Description: Career Exploration is an introductory course designed to assist students in (a) discovering their personal strengths and abilities, (b) understanding opportunities available to them in different career areas, and (c) practicing skills necessary to excel in the workforce and in postsecondary learning. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will know and exhibit soft skills (e.g. teamwork, creative thinking, and problem solving), as well as more technical skills (e.g. resume building and written communications) related to career exploration and experience. Students will also learn about and be exposed to existing CTE pathways and elective focus options within a high school setting and will learn how to successfully transition into a district recognized career academy or program of study. Standards in this course are aligned with Tennessee State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in Technical Subjects.**

Materials:

• See teacher syllabus.

Tennessee CTE Standards

Description: STEM Designers is a fundamental middle school course that trains students to define problems and methodically answer the question, “What is the solution?” Upon completion of this course, proficient students understand that engineering design is a process of developing solutions to problems and challenges in order to meet the needs of society. Students continue to apply the practices for science and engineering learned in STEM Explorers and STEM Innovators; however, STEM Designers places more emphasis on practices such as using mathematics and computational thinking; designing solutions; engaging in argument from evidence; and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. In addition to gaining a deep understanding of the relationship between engineering and design, students who complete this course will learn how both innovation and engineering design result in new technologies that benefit humans.

Materials:

• See teacher syllabus.

Tennessee CTE Standards

Description: STEM Innovators is a fundamental course for middle school students to understand the relationship between STEM and innovation, as well as explore the possibilities of “What could be?” Upon completion of this course, proficient students will understand why innovation is important and how it benefits society. Students will learn how innovation requires creativity and leads to new discoveries and technologies that make life better for humans. In this course, students will identify past innovations and what inspired their creation. Students will continue learning the practices of science and engineering. This course will reinforce the specific practices of developing and using models; planning and carrying out investigations; and analyzing and interpreting data.

Materials:

• See teacher syllabus.

Tennessee CTE Standards