Steven Zwisohn
Stuart A. Rothstein
Core Values
Experience has taught us that learning is enhanced when the whole community is involved in the educational process. In 2004 we implemented an optional program for high school seniors called W.I.S.E. (Wise Individualized Senior Experience). It was already in place in 38 high schools around the United States.
Seniors who are interested in the program select a field of interest, develop a focus and work on a project which may be located off-site during the second semester. This is done under the close supervision of a school mentor and a sponsor, or resource person at the site. The work may consist of one of the following:
- An internship in an area of personal/career interest in the private sector
- A focused service learning project in a field of interest
- A personal project which could consist of independent research or artistic creation
The goal of the W.I.S.E. program is to provide an opportunity for students to apply their high school knowledge and skills to create an independent, cohesive experience in an area of personal interest during their senior year. The program was designed with the belief that Midwood High School has an obligation to educate students to become adults who are independent problem solvers, life-long learners, and productive/caring members of the global community.
WORK-BASED LEARNING
The W.I.S.E. program, like other school-to-career efforts around the country, uses internships as learning opportunities. Work-based learning yields benefits that classroom-based education alone cannot provide. As such, it is offered as an integral part of the senior year. We know people learn best when they are learning to meet a concrete need, see a reason for learning and can immediately apply it in some useful way.
What Young People Need to Succeed
Research has found that future workers will need a solid foundation in basic literacy, computational skills, and thinking skills necessary to put knowledge to work, and in the personal qualities that make workers dedicated and trustworthy.
Source:
The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills, U.S. Department of Labor, Learning a Living (Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, April
1990).
Components of the WISE Program
The WISE program takes a team approach to preparing students for the working world. Some of you may remember senior year as a perhaps meaningless time, to be rushed through on your way to the "�real world"�. We hope to give our students a more exciting and practical senior experience.
Each student will keep a journal and do research on their selected subject, with assistance and supervision from an in-school mentor.
In addition, community members, parents and teachers and students serve on a committee that oversees the program and reviews the student's presentations.
A most important part of our team is the community resources such as businesses, offices, schools, etc. who take our students as interns.
WISE is an official Department of Education program and the students are earning up to two class credits for it so they are unpaid. Since this is part of their school day they are covered under the DOE's insurance policy. They are also highly motivated, having requested to take part in the program and being involved in every step of the process. High School students can be ideal interns because they are interested in the work and come in without preconceptions, prepared to learn from the basics up.
PROJECTS FOR THE 2004-2005 SCHOOL YEAR AND STILL GROWING