Good Morning Again fellow 3MCers:

Yesterday I had a long visit with Jon Corripo from the Superintendent of Schools office. We talked about “innovation” and “adaptation” and the conversation has had me thinking about “things” ever since.

We spoke about our Multi-Media program and various projects and how this technology is being applied and can be applied in our schools and our community. There is a unique “relationship” developing between our schools, our H.S. students, our business community and practicing professionals in our community. Out of this “connection” is a GAIN that I’m just beginning to understand.

As a business person, I've been able to “connect” with cutting edge multi-media technology and the people who know how to develop the “content” I need to promote our business on the new communications media; the Internet. At the same time our young people, students, are developing/sharpening skills that will serve them in “real-world” careers.

Our school “administrators/educators” are able to communicate with business people/professionals and connect their curriculum/knowledge to “real world” problems of business and commerce in OUR community. They, in turn, are able to better prepare OUR students for life in the BIG world! What a TEAM!!!

In talking with Jon, I've come to understand that this is a NEW Paradigm! This is NOT how our education system has run traditionally but it is the direction that the “system” is moving and for good reason! Never before, in the history of man, has technological innovation moved to rapidly. Preparing students for life in this fast paced world has created a whole new set of challenges.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is how WE, as business people, school teachers/administrators, and practicing technology professionals face and adapt to CHANGE! In the business/professional world, “adaptation” has immediate consequences; we either adapt or we fail and go broke! For those in our education institutions, the “consequences” of failing to adapt are more remote. The “consequences” are FELT by the students in the education system!

In my conversation with Jon, in my workings with Walt Hebern and other instructors at OUR High School, I've

learned that we have some really great folks in our community, teachers, who are adapting to change and bringing those changes into the classroom! Over the past two years I've been able to work with some of the students who are being exposed to the changing technologies that OUR “innovative” H.S. faculty have brought into the their classrooms!

Yes, it’s a new world out here and I’m feeling pretty good about where it is going. Our young people are being prepared to face the future. As an added benefit, OUR business community and our tech-pros are benefiting from this innovation and adaptation to Change as well! Our “system” is working! Life is good up here in these Mountains!!!

Bob

Robert Borchard
Bett's Gold Coin
4850 Morningstar Ln.
Mariposa, CA 95338
Phone 209-966-3412
Cell 209-617-8366