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Award Years: 2018-2021

NYCDOE Community School DistrictÌý5ÌýisÌýlocated inÌýCentral Harlem New York CityÌýinÌýaÌýneighborhood thatÌýhasÌýsome of the highest poverty rates in New York City and the country. 82%Ìýof our students live in poverty,Ìý40.2%Ìýof our students are Latino andÌý48.7%Ìýof our children are Black. TenÌýpercent of students in DistrictÌý5Ìýare English Language LearnersÌýandÌýare from families of recent immigrants. Many of our students struggle academically; however, we believe with the right tools and systems in place, in partnership with their families and our communities, they can reach their fullest potential.ÌýÌý

Careers inÌýscience, technology, engineering, artsÌýand mathÌý(STEAM)ÌýfieldsÌýcontinue toÌýgrow making it essential for accessibility to equitable learning opportunities for all students to benefit. We are supporting new and existing teachers in developing the knowledge and skills they need to ensure all students are prepared for college, the global economy, 21st century citizenship, and continued learning throughout their lives. Systematic, ongoing teacher professional development is crucial to preparing teachers, as well as opportunities to interact with and learn from peers in professional learning communities. Also important is exposure to new technologies that can support differentiated and personalized instruction and hands-on exploration. Finally, the buy-in and support of parents in their children’s education is key.ÌýThis is whyÌýCommunity School DistrictÌý5ÌýisÌýadoptingÌýFaceLab, an exemplary, high quality college and career readiness school program of the Division of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) at the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE).ÌýÌý

FaceLabÌýwas developed to address the gap in participation of our students in the STEAM economy. The program is approaching yearÌýthreeÌýof its deployment across the NYCDOE and its curriculumÌýandÌýprofessional training has been tested, evaluated and strengthened with the support of participating administrators, teachers,ÌýandÌýparents.ÌýFaceLabÌýis designed to increase the collaboration between parents and educators in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education. ÌýFaceLabÌýachieves this by training teachersÌýand parents in K-8 schools to lead hands-on robotics andÌýadditional educationalÌýtechnology-embeddedÌýactivities with students.  Research demonstrates that strong parental involvement improves student outcomes, including academic achievement, as well as social and emotional development. Ìý

Good learning technologies promote integrative approaches, systems thinking, and active approaches to problem solving.ÌýCommunity School DistrictÌý5Ìýadministrators will work closely with the team from the NYCDOE Division of Family and Community Engagement and their partners,ÌýMakeosity, Inc. andÌýVision Education & Media|ÌýRoboFun®,Ìýto identify schools’ and teachers’ professional development needs and gaps in STEAM education for students. The development partners will collaborate withÌýtheÌýschools’Ìýadministrators and teachers to not only introduce new knowledge and instructional techniques related to STEAM, but actively engage them in the co-development of curriculum and standards-aligned lessons to allow for greater ownership and adoption of the model. A variety of technological and digital tools, online courses, content, and activities to support teaching ofÌýSTEAM in classrooms will be evaluated,ÌýtestedÌýand selected. Parents and caregivers from each school community will be recruited and selectedÌýtoÌýparticipate in training and learn how toÌýassist teachers with introducing the curriculum, technologies, and activities in classrooms.ÌýÌýÌý

Contact Information

• Danika Rux,Ìýdrux@schools.nyc.gov