Transforming PIT in a dual credit
classroom
Tanya Snook – University of Texas at
Tyler
Don Snook – Waxahachie Global High
School
Starting the Journey
• August 2007 – STEM HS
• August 2009 – ECHS designation
– Initial IHE Partner Navarro College
– August 2013 IHE partner with UTT
What is a T-STEM Academy
• Designated by the Texas Education Agency,
these Academies serve as demonstration
schools and learning labs which develop
innovative methods to improve science and
math instruction.
STEM
Why a second IHE
• Increase the number of students entering
postsecondary studies and careers in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics
• UTT would allow a coherent sequence of
courses to facilitate students entering a STEM
course of study.
Computer Science offerings 2013
• COSC 1301 (fall) and COSC 1307 (spring)
– Aligns with Principles of Information Technology
– Allows students to experience higher rigor with
first course offering
– Introduces PBL to freshmen and facilitates project
coordination with other core subjects
– Believed to be only school in nation doing this
Alignment
• PIT is the overview
• Digital Citizenship and Digital Footprint
– Copyright
– Social Media
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Computer History
Hardware and networking introduction
Basic Photoshop and design principles
Microsoft Office Applications
Basic programming fundamentals
Basic HTML
Preparing for pathways
Increased Rigor
• Differences between a high school course and
a college course
• Late work/Extra credit
• Work load
• Academic reading and writing
• Planners
• Remember – our kids look like your kids
What is PBL?
• Project Based Learning
• PBL is the learning process NOT a culminating
activity
• Student choice and voice
• Student presentations
PIT and PBL
• Introduces PBL process
– Copyright Project
– Infographics
• Allows for support to core PBL projects
– Holocaust Project
– Interactive Transcript
– North American Tourism
Steps in PBL
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Project Launch and Entry Document
Know/Need to Know and Driving Question
Contracts
Rubric
Problem logs or checkpoints
Presentation
Self-evaluation and peer evaluation
Copyright Entry Document
To: Don Snook
CC: Robert Keith
From: Cindy Springer
Date: August 12, 2012
Mr. Snook,
I am a consultant at Region 10 Education Service Center. We work with schools across Region 10 that comprises 80
public school districts and 36 public charter schools (of which Waxahachie Global High School is one). As you are aware
from your recent copyright violation, copyright issues are running rampant in all of our schools. Presentations to
faculties and to students are going unheeded (largely due to the fact that these presentations are done via PowerPoint
and are overloaded with text that is easily forgettable).
I am writing to ask for your assistance with a project TEA has asked Region 10 to complete. We have been charged with
creating a teaching tool that will target administrators, teachers and students and engage them while learning about
copyright. We will also need an assessment at the end of the lesson so that we can insure that mastery has been met.
Can your students assist us?
Sincerely,
Cindy Springer
Copyright Contract
Rubrics
• Students receive rubric prior to work being
done
• Allows students to understand expectations
• Guides students to make sure all aspects of
project are covered.
Problem Log/Checkpoint
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These are deliverables throughout the project
Most projects are 2-3 weeks
This determines workshops that are needed
Keeps students focused and moving forward
Presentation
• Every student presents
• Audience
• Other students have tasks while classmates
present
Evaluation
• Students grade each member of group as well
as themselves
• Students grade other group members
• Students encouraged to question other groups
for clarification or deeper understanding
Questions?
• Tanya Snook – tsnook@wisd.org
– @tanyapsnook
• Don Snook – dsnook@wisd.org
– @don_snook
• Waxahachie Global High School
– @wax_globalhs