Middle School CTE Experiences

Multimedia Productions (7th & 8th grade)

Multimedia Productions introduces students to the digital video production industry and focuses on the student exploring the many hardware and software tools used to create professional-level video products in various formats. The class is for students interested in learning about broadcast journalism and storytelling through video. Studio & set lighting, camera functions, Elements of Art and Design, shot composition, script writing and other production techniques are introduced and practiced.

Second year students will create and manage a production studio environment, creating custom productions for various clients on campus. The primary focus for these students is to produce daily/weekly video announcements/broadcasts for the campus student body. Multimedia Productions provides a great foundation for the broadcast and AV Production sequence of courses available in high school.

Principles of Arts, A/V, and Communications (7th & 8th grade)

Principles of Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications allows students to explore and understand the various and multifaceted career opportunities in this cluster and the knowledge, skills, and educational requirements for those opportunities. Students will be introduced to topics such as audio/video production, graphic design and illustration, and animation.

*Students successfully completing Principles of Arts, A/V and Communications at middle school will receive one high school elective credit, but the course grades will be excluded from the student’s high school grade point average (GPA).

Technology Applications

This course will focus on creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, research and information fluency, critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, digital citizenship, and technology operations and concepts. Students will have the opportunity to make informed decisions by understanding current and emerging technologies, including technology systems, appropriate digital tools, and personal learning networks. Students will have the opportunity to use creative and computational thinking to solve problems while developing transferable readiness skills. Many of these computer applications will be taught using Google Apps for Education. Students will gain experience in keyboarding, slide presentations, spreadsheet applications, website anatomy, email, and file management. Students may only take this course one time.

(mixINCedu) Entrepreneurship (7th & 8th grade)

Students will be empowered with the tools and mindset to explore what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Students will evaluate the world around them to identify a problem to solve, create a product concept or solution, sell/test the product or service in an e-commerce marketplace, evaluate the performance of their business idea, and iterate based on market learnings with the e-commerce selling experience.

Speech/Debate

Exploring Speech/Debate (6th grade)

Students will be introduced to effective communication skills to further their academic pursuits and to prepare for interaction in social, civic, and professional roles. Competent communicators develop skills focused on five identifiable functions of expressing and responding appropriately to feelings, participating in social traditions, informing, persuading, creating, and imagining. Students will identify and practice skills in using verbal and nonverbal communication, and listening in interpersonal, group, academic, and public contexts. Students will also be exposed to skills to approach controversial issues by practicing argumentation and debate.

Speech/Debate (7th & 8th grade)

Students will develop effective communication skills to further their academic pursuits and to prepare for interaction in social, civic, and professional roles. Competent communicators develop skills focused on five identifiable functions of expressing and responding appropriately to feelings, participating in social traditions, informing, persuading, creating, and imagining. Students will develop and apply skills in using oral language, nonverbal communication, and listening in interpersonal, group, academic, and public contexts. Students will also acquire skills to approach controversial issues by practicing argumentation and debate.

Debate I (8th grade – High School Credit)

Debate students learn various formats of high school competitive debate. Students will prepare and present speeches on opposing sides of a resolution (topic) to convince an adjudicator to vote in their favor. Students will improve knowledge and understanding of important social issues of our time, develop and use valid approaches for affirmative and negative cases based on research and/or philosophy, and use skills to debate propositions of value and policy. Students will learn refutation skills, burden of proof skills, and evaluation skills. UIL and Texas Forensic Association competition is required.

*Students successfully completing Debate I at middle school will receive one high school elective credit, but the course grades will be excluded from the student’s high school grade point average (GPA).

Creative Writing

Introduction to Creative Writing (6th grade)

Young writers will be introduced to a variety of creative writing styles and forms. Over the course of the semester, writers will venture into the basics of short story writing, explore the different styles and forms of poetry, and sample other various creative writing mediums: comics, commercials, one scene plays, flash films, and more. Writers will read several mentor texts from a multitude of authors, with a focus on style and craft. By year’s end, writers will compose a portfolio of their finest work for publication.

Creative Writing (7th & 8th grade)

Continuing from Introduction to Creative Writing, young writers will enhance their knowledge in the writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing, and ultimately publishing their work in a variety of genres to different audiences. Writers will delve into a multitude of genres: realistic fiction, horror, dystopian, science fiction, and fantasy. Additionally, students will analyze mentor texts from some of the finest authors in literature. For poetry, writers will learn the individual building blocks of the craft, analyze the work of famous poets, and create original pieces using several eclectic formats. Over the course of the year, writers will produce a variety of creative projects, including but not limited to; a horror story podcast, an original play (performed by advanced theatre) and a short film. By year’s end, writers will hone their personal style and grow their technique. Students may only take this course one time.

Journalism

Journalism: Yearbook (7th & 8th grade)

Students will learn several software programs to publish the school yearbook. Students will work to develop their photography skills, marketing skills, and journalistic writing skills. This publications class is generally limited to twenty-five students. Students must be responsible, self-motivated, reliable, and prompt.

Student enrollment form may be required for placement in Journalism: Yearbook

Journalism: News Media (7th & 8th grade)

Students will learn skills to create, manage, and produce school news media that can be published using a variety of print and digital formats and platforms. Students will develop skills in journalistic writing, interviewing, research, photography, layout and design, and editing. This publications class is generally limited to twenty-five students. Students must be responsible, self-motivated, reliable, and prompt.

Student enrollment form may be required for placement in Journalism: News Media.

Journalism (8th grade – High School Credit)

Journalism provides an overview of the fundamentals of journalism including how to write news stories, features, editorials, sports stories and captions. Other topics to be covered include the elements of dynamic journalism, photography, advertising, essentials of layout, design, style and typography. Students will also be given an opportunity to examine the roles of radio, TV and film through changing times and produce original work relating to their special fields of interest.

*Students successfully completing Journalism will receive one high school elective credit, but the course grades will be excluded from the student’s high school grade point average (GPA)

Exploring Foundations of Leadership (6th grade)

Exploring Foundations of Leadership is an introductory course that will develop leadership skills in an interactive atmosphere. Students will learn personal responsibility for their own actions, attitudes, and behaviors through role play, creative activities, and daily discussions. They will learn that leadership is about being your personal best and supporting others.

Leadership (7th & 8th grade)

Students will develop leadership skills in an interactive atmosphere. They will learn personal responsibility for their own actions, attitudes, and behaviors through role play, creative activities, and daily discussions. Students will also develop communication and public speaking skills, and they will be directly involved in community service projects. They will learn that leadership is about being your personal best and supporting others. Students may only take this course one time.

Advanced Leadership (8th grade)

Prerequisite: Exploring Foundation of Leadership or Leadership

Advanced Leadership provides students the opportunity to apply leadership knowledge and skills learned in Exploring Foundations of Leadership and Leadership. These skills include, but are not limited to: decision making skills, problem solving techniques, communication skills, leadership roles, human relations skills, and understanding the need for social intelligence and civic responsibility. Student enrollment form may be required for placement in Advanced Leadership.

Leadership: Leadworthy the Course (8th grade – High School Credit)

Leadworthy The Course is a curriculum designed to develop personal responsibility, leadership, and professional skills through explicit social-emotional participatory learning experiences. The course provides students the opportunity to develop an awareness of personal image, a healthy self-concept, and healthy relationships. Students learn the concepts of consequential thinking and principle-based decision making. Students examine their awareness of social media, the effects of peer pressure and bullying, along with effective strategies to counteract those effects. This course will provide students opportunities to improve their public speaking and communication skills and their personal vision, mission statement, and goals. They will develop an understanding of what it means to be an effective member of the community through community service.
*Students successfully completing Leadership: Leadworthy The Course will receive .5 high school elective credit, but the course grades will be excluded from the student’s high school grade point average (GPA).

Exploring STEM (6th grade)

Students will explore how science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and design are used together to help to address different issues faced by society. Students will develop solutions to real world problems using 21st century technologies in a problem-based learning environment. This will be a survey course of topics such as computer science, 3D modeling, robotics, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and aerospace science. This course is recommended but is not a requirement for students wanting to take Gateway as 7th or 8th graders.

Gateway: Computer Science/App Creator

In Computer Science Innovators and Makers students discover computer science concepts and skills by creating projects that include computer programming blended with the creation of a physical product. Students will program using Microsoft MakeCode and have their code interact with the physical world using micro:bits. App Creators introduces students to the field of computer science and the concepts of computational thinking, through the creation of mobile apps. Students are challenged to be creative and innovative, as they collaboratively design and develop mobile solutions to engaging, authentic problems. Students experience the positive impact of the application of computer science to society. Teams identify a personal or community problem of interest to them that can be solved with a mobile app solution.

Fundamentals of Computer Science

Using Gateway Computer Science and App Creator modules, Fundamentals of Computer Science will explore a variety of programming languages and concepts that will prepare students for the computer science programs of study in high school. Students will foster their creativity and innovation through opportunities to design, implement, and present solutions to real-world problems. Students demonstrate their skills as they build their own websites, apps, animations, games, and physical computing systems. The PLTW Gateway modules will cover topics such as problem solving, critical thinking, and physical computing.

● Students successfully completing Fundamentals of Computer Science at middle school will receive one high school elective credit toward the Computer Science Program of Study within the STEM Endorsement but the course grades will be excluded from the student’s high school grade point average (GPA).

Gateway: Design and Modeling/Automation Robotics

In Design and Modeling students discover the engineering design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They are then challenged and empowered to use and apply what they’ve learned throughout the unit to design a final project. 3D designing is accomplished by using TinkerCAD online software.

In Automation and Robotics students trace the history, development, and influence of automation and robotics as they learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. Students use the VEX Robotics® platform to design, build, and program real-world objects such as traffic lights, toll booths, and robotic arms. Programming the robots is accomplished using VEX V5 Software.

Principles of Applied Engineering

Using Gateway Design and Modeling along with Automation and Robotics modules, Principles of Applied Engineering provides a solid foundation for applying engineering concepts in real-world scenarios. Students will be introduced to an array of engineering careers and learn about the industry standards in the fields of mechanical, electrical, civil and chemical engineering. Students will collaboratively approach real-world problems and utilize a variety of media to showcase their research and designs with a focus on professionalism.

● Students successfully completing Principles of Applied Engineering at middle school will receive one high school elective credit toward the Engineering Foundations Program of Study within the STEM Endorsement but the course grades will be excluded from the student’s high school grade point average (GPA).

Gateway: Medical Detectives/Science of Technology (7th & 8th grade – High School Credit 8710 & 8711)

In Medical Detectives, students step into the shoes of real-life medical detectives, engaging in the collection and analysis of medical data to diagnose various medical conditions. Through hands-on projects and labs, students will unravel medical mysteries, measure and interpret vital signs, and explore the structure and function of the nervous system. The course delves into the investigation of disease outbreaks, forensic science, and includes engaging activities such as brain and eye dissection. Students will develop critical thinking skills as they apply scientific knowledge to solve complex medical cases, fostering a deep understanding of the human body and medical science