago that he was going to meet Arne Duncan, the Secretary for Education. I wrote back saying that I hoped Mr Duncan would visit Van Meter High School and see just what they are trying to do.

Watch the film and you will see why they have a growing national (and in my case) international support. As someone from the United Kingdom, I feel that they are not just leading the way for Iowa but also for the United States and also acting as an example for the rest of the world in where we need to take education and how technology will create a new way of looking at schools and also assessment within schools.

more about “Innovations in Iowa Schools » Video »…“, posted with vodpod