We are embarking on an endeavor to offer the students of Flagler County yet another learning environment, personalized to their specific needs, to compliment the many great opportunities available across Flagler Schools. New Tech Academy offers students a setting of choice customized to their needs and built on the philosophy of collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking. We want to share the journey with you, as it promises to be an exciting and energizing experience.
One of the first steps taken has been to explore a name for this new school setting. We wanted to make sure it captured the spirit of the academy, as well as help to brand the school so that when the name was heard, it was immediately associated with the unique educational setting it represented. Who better to brainstorm this than students!!!
A team of nine students was formed, representing multiple grade levels, programs, and areas of interest. Ms. Sands shared the concept of New Tech and students were handed iPads to research and review the New Tech Network and their existing schools. The students began to discuss the guiding principles, ask questions, and throw out words and phrases that they felt personified the spirit of collaboration and critical thinking embedded in the problem based learning model utilized.
Eventually they began to settle on the words integrated and investigation. The idea of the content being taught as an intertwined piece and the technology being a natural and consistent part of the learning experience seemed to really resonate with the students. The word institute quickly followed and the concept of "i cubed" was born. The final name became Flagler Institute of Integrated Investigation: a New Tech Academy, symbolized by i cubed.
