High School to Offer New Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Elective

This school year, high school students will be able to select a new elective, STEM 101, a class that covers science, technology, engineering and math.

“The program would promote the enhancement of science, technology, engineering and math instruction to better prepare students for STEM careers beyond high school and college,” Curriculum Committee and school board member Linda Downing said.

The program would be taught as a project based learning course where students will collaborate under the leadership of STEM teachers, she said.

The curriculum was written based on Understanding by Design and includes ten big ideas: generation STEM, lets get moving, breaking it down, build it, tech time, aviation creation, it’s easy being green, look at me, mechanical connection and lets innovate.

Teacher John Kuzan expects there is a already a number of students who will be interested because of their participation in the afterschool SeaPerch program during the 2011-12 school year, Downing said. Kuzan ran the afterschool program.

The students will work together on math and science related topics using real life applications, Principal James Handschuch said.

The course will not replace student’s science and math requirements but will be available as an elective, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Vanessa Clark said.

“The STEM project, I’m exited about that,” school board member Willaim Quist said. "It’s project based and I’m kind of a hands on guy and I rather build something then read about something and that’s what they’re talking about here."

The program is available to all students, Clark said. There will only be one STEM 101 course for the 2012-13 school year.

“We’re looking to grow the program next year,” she said.