Grand Challenges

The Grand Challenges are STEM-focused project-based learning products with a global perspective using the Engineering Design process. Grand Challenges are ongoing large-scale projects completed during the semester with set deadlines for the six elements that guide students; Research, blueprints, technology tool, materials/supplies, engineering, and product demonstrations. Students work on research to support their idea and product, develop blueprints of their product idea, select a presentation tool to deliver their information, gather recycled materials/supplies, and engineer/construct their product to address the issue from their chosen region. Teachers use rubrics to provide students with feedback along the way. Students present their products to their peers in the school or present to students at other schools in the district. ​The student examples display the spectrum of "quality" to "needs work" final products.

Grand Challenge Images

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Citizen Chats

The Citizen Chats are problem-based learning STEM-focused projects with a broad perspective using the Scientific Method process. Citizen Chats are ongoing large-scale projects completed during the semester with set deadlines for the four elements that guide students; Citizen Chat Intro, Team Brainstorming, Problem/Data Collection, Analyze Data, and Chat Presentations. Students work on actively collecting data to support their question/topic, analyze data connected to their question/topic, constructing a method to present their findings, and share outcomes from investigating their question/topic. Teachers use rubrics to provide students with feedback along the way. Students present their Citizen Chats to their peers in the school or present to students at other schools in the district. The student examples display the spectrum of "quality" to "needs work" final products.

Mini Challenges

The Mini-Challenges are product OR problem-based learning STEM-focused projects with a broad perspective using the Scientific Method process. Mini-challenges are brief (2 days to 2 weeks) moderately sized STEM tasks completed throughout the semester focused on content within each course. Teachers develop these tasks to support students in deepening their understanding of content. Teachers use a rubric to provide students with feedback along the way. Students present their mini-challenges to their peers in the school or present to students at other schools in the district. The student examples display the spectrum of "quality" to "needs work" final products.