Technology Academy Highlights
http://foshaytech.weebly.com
Foshay’s Technology Academy empowers our community to think critically, take initiative, and to use our skills to make a positive impact in an ever changing world. Our California Partnership Academy focuses on preparing students to enter the fields of communication and technology. Some majors that students may pursue in college are graphic design, software developer, web design, computer science and engineering.
Career Classes in the Technology:
Grade 10: Exploring Computer Science is a yearlong course consisting of 6 units. Assignments and instruction are contextualized to be socially relevant and meaningful for diverse students. Units utilize a variety of tools/platforms, and culminate with final projects around the following topics:
Grade 11: Digital Imaging 1A and 1B
During the junior year students conduct an individual job shadow and add to their digital portfolio.
Grade 12: Digital Imaging 2a and2b
Students learn advanced Photoshop skills and create collages to help prepare for college and senior portfolio personal statements. Students learn video production and create 1 Minute Me videos to add to their digital portfolio. As the culminating project students create teams where every individual has a specific job title and assignment. We team with Ignited USA and Light Bringer Project. Students use production management skills to design ad campaigns through research and collaboration.
Mentoring and Career Building Activities:
· Mock interviews with our partners and advisory board members for all sophomores and juniors
· Off-track job shadow assignment for all incoming Juniors
· Work with mentors in the classroom on digital portfolios (professional mentors and senior mentors twice during the year)
· Work with mentors on editing resumes and cover letters.
· Guest speakers from various careers and businesses
· Summer and school year field trips to tech related
· Juniors and Seniors write letters of recommendation
· Summer Video Workshop with professional screenwriter/director since 2010
· Summer Personal Statement workshop
Cross-Curricular Projects
· All three career academies at Foshay collaborated on a 10th grade EthicsProject using the IB model, which was presented at the CPA Annual Conference in Sacramento: Historical Leader Websites
· Genetic Disorder SCRATCH
· Scratch History Timelines - February
· 11th grade AP US History Quiz Apps in conjunction with US History classes
· Witness to History – trip to Museum of Tolerance
· Flash Chemical Reactions - 11th grade
· 12th grade - FALL - Press Releases, Cover Letters
College Preparation
· Partnered with Know How to Go. Used their resources to conduct understanding financial aid workshop, and hosted a FAFSA workshop with an expert to help over 60 students and parents accurately fill out the form – open to all high school seniors.
· Brought in expert from USC’s I AM program to facilitate filling out the CSU college application- open to all high school seniors
· USC GameLab worked with all juniors and seniors - some on more than one occasion to game test Mission Admission game about navigating the college application process
· Field trip to UCLA for Exploring Computer science students
· Guest speakers/mentors discuss educational paths with juniors
· Career Panel discuss educational Paths
· College Board Big Future research assignment
Service Learning
· 10th graders presented their ethic scenarios related to the field of technology to other classes
· 10th graders taught Finance students to create Digital Portfolios
· Social Action through Art - 10th Grade Fall
· 11th Graders - healthy eating games, made portfolios with Health Academy seniors
· 12th graders presented AD CAMPAIGNS/ schoolwide stunts related to anti-bullying, self respect, deadlines, budgeting, gossiping, and helping others.
· 9th grade and 12th grade mentor 2nd grade and 1st graders with Reading/Literacy
AWARDS/ CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
· Leslie Aaronson - LAUSD Teacher of the Year 2012-2013 and LACOE Teacher of the Year semi finalist
· Leslie Aaronson Fishman Prize Honorable Roll
· 10th year with the California Partnership Academy grant
· Teen Literacy Corps - Koreh project $25000 donation to school Library
· Leslie presented at NACAC, Exploring Careers, ICT Education Symposium in Northern and Southern California
· Myra presented at IB conference and CATE
· Ann is an AP world history reader since 2009
LEAD BUSINESS PARTNERS
· LAEP – conducts mock interviews, workshops on application and resume writing. Provided FAFSA workshop assistance. Hired summer interns since 2011
· LACC – supplies access for 200 web accounts to their server, access to sample web design and programming curriculum
· LBP – supplies guest speakers and ad design related lesson plans. Liaison between Tech Academy and ad design companies – Ignited USA and DDBm
· Ignited USA provides mentoring and conference room for Ad Campaign presentations
· USC Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis – provides access to I AM program, scholarships for Summertime Writing program, game testing for Mission Admission game, college application workshops
· UCLA/ Exploring Computer Science- provides field trips, curriculum, coach, and professional developmen;students present at SET Awards -
· Irridescent - provides Fall Internship engineering program; Technovation program for 10 girls
· Edlio – internships and mentoring
· Net Generation of Yout/ STEM - scholarships to summer leadership conferences and college programs since 2010
COMMUNICATION
· Tech Academy teachers meet officially once a week but stay connected at all times through email. Agenda items include student needs, project planning and reflection, budget, concerns, brainstorms
· Tech Academy teachers meet before every semester for 1-3 days to plan for upcoming semester.
· Tech Academy teachers take a day every year for common scoring for the Genetics project
· Tech Academy teachers share annotations from the Ethics project and reflect on student writing and quality of student work to assess and alter the project to grow and meet student needs
· Facebook Tech Academy Alumni Page to stay in touch with graduates.