Baldwin County High School (GA) has been named a Finalist in the Best Use of Technology in the Classroom for the 2013 Georgia STEM Education Award by The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) for its use of Chattanooga based Thinking Media’s Learning Blade STEM education program.
The Georgia STEM Education Awards recognizes schools, programs, and companies for outstanding efforts and achievements in supporting and promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education in Georgia.
Baldwin High School’s use of Learning Blade is the center of the award. Baldwin targets deficiencies among academically at-risk ninth grade students with a Freshman Focus curriculum. In the 2012/2013 school year, BHS incorporated Learning Blade into the Freshman Focus curriculum. Learning Blade is a unique student-ready web-based system integrating academic skills with building interest in STEM and STEM careers. The activities allow STEM Integration in English, math, social studies, and science while addressing critical Common Core standards. Results included increasing students’ knowledge and interest in STEM Careers by up to 72%.
Engaging and motivating academically at-risk students in STEM education through Learning Blade will lead to increased productivity and ultimately an increase in graduation rate. By increasing the graduation rate, Baldwin High school feels they will produce more college and career ready graduates for the community and the State.
“My proudest achievement was seeing academically at-risk and struggling students getting excited about learning. By using Learning Blade, students were motivated to complete missions and along the way they learned about STEM careers, technology, math, and English. Over 70% of the students in the program preferred using Learning Blade than traditional homework. By engaging and motivating students, and allowing them to experience academic success through this innovative online learning platform, students who would otherwise be considered at-risk of dropping out of school are now excited and motivated to learn. “– Dr. Jeremy Dockery - assistant principal, Baldwin High School, Milledgeville.
Baldwin High School was named a finalist during a special press conference telecast presented by TAG in collaboration with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) and the STEM Education Awards broadcast sponsors, Cisco Systems Inc. and the US Department of Commerce- Economic Development Association.
“It was truly a challenge for our judges to select the 2013 finalists from among more than 170 applicants from around Georgia,” said Michael Robertson, executive director of TAG Education Collaborative. “We must continue building a wave of activities that will prepare our students for the global workforce they will inherit, and we hope recognizing these organizations and their programs will raise awareness on the importance of STEM education for our state's economic future.”
This year’s finalists were chosen in eight different categories:
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- High School
- Post Secondary Outreach
- Extracurricular Program
- Best Use of Technology in Classroom or Program
- Corporate Outreach
- Best STEM Day Activity
Winners in each category will be officially honored at the second annual Georgia STEM Education Awards event held on Sept. 27, at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia. The event is presented by TAG, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed), a non-profit 501c3 dedicated to advancing STEM education in Georgia, and TAG Savannah.
“Recent Studies show that Georgia will need to fill approximately 211,000 STEM-related jobs by 2018,” said Tino Mantella, president & CEO of TAG. “The 2013 Georgia STEM Education Awards finalists are helping to prepare the tech-ready workforce to fill these jobs and we applaud them for standing out as leaders in Georgia’s educational community.”
For more information about TAG and the second annual Georgia STEM Education Awards or to attend the event, visit bit.ly/STEMreg13 .