STEM IA Junior High

Register for Complementary Courses

Posted on April 25, 2022

Hello SIA Families,

In an effort to continually evolve our complementary courses we have created four course strands:

Design & Engineering

At STEM Innovation Academy students create innovative solutions to unique problems. In our Engineering and Design Strand students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to apply the design process to a variety of diverse challenges. Using design and fabrication techniques, students create projects that are manufactured using equipment in our Makerspace.

Computational Thinking

Computational thinking refers to the thought processes involved in understanding a problem and creating digital solutions using industry-standard hardware and software. Students will learn how to create ‘smart’ design solutions. Using hands-on experience in computer programming and electronics, students build systems that take hardware components and algorithms needed to run components.

Media

Innovative ideas are spread by creative, effective and engaging communication. Courses in our Media strand will provide students with the skills to enhance their communication so that it can appeal to all the senses. Students will create and share ideas through a variety of mediums to tantalize their target audience.

Required Complementary Courses

These courses are mandatory for all students at STEM Innovation Academy as they develop skills applicable to all areas.

Within each of these strands you will find different complementary courses for each grade level. We would encourage all families to look through the course descriptions and rank their top choices. As we have done in the past we will provide a survey to allow families to rank their top complementary course choices.

We are continually looking at ways to make our complementary course offerings innovative and new, most of the complementary course options are available regardless of which complementary courses students have taken in 2021-2022, but there are some exceptions.

If you took Biomedical Engineering in term 2 (November 2021-March 2022) you are able to take Introduction to Biomedical Engineering next year. However, if you took Biomedical Engineering in term 3 (March 2022-June 2022) you MAY NOT repeat Introduction to Biomedical Engineering as there will be a large amount of content overlap.
If you have taken PC Remix please DO NOT sign up for PC Remix again.
If you have taken Robotics, using VEX, please DO NOT sign up for Robotics Essentials: VEX Pitching In.
If you have taken 3D Media, please DO NOT take 3D Content Creation Essentials.

Please see below for descriptions for each complementary course offered in the 2022/2023 school year. Some of these course selections have a fee associated with taking the course, please be advised these fees are subject to change.

Please note, all incoming grade 7 students will be taking the same four complementary courses. In these courses they will have the opportunity to sample all three strands while they build important skills and knowledge.

Current grade 7 and 8 students will be completing their complementary courses choice survey on Friday April 29 during SPARK class. Please ensure you have taken the opportunity to discuss the complementary course offerings in anticipation of the course selection survey. We will do our best to give students their top choices for their remaining course options, but it should be noted that not all options choices may be granted.

2022-2023

Grade 7 Complementary Courses

Do you like helping people? Do you like problem solving? Are you able to think outside of the box? If you answered yes, this is the perfect course for you! You will become familiar with the STEM IA Design Process by identifying a problem, researching existing products, brainstorming new ideas, and designing a product to meet a design need. You will create thumbnail sketches, capture stunning presentation drawings, and the appreciate importance of technical drawings. Once you have finalized your design and completed basic training using the various tools in the makerspace you will get to build your design.

Ding ding ding, you’re a winner, it’s time to build and program a fully functional pinball machine using Hummingbird robotics kits! You will learn and apply block-based programming concepts to control the movement, lights and music composition of your pinball machine. Programming concepts that will be covered include sequencing, events, variables, loops, conditional statements and functions. Furthermore, you will use Inkscape to draw your design so that it can be cut out using the laser cutter. There will also be opportunities to 3D print components depending on your design. To build the machine you will need to integrate knowledge from different disciplines to inform your design solution.

Welcome to the digital world of VR, graphics and digital photography. This course will introduce you to creating content for virtual reality. You will also learn the foundational skills to create and manipulate 2D digital content. Then you will explore the fundamentals of photography using a DSLR camera. Once you have captured wonderful compositions you will bring them to life using manipulation and editing techniques in Adobe photoshop and lightroom.

Communicate your ideas with confidence and conviction. In STEM Talks you will develop the lifelong skill of public speaking through Ted Talk style presentations. Nervous, it’s ok, your teachers will guide you through a fun and interactive process that will have you feeling confident and willing to share your ideas effectively. You will be taught how to conduct reliable and valid research, practice effective speaking strategies and develop persuasive presentation techniques. This is a skill you will use throughout your school career, so no time like the present to start the journey.

2022-2023

Grade 8 Complementary Courses

Mega structures, over population, green spaces, sustainable architecture, we need your help to create architectural solutions that solve these and other complex problems facing society. To create your solution, you will learn and apply design drawing skills and CAD modelling techniques. You will also need to investigate civil, environmental and mechanical engineering principles to inform your design. Next you will use 3D printers, laser cutters and other makerspace tools to build a model of your design solutions. Lastly, you will have to pitch your architectural design solution to a panel of investors who will scrutinize the success of your solution.

Ever wondered what a Biomedical engineer does? In this introductory course you will discover the wide range of skills needed by Biomedical Engineers and how they design medical solutions. You will complete several design challenges that will provide you with insight into the role of biomedical engineering. Challenges include building a robotic hand that emulates human movement and 3D printing adaptive tools to be attached to a prosthetic arm. This course will prepare you for the follow up Biomedical Engineering course where you will develop an adaptive tool for a client. Note students who took Biomedical Engineering in term 2 are eligible to take this course next year, those who took it in term 3 are not.

Computers have become integrated into our everyday lives; most homes have multiple devices that work seamlessly. Have you ever wondered how they work? How do the components of a computer work together to allow us access to so much information? In this course you will deconstruct and reassemble a computer while discovering what all the hardware is responsible for. You will install and remove software, reformat a hard drive, and reinstall operating systems. The course will culminate with a project where you will assemble, modify, and personalize your own USB-C Aviator Cable & Mechanical Keyboard that you leave the course with. (*Please note there is a course fee of $150.00 for materials). Note if you took this course during the 2021/2022 school year you are not eligible to take it again in 2022/2023.

Welcome to the world of competition robotics. In this course you will work in teams to build and program robots to complete an open-ended challenge such as the Pitching In challenge. You will develop skills in creativity, perseverance and teamwork as you design, program, and test simple and more complex robots. The ultimate goal is to create a fully autonomous robot that can solve a given problem. Concepts covered will include computational thinking, fundamental programming, remote control, collaborative problem solving, engineering construction and design thinking. Note if you took Robotics, utilizing VEX, during the 2021/2022 school year, you are ineligible to take it in the 2022/2023 school year.

3D modelling is a general term that covers many unique and awesome skills that involve working with 3D content. This content can be used in video games, VR, 3D printing, and special effects. In this course you will learn the essential skills to get you off the ground and quickly creating amazing content. What starts simple however, will quickly build into more complex and interesting topics that we can use to further enhance our skills until we become masterful 3D modelers. If you have a passion to learn something new, you are not afraid of a little hard work, and you want to have a creative outlet, then 3D modelling is for you! Note if you took 3D Media during the 2021/2022 school year you are ineligible to take 3D Content Creation Essentials during the 2022/2023 school year.

Ever wondered how to create a logo or an interesting graphic? Now you can create digital content that you are proud of and communicates a message effectively. In this course you will use Adobe Illustrator to create digital artifacts. Topics covered in this course will include brand identity and logo design, raster and vector graphics, data visualization, motion graphics and interactive design. Although the course is mainly practical in nature, students will also be engaged in the theoretical aspects of the discipline, studying the elements and principles of design and using them to examine class projects.

2022-2023

Grade 9 Complementary Courses

Think it, create it, sell it! Welcome to Marketplace. In this course you are going to use the design process to create a product and fabricate it yourself. You will then need to use advertising techniques and apply consumer psychology tactics to market your final product. All final products will be sold in a physical or online marketplace. Furthermore, you will become financially literate and gain a basic understanding of budgeting, investing, cryptocurrency and blockchain.

Ever wondered what a Biomedical engineer does? In this introductory course you will discover the wide range of skills needed by Biomedical Engineers and how they design medical solutions. You will complete several design challenges that will provide you with insight into the role of biomedical engineering. Challenges include building a robotic hand that emulates human movement and designing a release mechanism for a pill capsule. This course will prepare you for the follow up Biomedical Engineering course where you will develop an adaptive tool for a client. Note students who took Biomedical Engineering in term 2 are eligible to take this course next year, those who took it in term 3 are not.

In this project-based course you will focus on computer programming to build applications and games. Topics include researching games, obtaining client viewpoints, brainstorming solutions, rapid prototyping, testing, and iterative re-design. You will develop best practices for prototyping, examining user interfaces, play testing, game balancing, pacing and workflow. You will create 2D games using Scratch GameSalad that meets the criteria given by a client who will provide feedback and evaluate the success of your game. Then you will take your game design skills to the third dimension and create 3D games using industry standard software such Unreal Engine 5 and/or Unity which will introduce you to programming in C#. Although this unit is practically orientated, students will cover some theoretical aspects of game design and how it is used in our society.

Computer Science Discoveries 2 is a computer science course that will empower you to create authentic artifacts and engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun. Topics in this course include the design process for digital artifacts, data and society, AI and Machine learning. In this course we will also move from block-based programming to Python.

Movies, TV, toys, video games, advertisements, and many more potential clients all have a demand for highly skilled digital 3D sculptors. The world of digital 3D sculpting is a challenging but rewarding one, and in this course, we will work on building up the basic skills required to start your creative journey and build on previously learned skills. We dive deep into the anatomy of animals and humans, looking at the underlying bone and muscle structures. This knowledge, combined with the skills learned, will allow you to create incredible creatures, crazy monsters, and fictional characters. With the possibility of mixing digital work, with physical 3D printing, this course will be perfect for letting your creativity run wild while building a powerful new skill set.

How do you create a YouTube video that stands out from the rest? Now you can be the director, editor, sound engineer, and script writer all in one course. In this course you will create video content that communicates a message effectively in a creative and aesthetically pleasing manner. You use digital software and develop a wide range of video production techniques, manipulation and sound design. Not only will you have to design and create your own visual material you will produce music and audio to accompany your visual elements.

Are you looking for an opportunity to expand on the skills you learned in grade 7 STEM talks? Then Advanced STEM Talks is for you. In this course you will have the chance to present on a topic you feel passionate about. You will master you presentation skills and persuasive techniques in a final speech to an outside audience. In addition to your STEM Talk, you will have to create engaging media content that adds value to your final presentation.

Register for Complementary Courses

Design & Engineering

Computational Thinking

Media

Required Complementary Courses

Grade 7 Complementary Courses

Grade 8 Complementary Courses

Grade 9 Complementary Courses

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