Gateway To Technology

Wauwatosa School District

Middle School STEM Initiative

• Provide our middle school students access to Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) programming to become creative, innovative, and critical thinkers.

• Develop students who are able to identify and solve problems, effectively collaborate and communicate solutions, and become productive members of our increasingly global society.

• Meet District Development Plan (DDP) initiative number 10; The district will continue with the expansion of Project Lead The Way at both middle schools.

• Nat’l Science Board, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Wisconsin Technology Council, Wisconsin DPI STEM Summit Sept 2010.

• Increase Rigor

Rational/Need

• Current Curriculum was retooled in 2000 with the addition of modular units through a lab station delivery model in the 8th grade.

• 6th Grade course standard and benchmarks were written spring 2009.

• 2009-10 Gateway to Technology courses were discussed with possibility of future implementation as 7th and 8th grade content standards and benchmarks work to follow.

• Fall 2010-11 Tech Ed content team, content team leader, and Student Learning, further explored Gateway Courses and possible implementation design.

Rational/Need

• Currently, we do not offer an integrated STEM course offering at the middle school level.

Supporting Data

• GTT is an activity-orientated program designed to challenge and engage middle school students.

• Curriculum adds rigor to middle school experience.

• Provides early entry into to Science Technology, Engineering & Mathematics career pathway.

• Students develop 21st Century skills of innovation, collaboration, cooperation, and problem-solving.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y00wuzCW-U4

• Initial studies show that the middle school Gateway program facilitate the closing the achievement gap.

Gateway To Technology Overview

Year 1

• 6th Grade – 9 weeks wheel rotation (daily contact) Utilize current established curriculum (standards and

benchmarks).

• 7th Grade – Semester (daily contact) Design, Modeling, Automation and robotics

(replacement for Exploring Manufacturing and Engineering)

• 8th Grade – Semester (every other day contact) Design, Modeling, Automation and Robotics

(replacement for Exploring Communication/Transportation Technology)

Middle School Implementation

Year 2

• 6th Grade – 9 weeks wheel rotation (daily contact) Utilize current established curriculum (standards

and benchmarks).

• 7th Grade – Semester (daily contact) Design, Modeling, Automation and robotics

• 8th Grade – Semester (every other day contact) Flight, Space, Energy and the Environment

Middle School Implementation

• Take recommendations to curriculum council Jan 11th.

• Present Proposal to BOE. January 24th(tentative)

• Share offerings at middle parent nights. Feb 8th & 9th.

• Purchase equipment and materials (spring 2011)

• Teacher Training/Classes Summer 2011.

• Fall 2011 classes begin.

Next Steps