Academics/E-Learning

Academics/E-LEARNING

LABORATORY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Minuteman Regional High School is designed to help each student develop a high level of academic achievement and then to help the student develop a strong ability to use academic knowledge and skills to solve complex problems and create new products. Top scholars like Dr. Howard Gardner of Harvard University now define true intelligence as the ability to use academic knowledge and skills.

Colleges and employers now expect such technical or application ability as we compete in an international economy. Minuteman students cannot just learn "to solve quadratic equations"; they must also learn how and why to use quadratic equations. Minuteman Regional High School’s curricula and equipment from quality control procedures to state-of-the-art computers are dedicated to developing true intelligence. The school gives students the "power" of academics and not just the "memory" of academics as they prepare to enter a continuously changing world.

The technical application focus of Minuteman programs and the staff’s use of learning research for accelerating learning constitute proven routes to developing the strongest academic skills. The majority of students learn academic skills best when using those skills. Indeed, a primary reason for any student attending Minuteman Regional High School should be to increase academic skills in a well-equipped laboratory or "experiential" learning environment.

CLASS SCHEDULE
The daytime classes operate from 7:50am to 2:30pm, a longer school day than is required in most non-technical high schools. High school students study in a "one-week-about" program. One week is dedicated to technical study and the next week is dedicated to academic courses in a six-period block schedule. In this way, lifelong academic skills are developed and strengthen in both cycles and are clearly related to real-life success.

CAREER EXPLORATION
During the freshmen year, students at Minuteman Regional High School explore many of the school’s technical programs before choosing one area in which to major. For students entering Minuteman in the tenth grade, a mini-exploratory program is also available. Special arrangements can be made with both parental consent and Guidance Department approval for a student to begin a major in the freshmen year.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
Minuteman Regional High School seniors with good grades and solid attendance records can qualify for the cooperative education or "co-op" program. Co-op enables a student to receive school credit as well as pay while working for a partnering employer in their career field during the weeks they would normally be in their technical classes. These co-op partnering employers often offer good-paying jobs to most of the outstanding and reliable Minuteman seniors upon graduation.

E-LEARNING
Minuteman has a special teacher task force working on web-based learning. Opportunities for such learning associated with specific classes will be announced in those classes and are usually “balanced” options. “Balance” means that they combine web-based learning with class assignments and discussion. This combination of web convenience with face-to-face discussion is the most useful for many students since each activity has its strengths and weaknesses. The combination or balance allows an instructor and student to capitalize on the advantages of each component. Also, when approved by the Principal, a few students enroll in fully web-based courses from nationally certified providers such as a college or university that offers both high school and college courses. Such enrollments are approved when:

The action seems necessary for a student to take an important course not currently provided at Minuteman and
The student has demonstrated ability to be self-directed in his or her learning, an important qualification for fully web-based courses.

If approved in advance, the school pays for the tuition in such courses. A staff member from an appropriate department is assigned to audit student participation and completion.

The school staff plans to expand its web-based options for students in future years. Watch for announcements in the School News section of this web site. Meanwhile, if you would like a basic E-Learning experience click here.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Course Work/Study Areas	Years	Credits
English	4 years	12
Math	4 years	8
Science	4 years	8
Social Studies	4 years	8
Health & Physical Education	4 years	8
Electives, including a World Language	n/a	8
Career Exploration (Freshmen Year)	1 year	12
Technical Major	3 years	36
Total credits required for diploma and graduation		100

COURSE LEVELS
Each course is assigned a level according to its design of academic challenge. The weight of each level is used to calculate class rank.
Level 1	Honors
Level 2	College Preparation
Level 3	Technical Preparation
Level 4	Developmental and Support