July 15, 2010Academy News
New AITR PowerPoint Frequently Asked Questions Academy Application
AITR Student Laptops
I received word today from the District IT Director that they will be supplying us with 150 brand new, high-end laptops to start the school year. That means that we can issue a laptop to each student on the first day of school. I realize that many families have already purchased a laptop and others were looking for a lease/purchase arrangement. The District felt that they needed more time to figure out how to allow student owned laptops on the VCS network without compromising the network security and they also needed time to negotiate a good lease/purchase agreement. In the meantime they felt that supplying the laptops would get us up and running immediately while they work these issues out. I will post more information as it becomes available.
Information about the Tech Academy at Spruce Creek:
The Academy of Information Technology and Robotics will be a totally integrated academy this coming (2010-2011) school year. Students will explore all subjects together in a “school within a school” setting utilizing a blended model of online learning and project-based curriculum. We will teach our students how to learn, how to think critically and how to solve problems. We will allow them to explore, create, apply what they have learned and invent. Teachers will learn with students, asking questions without straightforward answers; listening and doing. We will cross the barriers between subject areas showing students the relevance of what they are learning and how all subjects are inter-related.
In the Tech Academy:
- There are no regular class periods.
- Students will use laptops throughout the day and at home.
- AITR teachers are part of a team that includes one teacher from each core and each non-core subject area.
- Each AITR team teacher is assigned 25 students. The teaching team has the same students all four years of high school.
- Teachers have learning labs: Science Labs, English Labs, Math Labs, Social Studies Labs, Technology Labs, etc. Labs are adjacent to each other in the same area of the school.
- The school year is divided into six 6-weeks sessions. Students complete an interdisciplinary team project every five weeks and present during week six.
- Students will be assigned online learning modules related to the project in each subject area to help acquire the necessary background knowledge to complete the project.
- Teachers will hold workshops and seminars in their subject areas relating to the current assigned projects.
- Projects are graded by each student’s team teachers using rubrics based on Sunshine State Standards for each subject area represented in the project. Grades are also distributed by subject area in the project.
- Students can arrange to meet in labs, common areas or outside of school to work as teams on the interdisciplinary projects.
- Teachers will act as mentors and facilitators for the projects, monitoring student progress and holding progress meetings with the student teams.
- Students will take common assessments twice a year to assess learning – FCAT or SAT style general knowledge exams. There will be remediation available to students who require it.
- Juniors and Seniors can apply to be part of the year long FIRST Robotics Team or the Nest Initiative – both are elite teams of students with an interest in either robotics or IT. These yearlong projects will replace the 5 week projects, will be interdisciplinary and will also have presentation/competition components.
- Students will work towards Industry Certifications in one of three technology areas: Software, Hardware or Gaming/Simulation.
- Students will complete a business internship during their Junior or Senior year.
The AITR is designated as a Ford PAS Career Academy and a member of the National Academy Foundation