21CCCS Partners with PLTW to Offer New Technology Classes for 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders
Downingtown, PA (PRWEB) October 04, 2017 -- There are engaging, exciting and empowering new technology classes being offered by 21st Century Charter Cyber Schools for the first time this year.
The dedicated educators at 21CCCS are partnering with Project Lead The Way to bring 6th, 7th, and 8th graders the PLTW Gateway program, which features technology classes that touch on an array of topics.
PLTW Gateway’s 10 units are aimed at “empowering students to lead their own discovery.” This hands-on program increases engagement and excitement in the classroom, while also fostering collaboration and deep comprehension.
The PLTW Gateway classes that 21CCCS will teach are as follows:
8th grade - App Creators (Required): Students will delve into computer science by computationally analyzing and developing solutions to authentic problems in mobile app development. This class also highlights the positive impact that the application of computer science has had on society and other disciplines. Students can choose a problem to solve from an area that interests them such as health, environment, emergency preparedness, education, community service, and school culture.
7th grade - Computer Science for Innovators and Makers (Required): Through the creation of personally relevant, tangible, and shareable projects, this class allows students to discover computer science concepts and skills. By blending hardware design and software development, students gain a better understanding of programming for the physical world in this class. Students will also have the chance to design and develop a physical computing device, interactive art installation, or wearable, and plan and develop code for microcontrollers that will bring their designs to life.
6th grade - Design and Modelling (Required): Students can develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives with PLTW Gateway’s Design and Modelling class. This class challenges and empowers students to use and apply what they’ve learned to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy.
This semester, 21CCCS has 156 8th graders taking the App Creator class, 90 7th graders taking the Computer Science for Innovators and Makers class, and 64 6th graders enrolled in the Design and Modelling class.
The PLWT Gateway program is one that 21CCCS believes is the best fit for the cyber school environment and many 21CCCS students are already enjoying it. 21CCCS is the only cyber charter school in Pennsylvania that implements the PLTW Gateway program into its curriculum. In the future, 21CCCS would like to expand its curriculum to the high-school level.
About: With 827 students, 21CCCS is one of Pennsylvania’s largest cyber charter schools, according to 2015-2016 Pennsylvania Department of Education data. Established in 2001, 21CCCS features the best academic track record of any cyber charter school in the state, including average 2014 SAT scores in the top 10 percent of all Pennsylvania public schools. Our cyber charter school offers a flexible, individualized learning environment catered to meet specific student needs.
The 21CCCS mission is to provide students, for whom an asynchronous environment is an appropriate educational setting, with an individualized learning program utilizing the latest information and communications technology. The basis for all learning plans is to maximize student achievement of the Pennsylvania Academic Standards while developing higher order thinking and complex problem-solving skills. 21st Century Cyber Charter School will assure that students master essential content and skills while preparing them for their future goals.
21st Century Cyber Charter School, 21st Century Cyber Charter School, http://21cccs.org/, +1 (888) 932-4629 Ext: 356, [email protected]
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