Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

“To create a high school environment for state-of-the-art instruction and learning experiences designed to enhance the opportunities interested students have in acquiring more specific and advanced skills in and knowledge about selected science and high technology specialties.”
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

“Although science and mathematics are the content areas upon which the school has been planned, language skills and the humanities will be considered equally important.”
Dr. David Sawyer
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• The curriculum was conceived to be grade level dependent.
• The only core area not grade level dependent is mathematics.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Initial Graduation Requirements
The planning committee was tasked to:
• Provide a comprehensive education;
• Include the Advanced Studies diploma (24 credits) required for all Governor’s Schools;
• Include courses supporting the mission of the school.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Prerequisite Algebra 1
• 4 additional credits including Calculus
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Computer Science – one credit
• Technology – two credits
* ninth and twelfth grade
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Graduation Specifics – Science
• Molecular Biology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Physics
• Geoscience
• Plus one additional credit in Math,
Science, Computer Science, or
Technology
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Graduation Specifics – Humanities
• Four credits of English
• Three credits of Social Studies
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Graduation Specifics – FLAMPE
• Three credits of Foreign Language
• Two credits of Health and PE
• One credit of Fine or Practical Arts
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Eight period day - 7 academic & 1 activity
• 28 credits to be taken over the four years
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Algebra 1 credit prerequisite
 allows three elective choices over four years.
• Previous Foreign Language Level 1
 allows for four elective choices in four years.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• 1985 Tech 9 - one quarter of keyboarding & three week rotations through the tech labs.
• By 1988, the course deleted the lab rotation and added units in electronics, biotechnology, mechanical drawing, etc.
• Keyboarding remained an integral unit through the late ’90’s.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• 1985 - initial blocking in math and science.
-
Wednesday one double math class
- Thursday one double science class (or vice versa)
• 1987 - Wednesday/Thursday blocking
• 1989 - IBET
• 1996 - four day blocking
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Governor’s School Mandate
- integrate whenever possible
Previous trials
- English, Government & Geosystems (EGG)
- Chemistry, Algebra 2/Trig & CS
- Physics and Pre-calculus
Currently
- English 12- Geosystems
- English12- AP Government
- English 10 and World Studies 2
- English 11 and AP US History
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Changes - 27 th Credit
• 1997 state requires 4 th Social Studies credit for the Advanced Studies Diploma
• 2005 enhanced electives program
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Math trials
- Probability and Statistics
- Mathematical Modeling
- Discrete Mathematics
- History of Mathematics
- Number Theory
• Foreign Language
- Chinese (early 90s)
Science trials
- Plant Science, Botany & many more
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

“While the original course offerings were determined by the steering committee, much of the direction of curriculum development and course content has been determined by the passions, skills, and expertise of individual faculty members.”
- Dr. Leslie Keiler
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• IBET is an integrated biology, English technology program that ushers students into the academic and social culture of
Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• The program provides students a safe and challenging but supportive environment, and provides them a strong foundation of knowledge and skills they will need to be successful at TJ and beyond.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• An IBET project clearly integrates all three disciplines and draws on the unique abilities of the counselor.
• An IBET project involves real world problems and/or issues.
• An IBET project involves every student in student-driven experimentation which implements the scientific method.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

The Value of IBET: An academic foundation
• Independent scientific investigation / data collection / management / analysis / synthesis
• Writing / research / notation
• Study skills / organization / use of time
• Presentation skills (PowerPoint, figures, speaking)
• Group dynamics
• Portfolios
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

The value of IBET: A Visionary
Program (The power of 3)
• Union of disparate communities ~ a family
• Modeling of collegiality and effective team work
• A safety net ~ 4 adults who see students regularly
• Ability to manipulate and manage time
• Power in the ability to bring 3 disciplines to bear to solve particular problems
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

JEFFERSON LEARNING
COMMUNITY
Trixi Bicknell
TJHSST JLC Steering Committee
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Time for the faculty to collaborate to enhance:
– Student learning and
– School performance
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Better Use of Time
• Increase Faculty Effectiveness
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Organization
– Week Designations
– Core Groups
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Geometry
• Multivariable
• Algebra 2/Trig
Calculus/Linear
• PreCalculus
Algebra
• Calculus
• Computer
Science
•Division Special Projects:
•Intellectual Risk Taking
•Creative Problem Solving
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Hum I
• Hum II
• Global Language Arts Strands
• Course/Project Development
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• PE
• Fine Arts
• Foreign Language
– AP Spanish
– Spanish 1 – 4
– French
– Strategic Languages
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Geosystems
• Physics
• Tech 9
• Tech Labs
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

The Student Services Department is using
JLC time to assess programs and delivery of services. Topics discussed to date:
• College Recommendation Process
• In-house Secondary School Report
• Student Services Web Site
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Continuing to question
– What do we want students to learn?
– How will we know they have learned it?
– How can we help those who haven’t learned?
• JLC for students
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

New Course Proposals
2005 - 2006
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Organic Chemistry with Instrumental
Analysis
• Digital Imagery
• Bio-Nanotechnology
• Biology of the Arts
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Numerical Analysis
• Pre-calculus with Additional Analytic
Geometry Topics
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Chinese 1
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• America and the World Since 1989
• Street Law: A Course In Practical Law
• Science, Technology and U.S. Public
Policy
• History of Technology
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology