Innovation @ Work by MCSD - Peak Academy Interview

Thanks to InSync Media and Laura Williams for highlighting Peak Virtual Academy students awesome work in STEM! Check out the interview video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M-08-P7QgI

Check out the Montrose County School District RE-1J Youtube Channel here for more videos!

MCSD STEM: Innovation at Work Interview with John Steele

MCSD STEM Coordinator John Steele talks with InSync Media's Laura Williams about STEM Education in the Montrose County School District.

MHS October STEM Newsletter

Peak Virtual Academy Junior Sam Green Wins 2018 ArcGIS Online Mapping Contest

Congratulations to Sam Green of Peak Virtual Academy, the 2018 ArcGIS Online Mapping Contest Colorado State winner! MCSD is very proud of your accomplishment, which took dedication, hard work and lots of problem-solving!

Sam Green, a junior at Peak Academy has won the 2018 ArcGIS Online Mapping Contest for US high school students for Colorado. Sam’s entry titled “Riparian Restoration Management Plan” was submitted to the State Leadership Team for judging. The five best submissions are recognized by the State and the best of those five moves on to compete in the National Competition. Sam’s work was chosen to represent Colorado versus twenty seven other States.

Check out Sam's ArcGIS Story Map

For Sam to successfully complete this STEM/Problem Based Learning initiative special thanks goes out to:

The students at Peak Academy that helped do research and collect data. The staff and administration of Peak Academy. Their help creating the time and resources needed for implementing this STEM/PBL was essential.

The Montrose County School District. Their commitment to STEM and Problem Based Learning Initiatives made all of this possible. Without this directive this would not have happened.

Our Community Partners:
The 3M Corporation – They supplied funding via a 3M EcoGrant
Justin Musser – Montrose County Ecological Services Manager
David Sinton – BLM GIS Specialist
Lisa Goetsch – Montrose County GIS Coordinator
Dr. Phillip Crossley – Western State Colorado University
Dr. Tammy Parece – Colorado Mesa University
Dr. John McGee – Virginia Tech
And everyone else that offered advice and technical expertise on how to not only build the story map but design and implement the management plan.

Check out the Montrose Daily Press article below:

 

MCSD PBL Institute August 2018

MCSD will host a PBL Institute for Johnson, Cottonwood, Pomona and Oak Grove Elementary Schools August 21st - August 23rd

Northside and Olathe Elementary Schools will participate in PBL Institute 2.0

The PBL Institute will be held at the Montrose County Event Center

mindSpark Learning will partner with MCSD and will deliver a Keynote address on the August 21st to kick off the institute.

On Day 1, participants will learn about the Problem-based Learning and Design Thinking processes; in the afternoon, participants will rotate through three breakout sessions on Panel Presentations, Technology, and Identifying Problems and Linking to Standards.

On Day 2, participants will experience the PBL Process by working on an authentic, real-world local problem and presenting solutions to a panel.

On Day 3, participants will pitch their own PBL ideas and receive feedback before planning their PBL Lesson Plan for the 18-19 academic year.

Questions may be emailed to either john.steele@mcsd.org or jamie.simo@mcsd.org

MCSD Weed Warrior Problem-Based Learning Initiative

Check out the MCSD Weed Warrior Site for updates about the 3M Grant Weed Warrior Problem-Based Learning Initiative!