I do believe watching problem solving in action is one of the most exciting parts of being an educator.
Design Squad is a science and engineering curriculum created by PBS for middle schoolers. Some of the concepts are pretty complicated and I'm not sure that the kids grasp everything just yet, but I think challenging them to think through it and see what they can do is fun to watch.
(for the other educators out there who might be interested, go to the link. Design Squad has just redesigned their website. It has great complimentary online activities for the kids)
I was sitting in our Parent Academy when Tameshia came up behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and said she needed to talk to me. Thinking the worst, I walked to the back with her. Once we got to the back, she explained to me, "Michael just got a $200,000 scholarship!"
I was speechless! $200,000...to SMU! Oh my goodness!
I first met Michael a few years ago when the great people at Education is Freedom provided us with a summer intern. Michael helped us get things organized that summer. Michael attends North Dallas High School. This year, when we started our Digital Connectors program out of Roseland, we recruited from North Dallas. Though we hadn't seen Michael in a couple of years, he remembered us and was one of the first people to sign up.
Though we can't take credit for all of Michael's hard work and persistence in being involved in many different programs and writing and following through on college applications and such, we can say that Michael will be more prepared technologically when he finishes Digital Connectors in May.
By May, Michael will be equipped with a Cisco IT Essentials certification that will provide him with the skills and knowledge of rebuilding computers from scratch. He will know how to create a mobile app. He will have completed a leadership skills module as well as a financial literacy module...all of which will be extremely important in college--especially at such a competitive school like SMU...and especially as an engineering major!
When Tameshia told me, I immediately went downstairs to congratulate him and do a quick interview. He reads this blog so help me in congratulating him on his amazing achievement of receiving one of only four Dedman Scholarships offered each year at SMU!
Hi, my name is Michael as you can probably tell by my screen name. Also, as you can tell as well this is my very first post so I just want to say "Hello Bloggers!" I would like to tell you a little about myself. I am 17 years old, and I aspire to be an engineer. I am not sure which engineering discipline I should follow, so if any of you guys have any advice for me it will be well appreciated. Well that is all I have to say for now so "Good Bye and Happy Blogging!"
James went to engineering camp at UTA last summer. You can read his post about it here. He spent a whole week on the UTA campus studying aerospace engineering, visiting corporations who utilize engineering, listening to engineers speak about their field, conducting different experiments, and so much more. He loved it so much that he is still excited about going back.
So...he's getting ready by saving his money. The camp is $375. I have put a thermometer to the right that will show James' progress.
For other 6th, 7th, and 8th graders...you, too, can have a thermometer. Let me know if you want to start saving your money to go!
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