Interdisciplinary Studies
COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
Grades 9-12
IDS110 1.0 credit
This course will focus on developing the skills necessary to pursue college and/or a career. Many of our students with disabilities receiving special education supports and services benefit from developing the employability skills needed to cooperate with others, interact effectively within the “workplace” and advance to new positions and responsibilities. This course will enable students to:
Develop the skills and knowledge to understand how personal skills contribute to
employability, including ideas to manage time and tasks effectively.
Develop the critical, creative, and reflective thinking skills needed to identify problems,
analyze and evaluate various solutions and monitor their effectiveness.
Develop the critical, creative, and reflective thinking skills needed to consider relevant facts and opinions, evaluate potential risks and benefits of various decisions, make a decision, and analyze its outcome.
Develop work habits that will assist with employability and college readiness. Skills will include, but are not limited to: planning and preparation, organization, effective communication, self-monitoring, and self-advocacy.
PREREQUISITE: Recommendation of IEP team
INFORMATION CONSUMERISM
Grades 9-12
IDS220 0.5 credit
The purpose of this elective course is to give students the opportunity to learn about how information can be used and how it affects their everyday lives. Topics in this course will include digital citizenship, citations, censorship, digital inequality, recognizing “fake” news, and using a college library, among other topics. This course will align with not only PA state standard in English Language Arts, Health and Safety, Information Technology and Art (creative thinking and expression), but also align with ISTE standards for students.
SAT PREPARATION
Grades 10-11
IDS210 0.5 credit
This course is designed for students who want to understand their PSAT results and utilize the resources provided through the College Board to maximize their success on the SAT. Students will be instructed in how the SAT is constructed, weighted, and scored, and receive assistance in analyzing and interpreting their individual PSAT scores to identify areas of personal strength and need. Students will then use the Khan Academy to create individual study and practice guides to increase skill mastery and proficiency on the SAT exam. Students will also have the opportunity to take advantage of timed test sections of practice materials to increase familiarity with the format and expectations of the SAT.
PREREQUISITE: Completion of the PSAT in the fall of grade 10
Grades 10-11
IDS440 2.0 credit
AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students learn to investigate a problem or issue, analyze arguments, compare different perspectives, synthesize information from multiple sources, and work alone and in a group to communicate their ideas.
Further, in this course, students will use Stanford University’s Design Thinking framework, a process for creative problem solving, to design services, products, and/or processes that will benefit a target audience (users) of their choosing. Students will be able to develop solutions to problems they themselves have identified, or challenges provided for them by industry partners. Students will be mentored by their teacher and various other partners throughout this process. Design thinking revolves around three essential components: first and foremost, developing empathy for those who have a real problem; second, ideating, generating a large amount of ideas that may potentially solve the problem, and; finally, testing those ideas and continually improving them to design a solution to the problem that best satisfies the needs of the target user.
Grades 11-12
IDS441 1.0 credit
AP Research, the second course in the AP Capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000–5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.
PREREQUISITE: Successful Completion of AP Seminar.
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH LAB
Grades 11-12
IDS240 1.0 credit
Neuroscience research has become a priority in the science community and exposure to it will give our students a competitive edge as they move into college. The Neuropsychology course is a research-based course where students learn about the brain from three uniques perspectives (Biology, Psychology and Social Impact) and develop their own research projects based on their interests and research. Each unit in this course is centered around a case study that provides the background and context through which students will learn the anatomy and physiology of the brain and the nervous system and how it controls the psychological and social aspects of a human being and teaches students about different facets of research in a stepwise progression, culminating in students designing and performing original and independent research projects of their choosing. Each unit also incorporates one or more professional guest speakers from the various Neuropsychology fields (Neuroscience, Neurology, Psychology, Psychiatry, etc...) exposing students to different careers and demonstrating content application.
PREREQUISITE: Successful Completion of Anatomy and Physiology H, Genetics of Cancer H, AP Biology, or AP Psychology
HERStory: WOMEN'S VOICES IN AMERICAN HISTORY & LITERATURE
Grades 10 - 12
IDS250 0.5 credit
While more than half of the population of the United States is female, have you ever wondered why so many stories about females remain untold? In fact, a large percentage of our nation’s history and literature have excluded the contributions of women, and society is constantly redefining the roles of women. The purpose of this course will be to explore the impact of historical events on the lives of American women, and the varied roles women have played in shaping American history - including how the societal definition of gender continues to evolve. Through a myriad of both fictional narratives and non-fiction primary sources, this course will examine the ways in which race, class, and ethnicity have shaped women’s lives. We will delve into work environments, family life, social status, organized activities, and political positions with an emphasis on the female experience. We will also research the impact of gender in the construction of American history - both past and present. This elective will serve as an avenue for students to question and analyze history to include women’s voices, often overlooked in traditional historical and literary narratives.
ENTER THE SHARK TANK: Business Pitches, Campaign and Debate
Grades 10-12
IDS260 0.5 credit
ETST provides a curriculum that encourages a dynamic and fast-paced environment for students to have their voices heard over a variety of platforms including speech, debate, presentations, research, and projects. Students will focus on further developing skills already incorporated in their English classes and hone in on specific persuasive techniques for practical and even career-oriented applications. Students will be assessed on their communication, persuasion, presentation, and research skills. Through analysis of famous debates, students will enhance their use of rhetoric, diction, and tone. Potential projects include a student “TED Talk” Frederick Douglas style debates, persuasive speeches and writings, and more.