Programs for K12 Students

CIPCE seeks to impact the national educational reform movement in many ways. In addition to its main work of developing and implementing professional development initiatives and materials for teachers, it also works directly with K-12 students. It is our deep belief that there is a wide divide between the "real world" of youngsters today and the "world of their classrooms". Many young people, of all ages, intuitively engage in problem solving, and devote a lot of time immersed in the use of various technologies. These "real" non-linear environments contrast sharply with the often linear world of their classrooms, both pedagogically and physically. As CIPCE develops more student programs, both after school and in the summer, we will add descriptions of these on these pages.

New Visions

In today's high tech world, there are few careers more interesting, challenging or rewarding than those found in the fields of Mathematics, Engineering, Technology and Science. The New Vision program is a partnership between Rensselaer and the Questar III BOCES, and is designed for students interested in any field of science, engineering, mathematics or information technology including computer science, biotechnology, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics and chemistry.

High school students spend mornings on the Renssealer campus for a whole year. Part of their day is devoted to formal instruction by a New Visions teacher with the objective of completing high school graduation requirements. The rest of the day is spent in state of the art laboratories of Rensselaer researchers, learning about some of the cutting edge research being conducted on campus. This exposure to real research and design environments not only makes for an interesting and challenging learning environment, but also provides students with an opportunity to make better-informed career choices.