Exceptional Learning Opportunities

Exceptional Learning Opportunities At Oconomowoc High School

Agenda • Aims/Goals • Curriculum • Benefits • Cost • Preparation • Scheduling

Advanced Placement Goals: - Preparation for college - College Credit & Advanced Placement OHS currently offers 10 courses across four subject areas

Course Curriculum • Developed by a committee composed of college faculty and AP teachers throughout the US • Covers the information, skills, and assignments found in the corresponding college course. • The Course Description for each discipline outlines the course content, describes the curricular goals of the subject, and provides sample examination questions • AP teachers have the flexibility to determine how this content is presented

The Examinations • Developed by committees of college and AP high school faculty • Administered each year in May • Contain a free-response section (either essay or problem solving) and a section of multiple-choice questions. • Scored on a scale 1-5 • Students who perform well (usually a 3) may receive college credit and/or advanced standing

Benefits Through AP's college-level courses and exams, you can earn college credit and advanced placement, stand out in the admission process, and learn from some of the most skilled, dedicated, and inspiring teachers in the world.

Cost • AP Examinations are approximately $89.00 per course

Preparation • Take the recommended PREP courses as outlined in the OHS Program Planning Guide

Scheduling • Students may begin taking AP courses as a freshman (AP Human Geography)

International Baccalaureate Goals: - prepares students for life beyond high school- develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people - equips students with the skills and attitudes necessary for success in a global community OHS currently offers 15 IB courses across six subject areas

Course Curriculum • Developed by a committee composed of university and secondary school teachers from around the world • The curriculum and pedagogy focus on international perspectives of learning and teaching, while insisting that students fully explore their home culture and language • Focus on skill development (how), evaluation and reflective learning

The Examinations • Developed by committees of university and secondary school faculty world-wide • Written examinations in May, which are marked by external IB examiners • Additional Assessment tasks, scored by OHS teachers and then moderated by external moderators • Mostly free-response (either essay or problem solving) • Scored on a scale 1-7 • Students who perform well (usually a 4) may receive college credit and/or advanced standing

Two options for ib • Full IB Diploma Programme • Individual IB Courses

IB Diploma Programme • 6 IB Courses spanning at least 5 of the 6 subject areas • CORE • Commitment to developing creative, action and community service skills • Independent Research Paper • Theory of Knowledge class

IB Diploma Programme • links and integrates courses to engage candidates in a well-rounded study of languages, sciences, mathematics, and humanities, along with involvement in their community; engages students in independent research and stimulates critical reflection of knowledge and experience.

Individual IB Courses

Benefits IB is recognized as the leader in international education, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme fosters the knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable students to excel at the university level and beyond. Through IB courses and exams, you can earn college credit and advanced placement, stand out in the admission process, and learn from some of the most skilled, dedicated, and inspiring teachers in the world.

Cost • IB Courses cost approximately $255 for the first course, $110 for each additional • IB Diploma Programme (6 courses and the core components) costs approximately $780

Preparation • Take the recommended PREP courses as outlined in the OHS Program Planning Guide

Scheduling • Students may begin taking IB courses in their junior year

AP or IB? • Colleges report no preference when considering IB or AP courses • Credit is awarded based on the curriculum and how closely it correlates to the course offered at the university • Colleges set IB Diploma holders apart in the admissions process and often award additional credit for students who successfully complete the IB Diploma

Comparison • AP • Focus on college course content • National curriculum • One final examination • Fewer topics – more depth • IB • Process & Skill based application focus • International curriculum • Multi-faceted assessment model • More topics – more breadth Which one is better? Which one is better for me?

Project Lead the Way Goals: - provides Students with a foundation and proven path to post-secondary training and career success in STEM-related fields OHS currently offers 5 courses for Pathway to Engineering

Course Curriculum • Collaboratively developed and updated by subject matter experts – including teachers, university educators, engineering professionals, and school administrators. • PLTW’s hands-on, Activities-, Project-, Problem-Based comprehensive curriculum is aligned with relevant national standards • Emphasize critical thinking, creativity, innovation and real-world problem solving.

The Examinations • Written final examinations at the end of each course, scored by OHS teachers using the PLTW grading criteria but the OHS grading scale. • Students who perform well (earn a B or better) may receive college credit and/or advanced standing

Benefits • A comprehensive curriculum package • Opportunity for students to make the critical connections between STEM principles and solving the real challenges in our communities and the world. Through PLTW courses and exams, you can earn college credit and advanced placement, stand out in the admission process, and learn from some of the most skilled, dedicated, and inspiring teachers in the world.

Cost • There are very few cost associated with the PLTW program ($10 lab fees)

Preparation • Take the recommended course sequencing as outlined in the OHS Program Planning Guide

Scheduling • Students may begin taking PLTW courses in grade 9

Transcripted Credit (TC) • Allows students to take a technical college course while in high school. The course uses the technical college’s curriculum and textbooks while being taught by a high school teacher. A student may earn both high school and technical college credit if they meet all the course competencies and earn a “C” or better in the course according to the Technical College Grading System. • Possible to earn technical college credit at no charge while in high school. • Students may take TC credits anytime during their high school career.

IB-PLTW Career Certificate • This course of study allows students to experience a specially designed PLTW core while recognizing IB values and the needs of pre-engineering students

IB and PLTW -three core strands • A community and serviceprogram – this emphasises partnership and the principles of service learning • An approaches to learning course – this emphasises the development of transferrable skills • A reflective project - based on exploring the ethical dimensions associated with an issue related to the student’s career-related studies

Benefits of IBCC • A convergence of knowledge acquisition and skill development • It is a framework that emphasizes critical, compassionate thinking • It engages students in application through project development and stimulates critical reflection of knowledge and experience • Preparation for college • College Credit

Weighted Grades???? • All AP, IB, PLTW and TC courses are weighted. • Improves a student’s GPA and class rank

Priority Scheduling Process Current Freshmen considering the full IB Diploma or the IB- PLTW Career certificate • After creating a scheduling template (with parent signature), meet with Mrs. Schultz to finalize your sophomore schedule • Meetings must take place between April 8 - 12

Exceptional Learning Opportunities