Curriculum

= Curriculum =

=== The curriculum of the STEM School will be based on the Engineering By Design model, developed by the International Technology Education Association. ===

Introduction
The International Technology Education Association's Center to Advance the Teaching of Technology and Science (ITEA-CATTS) has developed the only standards-based national model for Grades K-12 that delivers technological literacy. The model, Engineering byDesign™ is built on [|Standards for Technological Literacy] (ITEA); [|Principles and Standards for School Mathematics] (NCTM); and [|Project 2061, Benchmarks for Science Literacy] (AAAS). Built on the constructivist model, students participating in the program learn concepts and principles in an authentic, problem-based environment. A network of teachers (EbD™ Network) has been selected to collaborate and conduct action research in order to better understand the complexities of student learning and to help all students succeed and be prepared for the global society in which they will grow up.

Mission
We live in a technological world. Living in the twenty-first century requires much more from every individual than a basic ability to read, write, and perform simple mathematics. Technology affects every aspect of our lives, from enabling citizens to perform routine tasks to requiring that they be able to make responsible, informed decisions that affect individuals, our society, and the environment. Citizens of today must have a basic understanding of how technology affects their world and how they exist both within and around technology. Technological literacy is fundamentally important to all students. Technological processes have become so complex that the community and schools collaborate to provide a quality technology program that prepares students for a changing technological world that is progressively more dependent on an informed, technologically literate citizenry.

Vision
The ITEA model technology program is committed to providing technological study in facilities that are safe and facilitate creativity, enabling all students to meet local, state, and national technological literacy standards. Students are prepared to engage in additional technological study in the high school years and beyond. Students will be prepared with knowledge and abilities to help them become informed, successful citizens who are able to make sense of the world in which they live. The technology program also enables students to take advantage of the technological resources in their own community.

Goals

 * Provide a standards-based K-12 program that ensures that all students are technologically literate.
 * Provide opportunities for all students without regard to gender or ethnic origin.
 * Provide clear standards and expectations for increasing student achievement in math, science, and technology.
 * Provide leadership and support that will produce continuous improvement and innovation in the program.
 * Restore America's status as the leader in innovation. Provide a program that constructs learning from a very early age and culminates in a capstone experience that leads students to become the next generation of technologists, innovators, designers, and engineers.

**Organizing Principles**
The program is organized around seven principles. These principles are very large concepts that identify major content organizers for the program. In order of importance, the seven organizing principles are:
 * 1) Engineering through design improves life.
 * 2) Technology has and continues to affect everyday life.
 * 3) Technology drives invention and innovation and is a thinking and doing process.
 * 4) Technologies are combined to make technological systems.
 * 5) Technology creates issues that change the way people live and interact.
 * 6) Technology impacts society and must be assessed to determine if it is good or bad.
 * 7) Technology is the basis for improving on the past and creating the future.

Information on this page from the ITEA/EbD website (@http://www.iteaconnect.org/EbD/ebd.htm)