From Virtual Reality Programming to Entrepreneurial Studies, Upper School Offering Cutting-Edge Classes in 2017-2018

Two STEM classes are being offered as semester-long electives this year after positive feedback from pilot programs last school year. 
St. Margaret’s rolled out several pilot programs during the 2016-2017 school year, closely evaluating student needs and interests before discussing implementation of the ideas in future curriculum.

Based on those pilot programs, two new STEM classes are being implemented as semester-long electives this year.

Virtual Reality Programming

St. Margaret’s has recognized the potential of virtual reality as an emerging technology and learning tool. This semester, the computer technology department is offering a new virtual reality programming course, taught by Timothy Sinnott. The course teaches coding through the prism of virtual reality, working on programming skills, artistic ability, mathematical skills and content creation.

Virtual reality was introduced to the campus last school year, when St. Margaret’s purchased two HTC Vive headsets through the generosity of a PTF grant. At the time, school leaders touted virtual reality as a future technology worth exploring and introduced VR content in several departments. An additional PTF grant will bring more virtual reality stations to campus this year.

Mr. Sinnott said the VR programming class has students create, code and make virtual-reality experiences using Unity3D, a tool that also makes 3D games and videos using C# coding.

“Students are being taught to code using C# within the Unity development tool,” Mr. Sinnott said. “In doing this, they are also being introduced to some applied linear algebra concepts dealing with 3D vectors.”

Entrepreneurial Studies

The Upper School’s math for financial markets, previously a year-long course, is now being offered as a first-semester course to make room for a new entrepreneurial studies class that will be offered second semester.

Last year, entrepreneurial studies was a four-week pilot unit within the math for financial markets course, co-taught by math teacher Andrew Hammond and Assistant Head of School for Strategic Initiatives Ryan Dahlem. 

“We were pleased with the success of the pilot unit last year, and the student feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” Mr. Dahlem said. “Building on that, we are excited to implement entrepreneurial studies as a semester-long course, the next step in developing entrepreneurship programs at St. Margaret’s”

In entrepreneurial studies, students will study the elements of a start-up, integrate concepts from statistics and economics, apply Business Model Canvas and Lean LaunchPad tools, as well as work with local entrepreneurs to engage in authentic problem-based experiential learning. The course culminates with students developing and pitching their own start-up companies.

New AP Courses

In addition to the STEM offerings, St. Margaret’s expanded its Advanced Placement course offerings with the addition of AP European history and AP art history to the already robust choices.

With the additions, St. Margaret’s now offers 28 AP courses. 
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