WELCOME EDUCATORS TO THE 10TH ANNUAL TEXAS STEM CONFERENCESession:

Individual Graduation Planning Mobile Application and STEM Center of Excellence Toolkit

Date: 1/19/2017

Time: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Location: The Baccarat Room (Ballroom Level)

TxGradU8 High School Degree Planning AppA mobile application for Texas 8th-12th graders designed and developed to assist high schoolers and their counselors build and track their degree plan.

This is the first and only mobile app of its kind designed for Texas students and educators by students and educators.

Is compatible with both Apple and Android products.

Students are able to, via any mobile device, create a basic profile that will allow them to come back and add, revise or check up on their progress.

A student may also check their progress at any time to see how many credits remain to be accomplished to meet Foundation High School Program graduation requirements and how many credits have been completed toward the endorsement of his/her choice.

Texas Education AgencyThe TxGradU8 mobile application meets TEA graduation requirements and is also compliant with House Bills 5 and 18

The app focuses on the Foundation High School Program and covers the 5 endorsement areas of curriculum. This app also recognizes and allows students to participate in the Distinguished Achievement Program

Language PreferenceTxGradU8 allows students to choose English or Spanish as their language of preference to utilize the application

Currently, English and Spanish are the only two languages this application is offered.

Building Your ProfileCurrently the application asks for the simplest of identifying information from the student.

I don’t know about you but I get frustrated with all the new gadgets and gizmos on our mobile devices that ask for your full history, blood type, DNA sequencing and what your favorite flavor of gum is before you can begin accessing the app.

Explore and Choose an EndorsementStudents can select an endorsement as part of their degree plan.

Not sure what each endorsement is and what careers, “traditional” and “non-traditional” are within each endorsement; not a problem.

Simply click on details and it will give you a brief description of the endorsement, occupations within the endorsement and class credit requirements for each endorsement.

Explore each endorsement to find your interest.

For details about the endorsement, occupations within each endorsement and class credit requirements, check out the details page.

Endorsement DetailsStudents can explore each endorsement.

See what occupations and associated fields are included in the endorsement.

TEA endorsement course requirements are noted below the description.

Endorsements can be revised, so if a student changes course between 9th grade and 10th grade. They can choose a new endorsement and the app will figure the student’s progress based on the new endorsement requirements.

Progress to GraduationAs a student completes courses or plugs courses in for the next semester, TxGradU8 calculates the progress the student is making toward meeting graduation requirements.

There are over 400 courses to choose from along with generic, “Other Course” options allowing students and high schools that offer different courses based on availability to be typed in and counted.

Foundation and Endorsement credits are tracked separately

TxGradU8 for your StudentsMeet Ethan, a high school Junior at Clyde High School in Region 14 ESC.

He tracked his high school experience starting from his 9th grade course work to the classes he has in progress the Spring semester of 2017.

Ethan chose Public Service as his endorsement.

Viewing his progress, he has already covered all the endorsement requirements to earn the Public Service certification. He was required to take 4 and will have completed 5.

He will have, by the end of his Junior year,completed 17.5 of the 22 required Foundation credits.

Always a Way HomeIn the top left hand corner of each screen is the “Home” icon that will allow the student to access the

• courses page

• check their progress

• access other resources.

They can also go back to their profile and edit the information to change the school they may be transferring to, email address and if they change endorsements.

Resources and a Portal to ExplorationStudents can share their progress with their parents and assigned school counselor.

The student is able to send via e-mail, text message, OneNote or save it to a Google Drive folder.

Progress Report NotificationWhen your student share’s their degree plan progress with you via email this is what you will receive.

It does time/date stamp it for you so that it can be printed out and included in the student file.

This can be updated and shared as often as necessary.

Version 2.0 In The WorksWe are asking that schools and students use the application and tell us how to make it better for YOU!

Give us your feedback.

• Easy to navigate?

• Gives you the information you need?

• What can we add to help you and the students?

• If you could create the perfect degree planning application, what would you like to see?

E3 Center of Excellence CareerCareer Exploration and Resource Hub.

Supports improved performance, encourages curiosity and allow exploration into the world of work, career pathways and college studies.

Everyone Starts SomewhereWhether you have students that aspire to pursue a career in a technical field requiring a certificate OR 4 year degree is their path –

We have provided a space where resources are at the ready to explore, ask questions, and engage with students, educators, colleges and industry experts in your own backyard or across the state.

TxGradU8 and the CenterThe E3 Center and the mobile app are complimentary pieces.

Mobile App helps with the degree planning.

The E3 Center helps with the career exploration, investigating the traditional and non-traditional occupations found within each endorsement.

It also offers up some helpful hints and resources for college readiness, scholarships, college comparisons and student testimony videos about “What they wish they had known going into the college planning”.

There are tons of sites, resources and good information out there. We are choosing the best of the best and bringing it under one roof.

Student Resource PagesImmerse yourself in the World of Work. Take assessments to learn more about your skills and interests.

Find tips and tools to jumpstart our potential career.

There are endless opportunities.

START PLANNING!

Texas High School Graduation Endorsements

Career & College Resource Links

Interview & Resume Writing

Student Internships

Scholarships

Career PlanningResume writing isn’t just for those of us that have held paying jobs.

How do I write an effective resume to highlight my skills and knowledge when I’ve only ever been a teacher/office aide or helped in volunteer positions?

Interviewing isn’t just for jobs. It’s also good practice if you are competing for limited seats in a program of study, such as nursing, where your application, grades, and interview can decide if you “Get In”.

What I Wish I Had Known When Attending CollegeWhat would you tell your younger self about college knowing what you know now?

Admissions

Testing

Financial aid

Choosing A Major

We give multiple pathways in which to explore your career opportunities and maybe some you haven’t even thought about.

Interviews, Internships, and Scholarships OH MY!If you have student internship programs that you want to highlight are are interested in starting an internship program; here is the place to check for best practices.

The Center will also have multiple locations to access scholarship opportunities. Some scholarship opportunities, we at the Consortium administer.

There are some sites that are good choices to access scholarships.

What Does A Baker Really Do On The Job?We have several different groups that are working on “Career Videos”.

We will continue to comb the web and find those sites that are legitimate, helpful and will provide your students with a “day-in-the-life-of” real world tours.

Endorsements!It’s all about the endorsement.

Is S.T.E.M just for doctors and engineers?

NO!

Download these information resources to have those career discussions in your classroom.

Resources for EducatorsWe cover resources focusing on S.T.E.M and CTE learning.

No matter what your students choose to do they MUST know how to read and write.

Language arts resources will include written and oral presentations. How to research, write and document effectively.

Teacher Externship experiences will be included.

Subject PagesEach of our subject pages will include 3 sections:

1) 2 topic relevant videos that may be helpful to you or can be shown in your classroom as a supplement.

Subject PagesEach of our subject pages will include 3 sections:

1) 2 topic relevant videos that may be helpful to you or can be shown in your classroom as a supplement.

2) Projects & Labs that meet TEKS standards and can be economically replicated in the classroom.

These are broken down K-5, 6-8, 9-12

Subject PagesEach of our subject pages will include 3 sections:

1) 2 topic relevant videos that may be helpful to you or can be shown in your classroom as a supplement.

2) Projects & Labs that meet TEKS standards and can be economically replicated in the classroom.

These are broken down K-5, 6-8, 9-12

3) Resource Links will contain hyper links to sites that are specific to subject and will range in lesson plans, videos, PBLs, etc.

Looking for Professional DevelopmentWe have combed the “Inter’web” for all State and National webinars, conferences and workshops to include on one site, one location.

Do you have local events that teachers from outside your region are welcome to attend? Consider including your events here. Build the network.

You are all Experts!Share you knowledge, broaden your circle of influence.

Do you have tried and true lesson plans?

Have you figured out how to do more with less……A LOT less?

We want this Texas site to be about all the great resources that Texas teachers have to offer.

COMING SOON!

Teacher Forum Page

Submit Your Lesson, PBL or Lab to be published on this Texas Center of Excellence.

Contact InformationKatherine E. Stokes

Executive Director

West Texas Energy Consortium

500 Chestnut Street, Ste 1200

Abilene, Texas 79602

325-795-4206

Katherine@wtxec.org

www.wtxec.org

BOTH Available February 2017

www.e3stem.org