Core Course Descriptions

STEM Research Seminar IA: Scientific Modeling                                                                      

This course introduces students to the applications of technology to the process of scientific investigation.  Students will learn to write basic software programs to model different natural phenomena, and they will complete a detailed investigation on seasonal change and a study on short-term memory to develop their ability to evaluate scientific literature and determine appropriate tool use.  A poster presentation and learning to write a peer-reviewed paper are the culminating activities for this course. 

 

STEM Research Seminar IB: Robotics                                                                               

This course introduces students to the basic elements and demands of engineering and applied mathematics.  Students will complete a semester long design project that simulates the engineering and math needed for self-driving cars. They will design with the array of sensors needed to determine the state of the driving environment and learn the technology and constraints of controlling a vehicle through software control, and they will finish the course by learning how to program your sensor-rich robots to develop capabilities for autonomous vehicles.

  

STEM Research Seminar IIA: Non-Eucledian Geometry                                                                              

This course interweaves technology and pure mathematics as it investigates non-traditional geometries and topological topics.  Students will study possible shapes of the universe and the techniques to project 3- and 4-dimensional objects on a 2-dimensional surface.  They will explore Euclidean, Spherical and Hyperbolic 2-Dimensional Geometries, Mobius Strips and Klein Bottles as well as 3-Dimensional Projective Geometries, and they will learn how technology supports these mathematics by enabling students to visualize and investigate mathematical objects that cannot be built in our 3-Dimensional world or drawn on a 2-Dimensional plane.  Students explore the complexity of such interactive programs and learn to write their own using Scratch and MATLAB programming languages.  The course culminates with a final project of the student’s choosing related to topics studied during the semester.

 

STEM Research Seminar IIB: Statistical Literacy                                                                               

This course lays the foundation for success in all the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics disciplines and introduces students to the skills for statistical literacy.  Students will collect data from various sources and develop statistical models.  They will learn to design surveys, calculate probabilities, summarize and display data, and use statistics to interpret results.  For the culminating activity, students will apply statistical methods to the investigation of a social issue of their choice.

 

11th Grade STEM Internship

This course introduces students to introducing students to how the disciplines of science and engineering are integrated with one another.  Students will explore materials science and environmental impact to develop a novel sunscreen formula and the package to contain it for retail purposes.  Students will learn how to develop an engineering research proposal, and they will create a prototype product to test for quality control.  All students will complete a culminating project examining sustainable design.