Standard 5: Leaders ensure that all stakeholders have ongoing opportunities to access information and learn about STEM implementation.
Concept 1: School/program utilizes a variety of strategies and platforms to share and communicate STEM vision, mission, goals, outcomes, responsibilities, roles, events, and activities to internal and external stakeholders
Advisory Board
As documented in Standard 4, our Advisory Board meets three times a year. We usually discuss what is happening in the classroom, but we also ask for input into how Computer Science is changing around us. For example, after talking about the benefits of adding AP Computer Science Principles class with the higher education professors, we took the recommendation to add the class to our registrar. The next year, the class was available to students to take. In another example, professors mentioned that they have started teaching more Python and Computational Thinking at the college level. We responding by tweaking our curriculum to touch on those topics as well. Also, after touring GreenCourt and observing a "Stand Up" meeting which is modeled after a Agile development process, the Programming, Games, and App in Society class is piloting an agile-style classroom model, where students create projects based on their interests. The students share there progress with others and when they encounter problems they reach out to other students for possible solutions.
Overall, our Advisory Board is a way to keep the curriculum current and relevant for our students. We value the partnership with them and love hearing feedback.
Overall, our Advisory Board is a way to keep the curriculum current and relevant for our students. We value the partnership with them and love hearing feedback.
Social media
The Computer Science Department uses social media to spread awareness of what we are doing in the classroom. We often make posts about the apps we are publishing, the SnapChat filters we create and also when students compete in competitions. Below is a sample of posts made by the Computer Science department, our media center or the District office.
Press Releases
The Computer Science also uses more formal press releases to local news outlets as well. This allows us to reach an audience that may not be following our social media accounts.
Professional Club Presentations
We try give presentation opportunities to students when they are available. Below are example presentations to professional organizations like the Rotary club.
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CTAE Video
The CTAE video is used in many ways. We show it to perspective students to help determine the best pathway for them. Also, we show it to outside stakeholders to show our progress in class. The class was created by students in the Broadcast Video class.
Business and Computer Science Pathway Brochure
The BCS Pathway brochure is given to perspective students during 8th grade visits as well as students touring the school from other districts.
CTAE Handbook
The CTAE Handbook is a document that highlights each of the pathways of the Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education Department. It also highlights clubs and activities related to the department. We use it as a marketing tool and to update stakeholders.
Concept 2: School/program plans for and facilitates a variety of STEM events and activities for the school community during and beyond the regular school day.
Our school offers a wide array of STEM related events and activities for students to participate in. Some events and activities take place during the school day like preparing for competitions like the Congressional App Challenge, Future Business Leaders of America competitions and preparing for the regional tech fair.
Other events happen after school like esports, CyberPatriots, and Technology Student Association with VEX robotics. Each of these activities involve teams of students working together which requires after school to accommodate student schedules.
Other events happen after school like esports, CyberPatriots, and Technology Student Association with VEX robotics. Each of these activities involve teams of students working together which requires after school to accommodate student schedules.