PRISM
This project entitled “Programming and Robotics Integrated with Science and Mathematics (PRISM)” is funded with $1.8 million dollars for three years by the California Department of Education, through a partnership with Solano County Office of Education (SCOE). The project provides intensive and follow-up training in mathematics, technology, engineering, and science. The project represents both a countywide professional development model and a regional model including rural, suburban, and urban high need school districts. We are recruiting over sixty highly qualified math, physical science or math-based Career Technical Education teachers to participate in the project.
PRISM will work with two contiguous grade spans, middle grades (5-8) and high school (9-12) and will focus on integrating computer programming and robotics into mathematics, technology, and engineering,and science. Through its work with educators, the C-STEM Center integrates computer programming and robotics into teaching STEM subjects by creating project-based computing and robotics activities, integrated curriculum, and hands-on personalized and collaborative learning strategies aligned with standards of Common Core State Standards in mathematics (CCSS-M) and Career Technical Education (CTE), Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). This interdisciplinary content and pedagogy will help students make meaningful connections between regular STEM topics and their relevance to real-life applications and will help develop students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills.
PRISM will provide a new program of study with a sequence of courses that integrate mathematics with technology and engineering through computer programming and robotics. All courses are aligned with the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics, new Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards from the Information Communications Technologies industry pathway, and utilize a hands-on project based learning model.
Teachers in PRISM will participate each year in an intensive 60 hours (6 hours/day for 10 days) Summer Computing and Math Institute (SCMI) focused on integrating computer programming and robotics into inter-disciplinary mathematics and science instruction. Faculty from the UC Davis C-STEM Center, College of Engineering, Mathematics Department, Physics Department, and Human Development Department will conduct the SCMI. All participating teachers will receive 24 hours of follow-up professional development during the regular school year in afterschool and Saturday workshops. Teachers and their students will participate in the annual C-STEM Day with RoboPlay Competition and Math Programming Competition.
Districts Participating in this Project:
- Fairfield-Suisun USD
- Vacaville USD
- Travis USD
- Dixon USD
- Benicia USD
- San Ramon Valley USD
- Mare Island Technology Academy
- St. Catherine of Siene
If you are a math, CTE , or physical science teacher in one of these school districts and are interested in participating in the project, please Contact Us.
Information for Participants:
Summer Computing and Math Institute: When & Where:
- Monday, June 15 – Friday, June 26 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 4 pm)
- Location: Solano County Office of Education
- First day: Registration begins at 8:00, Session will begin promptly at 9:00 am. (Come early if you haven’t / had trouble downloading the software.)
Laptops and Software:
- We request that you bring a Windows laptop (XP or later) for the training .
- A Link to download software will be emailed to participants so that before you get to the training you are ready to start working immediately (if you are using a personal computer)
- If you are unable to download these successfully, please email Ryan Mangan, C-STEM Education Specialist at ramangan(@)ucdavis.edu for assistance or come at 8am on Monday, June 15 so that we may help you install the software.
CEU Credits:
You can purchase 6 units of CEU credit for $175 through UCD Extension. We will have information on how to do this at the institute but some of you have asked for the course number in advance.