LINWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL
AMPED on Algebra Program Linwood Middle School tied for the eighth most diverse school in New Jersey and expands the NJ STEM pipe- line by actively seeking to increase student exposure to STEM/STEAM during the critical middle school years. They have expanded offerings and increased the access of students from all backgrounds to advanced STEM coursework. They offer high school level courses in Alge- bra and Geometry, and have increased the participating percentage of our eighth grade class from 8% to 43% over six years. A high school Algebra-Based Physics class is also offered. The program Linwood Middle School had selected to highlight for the NJ STEM Showcase was their new AMPED on Algebra offering. Through last spring’s receipt of a Title-funded re-allo- cated STEM grant, they have developed a new approach to Algebra instruction that contextualizes its presen- tation through the lens of student-run business. This innovative program (“AMPED on Algebra”-- Algebra in Manufacturing Process, Entrepreneurship and Design) was developed in Colorado (https://contextuallc.com/ amped/faq/). This implementation is the first in NJ and the first in a middle school. Their students and teachers have done an amazing job leveraging the professional development provided through the grant. Using the arts, engineering, entrepreneurship and algebra, student mak- ers use a heat press, Cricut machines and 3-D printers in a fabrication lab that ties student-led entrepreneurship to financial algebra. Students on the cusp of Algebra readiness are success- fully stepping up and thriving in the content as they engage in math,engineering and college and career
readiness practices. Additionally, they have been good stewards of these funds, developing a program that is self-sustaining. Students in the AMPED program participate in their STEM-based parent academies, such as their December “Winter Solstice and Solar System Celebration”, high- lighting engineering practice. In March, they held their evening Title-funded parent academy, “March Math and STEM Madness”. This annual school event has expanded from its original form in 2016, and has grown to showcase student learning in math, physics and engineering, with student presentations and hands-on activities. More than a “curriculum fair”, they celebrate pi day, Einstein’s birthday, and the math- sports-physics connection, among other workshops and demonstrations. Their AMPED on Algebra students demonstrated 3-D printing, their algebraic analyses of their business ventures to date. They also sold their fabri- cated products. The event’s finale was a dynamic Physics Show presented by Dave Maiullo of Rutgers and “That Physics Show” (https://www.thatphysicsshow.com/), funded by a STEM Month mini-grant of $500! The AMPED on Algebra pilot demonstrates positive impact on student interest and perceptions of core STEM-related academic content. Their students have evidenced the excitement, motivation and increased con- ceptual understanding through this hands-on approach that will be expanded to reach more students. Engaging students in relating STEM to real life is central to building a STEM-literate workforce for the New Jersey pipeline. We look forward to scaling up to reach more learners through STEAM-based algebra!
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