Coyle Technology Center for Math & Science

Coyle Technology Center for Math & Science School is a GISD Innovative School of Choice with a focus on math, science, engineering, and technology. Students have expanded opportunities to develop teamwork, perseverance, leadership, and strong communication skills.

See our Coyle Technology Center for Math & Science School page to learn more.

Mission and Vision

At Coyle Technology Center for Math and Science, our mission is to empower our diverse student population to have a voice in what and how they learn through authentic and interdisciplinary learning
experiences within a team. By engaging students in an inquiry-based approach to STEM that is relevant and reflective of the needs of their community and global society, our students become innovative thinkers, solvers of complex problems, teamers, and self-advocates. Approach The opportunities for success in college and life for Coyle Tech students significantly increases with the implementation of an inquiry-based approach to STEM programming within our coursework.

According to the International Society of Technology Education (2014), “In a world with greater population, global interconnection, technological advancement, and large-scale problems than ever
before in human history, complex problems require sophisticated problem-solving skills and innovative, complicated solutions. We need to give students new, more relevant, engaging and exciting experiences that map to the real world of science, technology and math”.

Starting in the fall of 2022, we will introduce three new pathways to help our students get ahead as they prepare for high school and beyond: Advanced Placement (AP), Computer Science, and Leadership.

Advanced Placement (AP) Pathway

All eligible Coyle Tech and Coyle MS grade 6-7 students will be automatically enrolled in our AP Pathway. This pathway includes honors Math, honors ELAR (English Language Arts and Reading), and honors Science. Due to the increased rigor and high expectations of these courses, our accelerated Math and ELAR coursework offers our students valuable opportunities to gain skills and demonstrate competencies in the kinds of learning they can expect to see in high school. Our eligible 6th grade students are enrolled in honors Science classes that will embed STEM makerspaces to enhance the learning experiences of all Coyle students to help develop their graduate outcomes (innovative thinking, complex problem solving, teaming, and self-advocacy) and release their creativity as high-level learners using the Engineering Design Process. Since we are designing a whole-school approach to high-quality learning, our AP Pathway strategies include removing biases and barriers in the identification of students for and the enrollment of them in honors classes, providing professional development for our teachers to fully implement honors-level programming and support and students in their learning needs, coordinating vertically across grade levels to better prepare students for advanced coursework before they get to high school, creating peer learning communities for teachers and students during the school year to support their teaching and learning, and double-blocking these courses so students can get the academic supports they need in-class throughout the school day.

Computer Science Pathway

Our students will have an opportunity, if they choose the Computer Science Pathway (CSP), to learn and build the skills to help prepare them for STEM careers. JAVA coding languages are becoming the core competency of the 21st century workforce and rapidly becoming the language of the applied sciences, scientific simulations, and data analysis. In CSP, students use these coding languages, personal creativity and design processes to solve real world problems. Due to limited course availability, only incoming Coyle Tech 6th graders who selected Art as their elective will be enrolled in the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Apps Creators course and our Career and Technical Education (CTE) Computer Explorations course to start their STEM courses. As a reminder, 7th graders only get one elective. Due to limited course availability, 7th graders will have the opportunity to select Science of Technology and Computer Science for Innovators and Makers if there is space in their schedule. Here’s a link to the PLTW Gateway website to explore more about these courses https://www.pltw.org/our-programs/pltw-gateway.

We will use Apps Creators and Automation and Robotics for 8th-grade PLTW courses, but not until the 2023-24 school year. However, we have several Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses aligned to computer science available for our 8th grade students including Robotics.

PLTW empowers students to lead their own discovery. The hands-on program boosts classroom engagement and excitement, drives collaboration, and inspires “aha! moments” and deep comprehension. And as students engage in PLTW’s activities in computer science and engineering, they learn the Engineering Design Process, which will also be developed in their other courses, as a blueprint for teamwork and designing. The CSP will help our students see a range of paths and possibilities they can look forward to in high school and beyond.

Project Lead the Way (PLTW)

What is PLTW? Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is an innovative project-based learning program that incorporates science, technology, engineering, and math. PLTW empowers students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges in an exciting and engaging way. Through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, students not only learn technical skills, but also learn to solve problems, think critically and creatively, communicate, and collaborate. Students work through modules that consist of activities, a project, and a problem. They work through three main activities where they gain knowledge and skills. Then they proceed to use those skills to investigate a meaningful project before finally transferring and applying skills to a real-world problem.

App Creators - 6th grade

App Creators introduces students to the field of computer science and the concepts of computational thinking, through the creation of mobile apps. Students are challenged to be creative and innovative, as they collaboratively design and develop mobile solutions to engaging, authentic problems. Students experience the positive impact of the application of computer science to society as well as other disciplines, particularly biomedical science.

 

Design and Modeling - 8th grade

Students discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They are then challenged and empowered to use and apply what they’ve learned throughout the unit to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy.

 

 

Leadership Pathway

Students in grades 6-8 who desire a pathway in leadership development can select this pathway. This pathway includes grades 6 and 7, Leadership Cadet Corps, and grade 8, JROTC. Leadership Cadet Corps are courses designed to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills for access to a physically active and healthy lifestyle. Cadets participate in activities that emphasize leadership development, positive self-esteem, teamwork and responsible patriotic citizenship. Cadets are taught professional courtesy, respect, discipline and basic leadership traits. Strong emphasis is placed on honesty, values, self-discipline, physical fitness and a desire to graduate from high school. Wellness is designed to introduce cadets to diet and exercise regimes and enhance individual fitness. JROTC is designed to acquaint the student with the historical development and role of military branches in history throughout the centuries. Cadets participate in activities that emphasize leadership development, positive self-esteem, teamwork and responsible patriotic citizenship.

Cadets are taught professional courtesy, respect, discipline and basic leadership traits. Strong emphasis is placed on honesty, values, self-discipline, physical fitness and a desire to graduate from high school. Wellness is designed to introduce cadets to diet and exercise regimes and enhance individual fitness. Students enrolled in the JROTC course will receive Physical Education equivalent credit.

Current 6-8 graders received a form on Wednesday, Incoming 6th graders will have an opportunity to discuss potential enrollment in LCC at an upcoming Innovative School of Choice Open House. However, due to limited space, you can pre-register for the 6th LCC course using the following google form: 2022-23 Leadership Cadet Corps Google Form

Leadership Cadet Corps (6th -7th Grade)

This course is designed to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills for access to a physically active and healthy lifestyle. Cadets participate in activities that emphasize leadership development, positive self-esteem, teamwork and responsible patriotic citizenship. Cadets are taught professional courtesy, respect, discipline and basic leadership traits. Strong emphasis is placed on honesty, values, self-discipline, physical fitness and a desire to graduate from high school. Wellness is designed to introduce cadets to diet and exercise regimes and enhance individual fitness. Students enrolled in this course will receive Physical Education equivalent credit.

JROTC (8^th Grade HS Credit)

This course is designed to acquaint the student with the historical development and role of military branches in history throughout the centuries. Cadets participate in activities that emphasize leadership development, positive self-esteem, teamwork and responsible patriotic citizenship. Cadets are taught professional courtesy, respect, discipline and basic leadership traits. Strong emphasis is placed on honesty, values, self-discipline, physical fitness and a desire to graduate from high school. Wellness is designed to introduce cadets to diet and exercise regimes and enhance individual fitness. Students enrolled in this course will receive Physical Education equivalent credit.

Other signature programs

AVID

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. The AVID and AVID Excel (ELL students) Programs are a system to prepare students in academics for four-year college eligibility and other postsecondary opportunities. It has a proven track record in bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap.  

Our students will use the AVID Binder system to develop learners who can self-direct, self-evaluate, self-monitor, and self-advocate. ALL STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED to maintain their school binder following the AVID Binder model.

What is the AVID Binder?

The AVID Binder is a system for keeping essential school materials and class assignments organized into one binder. A proper AVID Binder contains all the "required items" from the school supply list. Below, you can watch a short video on How to Organize Your AVID Binder.

AVID binder checks will be conducted once a month in predetermined classes. Teachers leading the monthly AVID Binder checks will be looking for “Required Items” and overall organization. Please review the AVID Binder model video so can help prepare your child at home for a successful binder check, and to learn more about AVID.

How can I support my child at home?

Regularly check your student's backpack and AVID Binder. All papers should be placed in binder rings in the proper class section. Remove unnecessary papers. Ensure all required materials are present. We encourage you to reference the video below.

For more information please see Avid Coordinator Taylor Carn. 

Advance PE (6th Grade only)

Advanced PE is for students planning to participate in athletics in 7th and 8th grade. Advanced PE is not an honors class. These 6th grade students are enrolled in the Advanced PE class with our coaches. The course work is intense, but it provides our students the necessary skills and training to be ready to compete in the Coyle athletics program.