17 September 2007
Academics
Studio School will use the State’s Career Clusters programs of study organized around 16 career and technical fields to guide matriculation and Carnegie unit attainment. Sample programs of study adapted from Career Clusters a career-focused strategy for Career Technical Education that supports workforce preparation, economic development and educational reform. The National Association of State Directors for Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) has supported and contributed to the development of this new vision. A Career Cluster is a grouping of occupations and broad industries based on commonalities. The sixteen career clusters provide an organizing tool for schools, small learning communities, academies and magnet schools.
Studio School community members will come together to create an innovative, authentic, project-based curriculum that will be implemented uniquely for each Studio School student. The collaboration efforts used to create meaningful, localized curriculum will ultimately produce long-term relationships and partnerships that will enhance student performance, local industry, and teacher education within the Studio School community.
These connections will benefit both the students and their communities in real ways. For example, Starkville needs a local farmers market. Every aspect of Mississippi 10th grade curriculum can be integrated into a project where students research, create, operate, and evaluate a local farmers market. Mary Jenkins, the math teacher in a school similar to Studio School, explained how she collaborated with community members in the construction industry to create her curriculum:
I already knew what my curriculum was. It was mandated. I wanted to start out writing geometry and then Algebra II in a progression. I sat down with industry members and said, ‘This is what I am going to teach in this unit: right triangles. How does that apply in the work field?’ The contractors gave me examples and we proceeded to write whole scenarios for projects that could be brought into the classroom on each topic.
Working on design projects embedded in internship experiences toward attainment of a chosen career cluster program of study, students will work with community members in fields that can help the project flourish. They will learn to communicate clearly, dress professionally, summarize information, and form relationships with professional communities. Design Cases like the farmers’ market idea with embedded STEM content organized in Career Clusters will ensure academic rigor. Academically rigorous performance will be measured with performance based and portfolio assessment as well as an array of traditional test, and statewide standardized assessments. A sample of one Career Cluster program of study follows below.