"Rule books tell people what to do. Frameworks guide people how to act. Rule books insist on discipline. Frameworks allow for creativity."
- Simon Sinek
Our STEM Instructional Framework
At South Atlanta High School, our STEM Instructional Framework is rooted in problem solving. We believe that students need to leave school prepared to solve problems that the instructional faculty has never seen and could never imagine. Therefore, it is paramount that our students not only learn a reliable method for problem solving that can be applied to any problem they may encounter in the near or distant future but that they have opportunities to engage frequently and consistently with real-world relevant problems that impact their daily lives and communities.
South Atlanta High School’s STEM Instructional Framework is comprised of three key components:
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Problem Solving + Design Thinking Process
Every student at South Atlanta will receive curricular instruction aimed at increasing the STEM literacy of our students. This includes engaging students to solve real-world, relevant interdisciplinary problems through the use of problem solving and design thinking processes and strategies. In some courses, students may engage in this process sequentially as they tackle real-world relevant problems, case studies and challenges. In others, they may focus their efforts in building their skill in one particular area. Regardless, our belief is that this strategic approach will cultivate students who have the appropriate STEM literacy foundation to engage in the world and workforce of today.
Schoolwide Competencies, Strategies and Tools
For each phase of the problem solving and design approach, we have identified key competencies that can be observed when that phase is being implemented. In order for students to become effective in each area, a comprehensive rubric was developed that clearly communicates the definition of each competency and the student behaviors that indicate three levels of proficiency. In the future, it is our hope to utilize pre-identified instructional strategies and tools that align to each competency to ensure students are intentionally engaging in this development throughout their school day and high school tenure.
