AdvancED® STEM Certification

1.5 STEM Indicator Narrative

Banneker 3DE Magnet students have frequent opportunities to demonstrate their learning via
performance assessments and to present their learning to stakeholders inside and outside the
classroom. Performance assessments are designed to support students in becoming productive
citizens by engaging them in problem-solving in realistic contexts. 3DE case challenges, design
challenges and project-based learning are used as authentic assessment strategies for 3DE STEM
students. These performance assessments focus on assessing higher levels of cognition and
students’ ability to analyze and evaluate information in a real-world context. Students interact
with business representatives and solve real-world problems, collaborate with their peers,
develop a solution and present their solution to their class, teachers and company executives.
Students also demonstrate their learning through technical and scientific lab practices.
Students identify themes and structures within their labs to use as supporting evidence for their
inquiry-based questions. Additionally, students compete in academic competitions including the
science fair, technology student association (TSA) events, design challenges and business and
entrepreneurial (career tech student organizations (CTSO) competitive events (TSA, DECA, and
FBLA), competitions every year). These opportunities allow students to demonstrate how they
can use their technological skills and content mastery to pitch and solve real-world issues for
their school and community.
The strengths of this indicator are highlighted with artifacts from case study challenges,
science fair competition, science lab dissection, AP computer science college board exam
performance tasks and design challenges sponsored by Verizon Wireless and Arizona State
University. In its effort to help close the digital divide, Verizon Wireless created a transformative
program in 2012 called Verizon Innovative Learning. We applied for and received a
$20,000Verizon Innovative Learning STEM grant in October of 2017. The initiative was
designed to inspire innovation and entrepreneurship by educating students in design-thinking
methods using interdisciplinary and hands-on projects. Our students leveraged those methods to
build mobile apps and created AR/VR content through authentic collaboration with local small
businesses solving real-world business challenges. Banneker High School 3DE teams won 1st
place for both the 2018 and 2019 Atlanta regional design challenge. In fact, two 3DE teams won
1st and 2nd place in the 2019 regional competition.
Performance assessments is one of the cornerstones of the 3DE magnet model. We will
continue to develop our student’ competencies related to collaboration, communication, critical-
thinking and problem-solving.