- Wilson STEM Center
- STEM Center
WHY STEM?
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In the coming years, Texas is expected to offer the nation’s second-highest percentage of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. Because of this, CHISD must ensurethat scholars - especially those who are part of low-income families or are people of color - are prepared for the marketplace of the future.
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STEM jobs are the future of our economy
- STEM coursework challenges students to think critically and come up with their own solutions
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STEM classes provide unique opportunities for teamwork
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Recent events have only made STEM skills more important
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A STEM curriculum helps scholars develop project management skills
The benefits of STEM education will be felt not only in the classroom but in the greater Cedar Hill community. With a STEMspired community there are opportunities for businesses, civic organizations and higher education institutions to join the movement.
Higher Education Partners: Help design and implement practicums for teacher candidates with opportunities to learn from exceptional STEM educators.
Business Community: Will partner with CHISD campuses to provide scholar (paid and non-paid) and teacher internships, job shadows, and tours within STEM and CTE companies.
Civic & Religious Organizations: Help enhance community engagement, increase awareness and establish systems for continued and expanded school support of STEM.
Parents & Families: Are encouraged to participate in setting the career goals for scholars by instilling the importance of career exploration.
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ABOUT
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In August 2021, Cedar Hill ISD will welcome its inaugural class to the new district STEM Center. As part of the district wide STEMspired initiative, the new STEM Center will deliver high quality educational opportunities to scholars.
The 9-12 grade campus will:
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Redesign Learning
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Build Partnerships
Increase equity and access to high-quality STEM education both inside and outside of the classroom environment.
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Expand STEM Experiences
With elementary and middle school field trips and collaborative opportunities available, the CHISD STEM Center will impact every scholar in the District.
STEM Center Features
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STEM Team Rooms
STEM Team rooms are quiet spaces equipped with technology that are available for scholars needing space to collaborate, brainstorm and create.
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Campus Makerspace
A makerspace is a collaborative work space inside a school, library or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools. These spaces are open to scholars, adults, and entrepreneurs and have a variety of maker equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, soldering irons and even sewing machines.
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Minorities in STEM Museum
Minorities have contributed to the United States’ Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) enterprise since the nation’s beginning, yet their names and contributions are often overlooked. The CHISD Minorities in STEM Museum shares the lesser-known stories and far-reaching impacts of minorities in STEM. The museum will also highlight recent work of CHISD scholars who have an interest and connection to STEM.
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STEM Center Wet Lab
The campus Wet Laboratory is a space where chemicals, or other material or biological matter are tested and analyzed requiring water, direct ventilation, and specialized piped utilities. The lab meets requirements to withstand man-made and natural hazards to optimize occupant safety and prevent loss of resources.
Types of Project Experiments for STEM Center Wet Lab:
- Master the Morgue: scholars shadow the medical examiner to investigate what clues the body provides about the cause and manner of death.
- Oxygen: Scholars investigate respiratory system anatomy and analyze how disease impacts function in this system as well as in other systems of the body.
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Design & Create Engineering Lab
Here scholars will explore concepts of engineering, robotics and manufacturing.
Types of Lessons Available in the Engineering Lab:
- Advanced Computer Modeling: Scholars will learn advanced 3D computer modeling skills. These advanced skills include creating animated assembly views of multi-part products and using mathematical functions to represent relationships to enforce dimensional and motion constraints.
- Design Challenges : Scholars will work in small collaborative teams, implement the design process, and use skill and knowledge gained during the course to solve a culminating design challenge and document and communicate their proposed solution
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The CHISD STEM Center is a tuition-free public school serving Cedar Hill ISD scholars in grades 9-12, where we educate, empower and inspire. Our STEM focus inspires scholars to love learning, develop a fascination for critical inquiry, be independent, formulate their own goals, and graduate career, college or military ready.
Parents/Guardians should complete and submit enrollment applications during the Open Enrollment period. Applications submitted after the Open Enrollment period has ended will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, following applications received during the Open Enrollment period.
