ST1.10 Community, post-secondary, business/industry partners and/or families actively support and are engaged with teachers and students in the STEM program.
Response:
Our business partners provide intense real world problem solving opportunities. The business partners assist our students with learning that extends beyond the school day. Our business partners are instrumental in helping us establish STEM goals to help our students prepare to compete in STEM careers.
Narrative:
We are pleased to have seven incredible business partners who contribute greatly to the growth and development of our students. Our business partners are as follows:
CHM2Hill – CHM2Hill provides full service engineering and construction operations across the United States. The company delivers innovative technological solutions to a wide-range of water, environmental, and biotechnology projects. CHM2Hill became one of our business partners in Spring 2014. As a part of their partnership, they sponsored 45 fourth and fifth grade students to participate in Camp Invention. Along with this sponsorship they provided our teachers with STEM training, resources and materials to implement our summer program. Our summer program offered students the increased complexity and rigor to provide them with maximum opportunities to design their own process, content, and products when investigating real-world problems. By providing a curriculum that offers both breadth and depth students were engaged in an ongoing process that excellent results.
Walmart – It is Walmart's mission to create opportunities to make a positive impact on the communities they serve. They provide our students with insights of business marketing, finance, and real-world problem solving. Through in-class lessons, Walmart associates assist students in making purchasing and budgeting decisions. They also provide needed classroom and school supplies in order to support our STEM initiative.
100 Black Men of Atlanta – 100 Black Men of Atlanta Chapter is one of eight 100 Black Men organizations based in cities around the nation. The mission of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. is to provide support and improve the quality of life for African Americans, and youth in particular, in the Atlanta Community. This nonprofit group sponsored our school’s robotics team and supplied robotics training purchased field set-up, and two additional robots. The 100 Black Men of Atlanta became our business partner in the summer of 2014.
U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy provided SeaPerch training for teachers in order to assist our robotics students in competitions. They also donated 3 SeaPerch kits. SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that equips teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in an in-school or out-of-school setting. Students build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. The SeaPerch Program provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics (STEM) while building an underwater ROV as part of a science and engineering technology curriculum. Throughout the project, students will learn engineering concepts, problem solving, teamwork, and technical applications.
CDC – The CDC (The Centers for Disease Control) has been an ongoing business partner since the 2008 school year. The CDC provides in-school lessons for students on science-based content such as germs and hygiene. They provided our students with a unique experience by bringing the CDC mobile unit to our school which allowed students to study germs and become certified "germologists".
Lockheed Martin - Lockheed Martin became our business partner in the spring of 2015 and they have been very instrumental with hands-on learning opportunities. One of the focuses of Lockheed Martin is to advance the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. They have committed themselves to working with us to develop programs that educate and inspire tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.
CERM (Corporate Environmental Risk Management) - is an environmental engineering and program management firm. They have experienced steady, award-winning growth with large-scale projects for governmental agencies, transportation, energy, utilities, and corporate clients. They have a staff of engineers, scientists, surveyors, planners, and technicians that share their real-world problems solving with our teachers and students. CERM has been very instrumental in helping our teachers plan exciting and engaging lessons. In addition, they have helped launch the McNair Foundation to help track our students from elementary, college, to the workforce.
Fernbank Science Center - the Science Center supports our STEM units by providing presentations that cover the standards that are being taught from a practicing scientist. The students learn and utilize materials that are specific to their scientific field.
Hatponics – Ryan Cox has provide training for teachers to learn and develop an understanding of Aquaponics. Additionally, he has come to the school to teach the students more about what he does and how he uses the different aquaponics systems to help those in need. In September, teachers were able to attend Aquaponics training with the Hatponics team. The teachers learned how to utilize the aquaponics system to teach science and math with more rigor and application. The teachers worked in collaborative groups to create and develop two types of systems and a filter. The teachers built an eb and flow system and a deep water culture system. This opportunity provided the teachers a chance to experience the learning that their students will be a part of moving forward with aquaponics.
Flying Classroom: The flying classroom is a very helpful teaching and learning tool. The flying classroom provides access to Captain Barrington Irving. Students and teachers can ask him questions about the many adventures he has taken utilizing STEM.
CHM2Hill – CHM2Hill provides full service engineering and construction operations across the United States. The company delivers innovative technological solutions to a wide-range of water, environmental, and biotechnology projects. CHM2Hill became one of our business partners in Spring 2014. As a part of their partnership, they sponsored 45 fourth and fifth grade students to participate in Camp Invention. Along with this sponsorship they provided our teachers with STEM training, resources and materials to implement our summer program. Our summer program offered students the increased complexity and rigor to provide them with maximum opportunities to design their own process, content, and products when investigating real-world problems. By providing a curriculum that offers both breadth and depth students were engaged in an ongoing process that excellent results.
Walmart – It is Walmart's mission to create opportunities to make a positive impact on the communities they serve. They provide our students with insights of business marketing, finance, and real-world problem solving. Through in-class lessons, Walmart associates assist students in making purchasing and budgeting decisions. They also provide needed classroom and school supplies in order to support our STEM initiative.
100 Black Men of Atlanta – 100 Black Men of Atlanta Chapter is one of eight 100 Black Men organizations based in cities around the nation. The mission of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. is to provide support and improve the quality of life for African Americans, and youth in particular, in the Atlanta Community. This nonprofit group sponsored our school’s robotics team and supplied robotics training purchased field set-up, and two additional robots. The 100 Black Men of Atlanta became our business partner in the summer of 2014.
U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy provided SeaPerch training for teachers in order to assist our robotics students in competitions. They also donated 3 SeaPerch kits. SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that equips teachers and students with the resources they need to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in an in-school or out-of-school setting. Students build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. The SeaPerch Program provides students with the opportunity to learn about robotics, engineering, science, and mathematics (STEM) while building an underwater ROV as part of a science and engineering technology curriculum. Throughout the project, students will learn engineering concepts, problem solving, teamwork, and technical applications.
CDC – The CDC (The Centers for Disease Control) has been an ongoing business partner since the 2008 school year. The CDC provides in-school lessons for students on science-based content such as germs and hygiene. They provided our students with a unique experience by bringing the CDC mobile unit to our school which allowed students to study germs and become certified "germologists".
Lockheed Martin - Lockheed Martin became our business partner in the spring of 2015 and they have been very instrumental with hands-on learning opportunities. One of the focuses of Lockheed Martin is to advance the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. They have committed themselves to working with us to develop programs that educate and inspire tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.
CERM (Corporate Environmental Risk Management) - is an environmental engineering and program management firm. They have experienced steady, award-winning growth with large-scale projects for governmental agencies, transportation, energy, utilities, and corporate clients. They have a staff of engineers, scientists, surveyors, planners, and technicians that share their real-world problems solving with our teachers and students. CERM has been very instrumental in helping our teachers plan exciting and engaging lessons. In addition, they have helped launch the McNair Foundation to help track our students from elementary, college, to the workforce.
Fernbank Science Center - the Science Center supports our STEM units by providing presentations that cover the standards that are being taught from a practicing scientist. The students learn and utilize materials that are specific to their scientific field.
Hatponics – Ryan Cox has provide training for teachers to learn and develop an understanding of Aquaponics. Additionally, he has come to the school to teach the students more about what he does and how he uses the different aquaponics systems to help those in need. In September, teachers were able to attend Aquaponics training with the Hatponics team. The teachers learned how to utilize the aquaponics system to teach science and math with more rigor and application. The teachers worked in collaborative groups to create and develop two types of systems and a filter. The teachers built an eb and flow system and a deep water culture system. This opportunity provided the teachers a chance to experience the learning that their students will be a part of moving forward with aquaponics.
Flying Classroom: The flying classroom is a very helpful teaching and learning tool. The flying classroom provides access to Captain Barrington Irving. Students and teachers can ask him questions about the many adventures he has taken utilizing STEM.
Strengths:
For the past two years, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corporation has supported the Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy and National Engineers Week (NEW) by having engineers visit our school and work face-to-face with students providing hands-on minds-on engagement in futuristic aircraft design, virtual reality and building structures.
Lockheed Martin employees have partnered with us to raise awareness in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professions and inspire our youth to pursue higher education rooted in STEM principles. R.E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy is the only Dekalb County School given the honor of Lockheed support during National Engineers Week.
In addition, we celebrate National Engineers Week. We set aside this week to celebrate how engineers make a difference in our world and bring engineering to life for kids, educators and parents. The purpose of National Engineers Week is to call attention to contributions made by engineers in our daily lives. It is also a time for engineers to emphasize the importance of learning math, science and technical skills.
Lockheed Martin employees have partnered with us to raise awareness in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professions and inspire our youth to pursue higher education rooted in STEM principles. R.E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy is the only Dekalb County School given the honor of Lockheed support during National Engineers Week.
In addition, we celebrate National Engineers Week. We set aside this week to celebrate how engineers make a difference in our world and bring engineering to life for kids, educators and parents. The purpose of National Engineers Week is to call attention to contributions made by engineers in our daily lives. It is also a time for engineers to emphasize the importance of learning math, science and technical skills.
Weakness:
With our increasing STEM program we have to design a greater system to coordinate the various schedules of so many different partners. Many of our business partners have tremendously busy schedules during the peak hours of the day which happen to also be our school hours. We are working aggressively to design an after school “STEM Think Tank Session” to accommodate the diversity of schedules.
Evidence:
Parent Meetings, Agendas, and Sign In Sheets
family_stem_night.docx | |
File Size: | 140 kb |
File Type: | docx |
school_choice_parent_letter_2015.pdf | |
File Size: | 1414 kb |
File Type: |
school_choice_sign-in__responses__-_form_responses_1.pdf | |
File Size: | 34 kb |
File Type: |
4.15_stem_parent_meeting.pdf | |
File Size: | 918 kb |
File Type: |
july_2014_parent_meeting.pdf | |
File Size: | 741 kb |
File Type: |
5.28.14stem_parent_meeting.pdf | |
File Size: | 1017 kb |
File Type: |
may_2014_parent_sign_in_sheet.pdf | |
File Size: | 1577 kb |
File Type: |
Newsletters to Keep the Community informed of the STEM Academy
august2015.docx | |
File Size: | 871 kb |
File Type: | docx |
october_2014_newsletter.pdf | |
File Size: | 4201 kb |
File Type: |
november_2014_newsletter.pdf | |
File Size: | 9601 kb |
File Type: |
november_2014_newsletter_insert.pdf | |
File Size: | 2282 kb |
File Type: |
SEMAA
Our students have had extension sand advancement of their learning via SEMAA and Camp Invention. Both of these camps have assisted our school with providing our students with first hand experience in STEM. SEMAA is an advanced science and mathematics program which standards for Science Engineering Mathematics and Aerospace Academy. Our school was the metro-Atlanta host site for SEMAA, and teachers at Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy are SEMAA trained. The NASA Science Engineering Mathematics and Aerospace Academy was a nationally recognized science program designed to enhance the participation of underrepresented K-12 students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The goals of the NASA Science Engineering Mathematics and Aerospace Academy project were to inspire a more diverse population of students to pursue careers in STEM; engage students, parents, and teachers by incorporating emerging technologies into the project. Due budget cuts however, this program no longer exists. Our partners at the Fernbank Science Center are still trying to find a way to get a summer program to take its place; and we support them in this effort.
Camp Invention
Because we were on the path to conquering the big mountain, the clouds gave way and allowed a huge shade tree to come into view to offer us some relief. During the summer of 2014, our students had the opportunity to participate in Camp Invention. Camp invention is a nationally recognized non-profit elementary STEM enrichment program that is supported by the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The success of the program was highlighted in the DeKalb County Champion Newspaper. Teachers at Ronald E. McNair have been trained to effectively provide this intense engineering program to our students. As a result of the popularity and tremendous feedback from our community and other stakeholders, the program returned for the summer of 2015.
Our students have had extension sand advancement of their learning via SEMAA and Camp Invention. Both of these camps have assisted our school with providing our students with first hand experience in STEM. SEMAA is an advanced science and mathematics program which standards for Science Engineering Mathematics and Aerospace Academy. Our school was the metro-Atlanta host site for SEMAA, and teachers at Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy are SEMAA trained. The NASA Science Engineering Mathematics and Aerospace Academy was a nationally recognized science program designed to enhance the participation of underrepresented K-12 students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The goals of the NASA Science Engineering Mathematics and Aerospace Academy project were to inspire a more diverse population of students to pursue careers in STEM; engage students, parents, and teachers by incorporating emerging technologies into the project. Due budget cuts however, this program no longer exists. Our partners at the Fernbank Science Center are still trying to find a way to get a summer program to take its place; and we support them in this effort.
Camp Invention
Because we were on the path to conquering the big mountain, the clouds gave way and allowed a huge shade tree to come into view to offer us some relief. During the summer of 2014, our students had the opportunity to participate in Camp Invention. Camp invention is a nationally recognized non-profit elementary STEM enrichment program that is supported by the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The success of the program was highlighted in the DeKalb County Champion Newspaper. Teachers at Ronald E. McNair have been trained to effectively provide this intense engineering program to our students. As a result of the popularity and tremendous feedback from our community and other stakeholders, the program returned for the summer of 2015.
Post-Secondary Visits
Crossroads Articles: CHM2Hill Donation and Aquaponics Lab
WABE Radio Article and Audio
Atlanta Journal and Constitution Article
Business Partner Planning Meetings
Business Partner Sign-in Sheet
Conference Call Meeting
3.15.16_conference_call.doc | |
File Size: | 49 kb |
File Type: | doc |
5.16.16_conference_call_artifacts.pdf | |
File Size: | 1019 kb |
File Type: |
5.16.16_conference_call.doc | |
File Size: | 52 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Business Partner Meetings
first_annual_business_partner_meeting_2016.pdf | |
File Size: | 2001 kb |
File Type: |
3.11.2016_business_partner_meeting_minutes_sign_in_sheet.pdf | |
File Size: | 1849 kb |
File Type: |
List of Business Partners
Hatponics
Fernbank Science Center
C.E.R.M.
Baker Donelson
Hank Stewart Foundation
DeKalb Medical
Integral, INC
Publix
CHM2Hill
Walmart
Brown and Caldwell
Lockheed Martin
Fernbank Science Center
C.E.R.M.
Baker Donelson
Hank Stewart Foundation
DeKalb Medical
Integral, INC
Publix
CHM2Hill
Walmart
Brown and Caldwell
Lockheed Martin
Animation Workshop
syllabus__1_.pdf | |
File Size: | 370 kb |
File Type: |
Student Completed Animations