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Who are we?
My name is Don Wettrick and I am the instructor for the Innovations course at Franklin Community High School. This class is based in a similar fashion of the "20% time" model, however we work within the common core to create a real world, collaborative learning experience. We started with the idea that if you give students a class based on freedom and autonomy, they can accomplish great things.
To date we have been working
on:
* Bio-fuel solutions for our
school's via two bio-fuel companies
* Low cost technology
solutions for schools on a struggling budget via Greenbridge Computing.
* Learning how Microsoft's
Sharepoint technology can help solve some BYOD headaches.
* Creating a community
resource center to help our town solve vital problems.
* Self-publishing and collaborating
with other schools on a K12 book
* Student-led MOOC/wiki, Student HackEd, that has participants from all over the world
What we are raising money for?
Great ideas can be often be limited by funding and we want to make sure that we can fund the passions of our students. In an effort to do that, we are raising money to help develop and continue various components of this course. Some of the specific initiatives that the funding will be used for include:
-Upgrading technology
-Collaborative work
spaces/furniture
-Self-publishing our book on
Innovations in the classroom (set to be released in early 2014).
-Any extra funding will go towards student projects and needs as seen fit. (There will be a ton of them!)
Why you should donate?
We are asking you to support
us because we are trying to not only get our own program off and running, but
we want to help get this type of class in more schools across America. My
colleagues and I have seen the amazing things that can happen when students are
the “innovators” in the classroom. We want to share this experience with
everyone we know and make it a nationwide initiative. Please help spread the
word by passing this along to anyone that is passionate in education reform
and/or wanting to bring greater student choice and collaboration to the
classroom!
To help those with great ideas become passionate about their learning.
The world needs more classes and instructors like this. Mr. Wettrick is changing lives for the better, and positively molding the minds of the future.
I loved this class when I attended FCHS. This class really helped me learn to be creative and led to the path that i'm on in school as of now!
I read about this project. It sounds compassionate and effective. How many other school "projects" can say the same?
I believe this class is the epitome of how we want students to learn.
As someone who has spent his entire career in education, I love what this class is all about. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Wettrick and Paige Woodard for my company's blog this fall, and I believe in what they are doing and hope this small contribution can help inspire other schools to do something similar. This holiday season, I am happy to have my company, Public Assemby, contribute to the Innovations class!
This class is amazing. I wish I could give more...
I gave because I believe that every student has a right to an authentic, meaningful and engaging education. What your doing is amazing and I want the wrold to know about it!
I want to support Paige, but I also think what you guys are doing in this class is awesome! I wish they had something like this when I was in high school. I hope the class sticks for future classes to participate in and be able to make a positive change.