STEM Design Thinking I is a course about design-thinking.  This  course  allows  students  to explore  a problem-solving methodology especially suited for  investigating imprecise  problems  where collaboration is  paramount  and the  cycle  of  taking  risks, experiencing failures  and growth, and chasing successful  outcomes  are  at  the  core. Design thinking emphasizes  deep user understanding, iteration,  and a  focus  on possibilities  and multiple  approaches  as  a  way to enhance value  creation for  stakeholders. You'll  learn how  to envision, explain, and evaluate solutions  to a  wide  range  of  human problems  involving information and interaction with hands-on inquiry and open-ended exploration. These  skills  include  user  research  methods, visual  and interaction design skills, methods  for  evaluating designs, and skills  for  communicating designs. Throughout  the  course  students  will  work on three  different  challenges:  one  focused on themselves, one  focused  on MNHS, and one  focused on the  MNSD  community. The  primary vehicle  for  student  learning is  participation in team-based projects  in the  domains  of  media, engineering, and health.

STEM Design Thinking II is a course that focuses on the introduction to speech communication which emphasizes the practical skill of public speaking. This course allows for students to practice techniques for lessening speaker anxiety and using visual aids to enhance speaker presentations. The skill areas stressed are developing and organizing speech content, effective delivery of presentations, critical thinking, and active listening focused upon a specific pathway. This course promotes individuals in a biology, engineering, or communications pathway to develop clear, relevant speech content which has depth and breadth and is designed to engage the listener and add knowledge. The projects built into this course will allow students to explain in depth and demonstrate various research methods through logical discussion and written critiques’ of their own and others speeches. Throughout the course, students will listen critically to interpersonal as well as public speaking messages regarding the biology, engineering, or communications pathway.

AP Seminar is an interdisciplinary course that encourages students to demonstrate critical thinking, collaboration, and academic research skills on topics of the student’s choosing. To accommodate the wide range of student topics, typical college course equivalents include interdisciplinary or general elective courses. Students will develop and practice the skills in research, collaboration, and communication that you’ll need in any academic discipline. You’ll investigate topics in a variety of subject areas, write research-based essays, and design and give presentations both individually and as part of a team.

AP Research is an interdisciplinary course that encourages students to demonstrate critical thinking and academic research skills on a topic of the student’s choosing. To accommodate the wide range of student topics, typical college course equivalents include introductory research or general elective courses. Students will build on what you learned in AP Seminar to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, you will design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation to address a research question.