Year 9 at Berkley€¦ · Year 9 at Berkley has been a rewarding experience for me. We have been...
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Science Technology Entrepreneurship Arts Maths Year 9 at Berkley
Transcript of Year 9 at Berkley€¦ · Year 9 at Berkley has been a rewarding experience for me. We have been...
Science Technology Entrepreneurship Arts Maths
Year 9 at Berkley
WHAT IS STEAM? STEAM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in five specific disciplines — science, technology, entrepreneurship, the arts, and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. Rather than teach the five disciplines as separate and discrete subjects, STEAM integrates them into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications.
WHY STEAM? What separates STEAM from the traditional science and math education is the blended learning environment which shows students how the scientific method can be applied to everyday life. It teaches students computational thinking and focuses on the real world applications of problem solving. At Berkley, we have state of the art facilities and skilled teachers that will provide students with outstanding hands-on learning experiences that challenge inquisitive minds, fuel innovative thinking and create a culture of teamwork and collaboration.
The philosophy of STEAM at Berkley is to provide:• An engaging interdisciplinary approach that integrates the areas of science, technology, entrepreneurship, arts and mathematics.
• An inquiry-based approach that helps develop critical thinking, creativity and spur innovation and invention. Students are empowered to take control of their own learning, preparing them to be problem solvers in the real world.
• Innovative and enlightening learning experiences that are transformational for both students and educators.
Science Technology Entrepreneurship Arts Maths
Brooke Carter, Year 9 Year 9 at Berkley has been a rewarding experience for me. We have been continuously challenged with leadership and extension opportunities. The Year 9 Leadership Camp challenged us with tasks that required us to pull together and work as a group, all the while in a safe and encouraging environment. It is this that has helped me grow immensely throughout the year.
The Year 9 programme caters to student’s needs, and as a student in the lighthouse programme, I am often being pulled to the side and given even more opportunities such as hosting events.
Year 9 students are known and looked up to throughout the school. As most of us have been at Berkley for three years we all have special connections with the staff.
I would recommend Berkley’s Year 9 programme as an experience that is well worth considering.
Being a Year 9 at Berkley will mean:I will learn Mandarin (Chinese Language) - the scale and development of China’s economy is breathtaking. New Zealand students are growing up alongside the fastest growing economy in the world, and one which is considered by many to become the biggest global market in the 21st century. Learning Mandarin will mean that our students will be able to communicate with the majority of the world.
I will learn Robotics - students will develop an understanding of how robot systems work and to what extent they can be used in achieving a function. Students will be required to create a solution for various problems such as how to follow a line and move a block to a specified area. Throughout the process, group collaboration and communication will be extremely important. In the final learning stage, students will design a task that could be applied by a robot in a real-life context e.g. to become an assistive device for people with disabilities. The task will involve each student developing their own design brief, specifications, videoing their work and then writing a report citing the successes, challenges, changes and improvements.
I will participate in the planning, organisation and fundraising for a Year 9 trip - year 9 students will learn how to set a budget, plan and run a business, sell a product for a return and learn effective money management skills. All proceeds will go towards funding a special trip that will include completing one of New Zealand’s well known tramps.
I will have the opportunity to attend a specialist Year 9 leadership camp - Camp Adair is an outdoor pursuits and education facility located in Hunua, south of Auckland. Common programme goals include learning or improving outdoor pursuit skills, building confidence, growing leadership, improving group communication and getting to know one another.
I will have access to my own Chromebook that I will use to support my learning - All students will have their own Chromebook provided by the school. While this is school property, students will use this device between home and school to carry out their learning tasks.
I will learn coding - Understanding code opens up huge opportunities to create original, unique content, whether in the form of websites, databases or through app development.
I will have an opportunity to be involved in a specialised Year 9 Arts (music, dance, drama, and visual arts) programme.
I will continue to experience high quality teaching and learning through the STEAM programme.
To find out more information about the Year 9 curriculum and opportunities for 2017, there will be an Year 9 information session at our ‘Information Evening’ on the 10th August starting at 7:30 in the Cultural Centre.
