So here's the short of it, 
Science Technology Engineering and Math - STEM

And here's the long.

Today I had a chance to visit with a few kids from the new STEM High School that's opened in Chattanooga.  It's opened with 75 9th graders and will add a class of 9th graders for the next three years.  I'm really excited about the possibilities.

The school is using the Flipped Classroom model for teaching.  In a normal classroom the teacher lectures and then gives the students homework to do on their own at home away from where they might be able to get teacher help.  The Flipped Classroom model has the students watch the lecture at home for homework.  When they get to school, they have the "homework" or "school work" as it will be now.  The teacher is there as a coach and the kids get to have more opportunity for one on one help.  That sounds pretty interesting, huh.  Well, that's not all!  Every week, the students take an assessment based on those "homework" lectures or readings that they had.  The assessments don't count toward their grade - they are used to place the students in a "skill level", for the next week.  Those students who score "advanced" on these assessments will have an opportunity to move into a group of students who are working on projects based on already having an understanding of the material.  Those who need more practice have an opportunity to work in a group with other students who are needing support to learn the skill.  This just makes too much sense!

The kids had only been in school for three and a half days, but they were eager to share their perceptions about the school.

They especially like the use of technology!  They all were issued an iPad and they are really using the technology!  They are using EverNote and Edmodo for communication.  The kids got their schedule for the first week by logging onto EverNote and finding their schedule!  And their assignments from teachers come from their Edmodo accounts.  They really liked that.

I think I'm going to get to spend a bit of time there for a few weeks.  I think I'll like that. I really look forward to seeing how things go.  Right now I think it's great!