What's this I-BEEM?

If you haven't heard, there's an Integrated Biology, Engineering, English and Math, I-BEEM, 4-course block being piloted this year in the lower house with about 80 - 9th grade students. The classes are centered around researching and raising trout, and here are the students and teachers getting wet at their first field experience in the Tulpehocken Creek at Red Bridge Park. You can keep up with their exciting learning activities, in and out of the classroom, by visiting the IBEEM Happenings blog that is maintained by the students and the teachers. Additional news, is that they are currently trying to obtain funds to have a 24/7 web cam on the trout they are raising in the aquariums located in the biology classroom. This web cam will be accessible online and displayed on a TV in a hallway of the lower house.

Another exciting feature of the block of courses is the introduction to a 1-to-1 Chromebook integration. Each student, as well as the teachers, has their Chromebook in and out of school on a daily basis. The teachers are working hard at integrating the use of Google Apps, web tools and 21st century learning in their daily lessons and projects. Linked below are two examples of leveraging the power of the Internet into their learning:

• Ms. Cyran's Distance Project 
• Mr. Raffauf's Water Properties Lab

Please visit the I-BEEM Happenings blog for the latest updates on these engaging courses. I would also like to thank Ms. Cyran, Mrs. Ninfo, Mr. Jarrett and Mr. Raffauf for their continued hard work in making this a great and rigorous experience for these students. As well as the support from Chris Trickett, the high school and central administration teams, and, of course, the IS department. There's been a lot of work that has been done that has made these courses start successfully and a lot of work still to be done... stay tuned!