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Irwin is fortunate to have community partners who support STEM education. Local businesses have provided both funds and learning experiences for our students. Engineers teach students concepts that can be applied to many parts of students’ lives. They create hands-on learning environments where students can plant and harvest vegetables. Irwin school also contracts with STEM coaches who train teachers on how to leverage STEM principles in their lesson planning so that students experience high-quality STEM experiences in the classroom The numerous partnerships ensure that our students experience STEM at a high level, while also reinforcing the connection to the world around us.
4.1 Community Partner Feedback
4.1 Community Partner Feedback
Irwin is fortunate to have an advisory board of committed individuals who are eager to support STEM education at our school through planning educational events, providing ideas for future STEM learning and feedback on our program.
4.2 STEM Career Exploration
4.2 STEM Career Exploration
STEM Careers are incorporated into every unit.
Defined Learning and Discovery STEM Connect provide detailed lessons that highlight different STEM jobs.
Junior Achievement partners with Irwin to provide all students with lessons and insight on different STEM careers. 100% of all teachers and students at Irwin participate in this learning.
STEMtastic Saturday is another opportunity for students and their parents to experience hands-on activities with a focus on STEM careers. Local Businesses are invited to showcase how they use STEM in their everyday lives.
4.4 Extended Learning
4.4 Extended Learning
The Robotics Club, Baking Club, and The M.A.T.H. Bowl team meet immediately after school. This makes activities accessible to students who do not have the ability to get a ride back to school and home again.
Programs such as Junior Achievement, Science Central demonstrations, and the Compost team are examples of programs that take place during the day to enhance STEM curriculum. These extended learning opportunities allow us to provide additional learning for all of our students.
The annual STEM Fair is an opportunity for all students to extend their learning. Students are given the option to participate in a Science Fair project using the scientific method or the Innovation Fair where students can create a solution to a problem.
STEM Related Field Trips are carefully planned to enhance the interdisciplinary units. The field trips happen during school hours so that all students can attend.
STEM Family Nights are offered twice a year and provide an extension of learning for students and their families.
4.5 Equity
4.5 Equity
Summary of Opportunities and Action Plan
All interdisciplinary units include community members who are invited to talk about their careers and experiences they have on a daily basis in the workforce. Through this experience, students are able to ask questions and explore several career avenues.
Project Lead the Way modules show students several different pathways in the STEM fields. The master schedule has a 75 minute PLTW time for all students. This is a protected time and students are not pulled out for Title l resource, or remediation during this time.
All Defined Learning lessons begin with a STEM career professional talking to students about his/her work. This group of STEM professionals includes members of various traditionally underrepresented groups so that students are able to see themselves in these careers.
Bulletin boards and displays around the school broadcast messages of positivity, encouragement, and career exploration to inspire and inform underrepresented students.
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