Below, you will find the goals and objectives we established for our department at the beginning of the school year 2022-2023. Through this description, I aim to provide a comprehensive overview of each goal and highlight the detailed activities we implemented to support their achievement.
OUR TEAM - SCHOOL YEAR 2022-2023 🤟🏻
Jorge Colunga - Head Of Academics / Tech Design Teacher
Bertha Cannon - Tech Teacher
Johanna Garza - Business/Tech Teacher
Patricia Lyons - Accounting Teacher
Joelle Hernandez - Business Teacher
Elizabeth Elizondo - Business Teacher
Gabriela Sánchez - Product Design Teacher
Department goal 1:
Increase student awareness of bus/tech courses
The primary objective of this goal is to enhance students' awareness and understanding of the different bus/tech courses available to them. By increasing awareness, the department aims to attract more students to these courses, providing them with valuable skills and knowledge in business and technology fields. To achieve this, the department may implement activities such as conducting information sessions in classes, creating clear pathways, and promoting course offerings through informative videos/slideshows to ensure students are well-informed about these opportunities.
We have introduced new pathways for high school students, offering two options in business (entrepreneurial and corporate) and two options in technology (digital design and programming). Students can choose the pathway that aligns with their interests and future goals. The entrepreneurial pathway focuses on innovation and starting businesses, while the corporate pathway emphasizes skills needed in established organizations. In technology, the digital design strand explores visual art and multimedia production, while the programming strand focuses on creating and developing new technology through coding. These pathways provide targeted education to prepare students for their desired careers.
As an MSHS business and technology department, we firmly believe in providing our students with a strong and cohesive pathway from middle school to high school. To ensure continuity and foster early exploration of technology, we have introduced an exciting new Technology and Engineering Program specifically designed for middle school students.
This innovative program offers students the opportunity to delve into the world of technology from various perspectives, empowering them to discover their passions and interests. In the 6th grade, students will engage in the Tech and Engineering Design course, where they will learn foundational concepts and develop problem-solving skills through hands-on projects.
Building on this foundation, we have introduced a range of elective classes for 7th and 8th graders. These classes include Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Web Design, and STEAM Makers. By offering these diverse elective options, we aim to expose students to different facets of technology, enabling them to explore their interests further.
Department goal 2:
Connect with alumni/community to define areas of opportunity to better leverage alumni/community participation in our classes or events
This goal focuses on establishing meaningful connections with alumni and leveraging their expertise and experiences to enhance the department's classes or events. By actively engaging alumni, the department aims to tap into their knowledge, network, and potential resources for the benefit of current students.
MONEYPOOL
Guest speaker: Ignacio Álvarez, CEO Moneypool
Class: Product design & Marketing
In our product design and marketing classes, we were honored to have the CEO of MoneyPool as a guest speaker. The CEO shared invaluable insights on creating new products and the journey of developing their app. Thanks to Ms. Sanchez's initiative in inviting him, students gained valuable knowledge about product creation and were inspired by the CEO's entrepreneurial experience.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Tour guide: Sebastian Garza (Class of 2020)
Field: Engineering & Business
Our visit to Stanford University was an extraordinary experience that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the campus atmosphere and gain insights into various career options in business and engineering. What made this tour even more inspiring was that it was led by our former student, Sebastian Garza, from the class of 2020. As an alumni, Sebastian's tour carried a sense of pride and achievement, serving as a testament to the possibilities and success that await our students. We are immensely grateful to Ms. Padilla for contacting Sebastian, it was a truly meaningful and aspirational journey for our students.
Department goal 3:
Explore new ways of doing things with college visits
Visit to TEC DE MONTERREY
Our visit to Tec de Monterrey was an enlightening experience for us as teachers, as it provided us with the opportunity to explore their career offerings and curriculum. This allowed us to gain a better understanding of what our students will encounter at their next academic level. We had valuable meetings with teachers from both the business and engineering departments, enabling us to establish contacts for future collaborations and program alignment. The visit opened doors for potential partnerships and enriched our knowledge, ultimately benefiting our students' educational journey.
Department goal 4:
Increase participation in experiential learning activities
Experiential learning activities offer students valuable opportunities to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts, fostering a deeper understanding of concepts and skills. The department aims to increase student participation in such activities to enrich their educational experience.
Wood workshop for our clubs - Yeslab Society and Robotics
Our wood workshop brought together students from the YESLab Society and Robotic Eagle Club, providing them with a unique opportunity to delve into the world of woodworking. During the workshop, students had hands-on experiences with various tools available at ASFM, gaining practical knowledge that they could apply to their respective club activities. They learned how to safely and effectively use woodworking tools, empowering them to bring their creative ideas to life. This workshop fostered collaboration and skill-building, equipping the students with valuable woodworking skills that will enhance their club projects and spark their creativity.
Building upon their knowledge gained from the wood workshop, the YESLab Society had a remarkable opportunity to contribute through the CCE program. They lent their skills and expertise to another club by assisting in the construction of bars for a ballet program in a different community.
Workshop at TEC DE MONTERREY
Our Tec de Monterrey workshop allowed students to explore engineering fields and the utilization of robotics in line productions. They gained hands-on experience with robot arms and learned how they work in real production settings. The workshop provided practical knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, emphasizing motion planning, sensor integration, and control systems. Students collaborated on mini line production projects, programming and operating robot arms to simulate real-world scenarios. The workshop fostered a deep understanding of robotics' role in streamlining industrial processes and inspired students to pursue careers in engineering and robotics.
SILICON VALLEY 2023
Our field trip to Silicon Valley in San Francisco, which took place from May 22 to May 27, was an enriching experience. We visited Intel Museum, Apple Burlingame, Zynga, Golden Gate - Barrio Chino, Facebook Store, Berkeley University, Googleplex, Google Store, NASA, Alcatraz, Pier 39, Autodesk, Stanford University, and Nvidia. Engineers at each location provided insightful tours, sharing their professions and the skills and education required to work there. We learned about entrepreneurship, technology, gaming, cultural landmarks, academic opportunities, and innovative companies, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the industry.
ROBOTIC EAGLE CLUB
Our Robotic Eagles team recently had a remarkable experience participating in a community service activity through the CCE program. They took part in a robotics tournament, bringing the excitement of robotics to a local community for their learning program. This opportunity provided by the CCE program was invaluable, allowing our students to make a positive impact and share their knowledge and passion for robotics. We extend our gratitude to Ms. Garza, their Head Coach, for her guidance and unwavering support throughout the process and to Ms. Sanchez for her dedication and willingness to help make this experience even more rewarding for our team.
OUR LAST MEETING
06/20/2023
Thank you! Looking forward to the next school year!