Los Altos School District’s CSTEM program

Please visit the updated page at

www.computersforcreativity.com/school-programs/lasdcstem

Los Altos School District’s new C-STEM program for 6th grade will bring Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects through the 3 C’s – Creativity, Collaboration and Computer Science.

Creativity: Students will learn to demonstrate their creativity through technology by creating original video games that combine art and design with computer programming.
Collaboration: Students will work in teams to build projects and will share their work and collaborate online using tools such as blogs and wikis.
Computer Science: Students will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of computer science and then apply these concepts to projects in science and math. They will learn the critical digital age skill of computational thinking through computer programming.

The cSTEM program has been funded by generous donations by parents to the

cSTEM class links

cSTEM wiki (for use by cSTEM students)

cSTEM parent/guardian Newsletter Fall 2011

cSTEM Class Schedule for 2011-2012

Monday afternoon: Oak
Tuesday morning: Loyola
Tuesday afternoon: Santa Rita
Wednesday afternoon: Springer
Thursday afternoon: Almond
Friday morning: Gardner Bullis
Friday afternoon: Covington

Homework/Grading Policy

There will be no assigned homework but students may be asked to plan or explore project ideas after class. Non letter grading will be based on class participation and class projects.

Curriculum

The curriculum is based on ISTE’s National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS.S), the ACM K-12 Computer Science Model Curriculum (Level 1 recommendation for K-8), the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics for Grade 6, and the California Content standards in Visual arts for Grade 6 (art through technology section 2.6). The curriculum includes:

Parts of a computer – understanding both hardware and software
Binary numbers and how computers store information
Introduction to algorithms and programming
Learning programming using Scratch
Creating art through computer programming
Use of vector graphics to create mathematical art
Creating original characters and scientific drawings using vector graphics
Designing and building a math and/or Science video game
Using wikis and blogs to share and collaborate online

Why STEM? Why Computer Science? Why sixth grade?

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are considered the most critical academic disciplines for success in a 21^st century workforce. President Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” initiative has provided a sharp increase in the number of STEM education programs across the country.

Computer science combines the STEM subjects as well as teaches critical 21^st century skills of problem solving and algorithmic thinking. In today’s digital age, technology education must go beyond teaching the use of computer applications. It should also teach how to create computer tools, and this can be done through computer science education.

Research in STEM education shows that the middle school years are critical to ignite and retain interest in the STEM subjects. Since sixth grade is the key entry point into middle school, it is the best year to focus on STEM education.