Nearly 50 Middleton High School and Clark Street Community School students shared their end-of-year projects at the STEM Showcase on May 30.
“For many students, their project is a representation of their career interests and exploration to discover their passion,” said Career & Technical Education Coordinator Dave Thomas, who organized the showcase with Engineering Design and Development Teacher Ben Shrago.
The third annual showcase brought together community volunteers from local businesses as well as MCPASD administrators to listen to students’ presentations and provide feedback.
“The genuine curiosity and feedback of our attendees, who are represented by fellow high school students and community guests, reinforces for student presenters that they have developed technical skills that are valuable and in-demand in our community,” Thomas said.
The showcase included students from multiple classes, including engineering design and development, civil engineering and architecture, digital electronics, game design and development (an integrated course with computer science, digital art and English), advanced art, and Clark Street Community School Career Projects.
Thomas said the event has evolved from a focus on the national Project Lead the Way curriculum to emphasizing a capstone presentation experience. Shrago collaborated with other instructors to ensure that the showcase offers a multi-disciplinary approach and welcomes students from programs and courses that have a focus on project-based learning.
“I love that this event represents the High Quality Project Based Learning Framework, which is supported by the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation,” Thomas said.
The framework focuses on six criteria: Intellectual Challenge and Accomplishment, Authenticity, Public Project, Collaboration, Project Management and Reflection. Thomas noted the showcase also aligns with MCPASD's future-preparedness framework: A Cardinal's Journey.
“As the District moves forward with the comprehensive future-preparedness framework for all students, this showcase can provide a supplemental opportunity for our project-based learning students and programs to demonstrate the skills, competencies, and attributes that are represented in A Cardinal's Journey,” Thomas said.
“My favorite part of the showcase is the pride that students display in their learning and how they adapt to the challenge of getting outside of their comfort zone to speak publicly about their project,” Thomas said.