The Northeast Ohio Summer STEM Academy would become an ongoing part of students’ secondary career, providing for dual college and high school credit in mathematics, opportunity to develop and use pedagogical knowledge and mentor relationships with education professionals. The material covered would, in the most general sense, be similar to the content of a College Algebra or Precalculus course. The primary difference will be the approach to the material, which would which will be focused in the following five areas:

Knowledge of Concepts

Every day at the Academy would begin with two and a half hours of inquiry-based instruction. The students will study MTH 168 Pre-Calculus.

MTH 168: Precalculus Mathematics II
Brief review of intermediate algebra techniques, rectangular coordinates, graphs of equations; and functions, lines, circles, detailed study of functions, graphing techniques. Mathematics and Logic.

Practical Applications

Daily group problem solving activities, will provide student with the opportunity to apply the concepts they learn each day in real world situations.

Teaching Preparation

These activities foster students’ confidence in their ability to present material before a group and gives them time for group discussion and response to peer feedback. Students will also be prepared to act as peer mentors or teacher’s assistants throughout the following academic year in their own school district.

Use of Technology

Every student in the Academy will be given a graphing calculator and training in mathematics programs such as Maple and Cabri so that they may experience how technology can be used as a creative motivator, rather than a problem-solving crutch.

Research

Faculty from the College of Education and the College of Science and high school teachers will instruct students, in research methodology. This motivates creativity in the students and acclimates them to the scientific community.