ST 1.3

Self-Assessment Rating: 3

Students are empowered to personalize and self-direct their STEM learning experiences supported by STEM educators who facilitate their learning.

Elementary STEM Initiatives

Empowering students in developing essential skills to become independent thinkers and self-directed learners

Pinecrest Academy Design Process

Pinecrest Academy of Nevada - Cadence Campus engages students in STEM every day. With the integration of the Pinecrest Academy Design Process, teachers facilitate student connections between problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to all content area instruction. This allows students a multitude of opportunities to internalize the ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve thinking cycle required of STEM thinkers. Every PAC classroom features a re-writeable anchor chart which outlines the steps in the STEM design process. Teachers refer to these anchor charts during instruction to support students as they make meaningful connections between the standards learned in content areas and the critical-thinking cycle associated with the STEM careers.

Music Design Process

ELA Design Process

Art Design Process

Math Design Process

STEM Integrated Units

PAC teachers have developed STEM units which provide students the opportunity to hone their independent and collaborative research and decision-making skills. During these units of study, students work through every step of the design process as they examine a real-world problem. The design challenges are created based on the Next Generation Science Standards and linked to topics being covered in ELA and math. For example, kindergarten students are being immersed in reading, science, and math activities to help them determine a method for saving an abandoned emperor penguin egg. Second grade students are researching the components of diverse habitats to build an effective sanctuary for displaced animals impacted by natural disasters such as floods and fires. Teachers walk beside students as they work to apply content knowledge to generate potential solutions for their world. A critical part of this process is feedback, the feedback comes from both the teacher and fellow students. Students are given the opportunity to analyze each other's work and ask questions or offer suggestions for the purpose of making improvements to initial designs.

Kindergarten

4th Grade

Project Lead the Way

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) modules provide students with additional opportunities to work independently and in collaborative groups on a variety of projects where the objectives are to solve problems using the ask, explore, model, evaluate, and explain process. PLTW inquiry is designed to be realistic and allow students to make meaningful connections between their personal experiences, science content, and the engineering process. Freedom to use unique materials and develop individualized plans is the hallmark of the program. Students engage in self-reflection and are empowered to self-direct their learning as the teacher works as facilitator of each PLTW unit.

Student Self-Assessment

Example of rubrics used for student self-assessment of his/her participation, attitude, team work, collaboration, reflection, and production in STEM.

Individualized Digital Learning

Pinecrest's blended learning platforms provide students with individualized pathways where they can set meaningful goals, take charge of the pace of their learning, and engage in productive struggle to improve personal achievement levels. Students have access to i-Ready Reading, i-Ready Math, Reflex Math, ST Math, Myon, and Accelerated Reader programs to facilitate growth in both literacy and mathematics.

Student-Driven Individualized Goal-Setting

At Pinecrest, students of all ages are taught to set, monitor, and revise personal academic goals. This is just one example of a student's blended-learning goal tracker. Pinecrest teachers conference with students about their progress and help students determine areas of strength and weakness to develop plans for continued growth and personal achievement.

Example Lessons

Secondary STEM Initiatives

Pinecrest promotes choice and ownership in learning as well as increased opportunities to investigate STEM career pathways

Science & Invention Fair

Science Fair Pictures

Science and invention fair projects require students to incorporate their 21st century skills within the engineering design process.

Passion Projects

2nd Period Science

Passion projects allow students to explore their personal interests within STEM fields while advancing creativity and communication skills.

Electives

In addition to rigorous coursework, middle school and high school students are given the choice of electives such as Exploring Aviation, Aviation Technology CTE, Zoology, Intro to Archeology, Intro to Physics, Broadcast News, Computer Science Discoveries, AP Computer Science Principles, Cyber Security CTE, Graphic Design CTE, MATHCOUNTS, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and Speech and Debate/Think Law.

Clubs

Pinecrest Academy offers clubs and activities to enrich students’ knowledge in chemistry, drones, engineering, aviation, gardening, and mathematics. The vast majority of our secondary clubs and elective classes do not have prerequisites in order to ensure opportunities for all.

Girls in Cyber Security

Women in Aviation

PAC clubs and electives aim to reach student subgroups which are typically underrepresented in STEM careers such as women and minorities. For example, our aviation program is actively working to encourage and recruit students for their Women in Aviation program. Our cyber security team also actively seeks and welcomes subgroup involvement. Our partnership with Cyber-Patriots allows for the sponsorship of an all-female cyber security competition team.

Dual Enrollment

PAC encourages and guides all students toward a College & Career Readiness pathway. Through a partnership with the College of Southern Nevada, students are able to apply for and complete higher education coursework while enrolled in high school. Coursework in mathematics and STEM related fields are offered to help ease the transition into high demand fields of study.

Gearing Up for the Future

As a school committed to community outreach, PAC believes in promoting the involvement of stakeholders to enhance our STEM culture and to help our students make decisions about their future. Business and community partners address our students to discuss college and career options. If our stakeholders can't come to us, we go to them. Our students have the opportunity to tour universities and to speak to live guests through video conferencing.

SUU & UNR Presenting to Students

UNLV Campus Tour

Goals for Improvement

The Design Process & STEM Infused Units
- Additional coaching and support for new teachers to effectively apply the design process across the curriculum
- Continue to hone STEM Infused Units to increase their connection to current events and real-world phenomena/issues
- Use Project Lead the Way Modules as a catalyst for further integration of core content into STEM instruction
- Backwards map long-range plans to embed more opportunities for STEM Integration with core curriculum

CTE
- Expand partnerships with local colleges to offer additional CTE opportunities as a pipeline for high-need technical careers
College & Career
- Actively seek further opportunities to inform students about secondary education options as well as expand internships and mentorships in areas of student interest

ST 1.2

ST 1.4

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