Explore Academy

169 Pages·2015·1.51 MB·English

EXPLORE ACADEMY

COURSE CATALOG
2015–2016 School Year
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COURSE CATALOG

INTRODUCTION

WELCOME
This is Explore Academy’s course catalog for the 2015–16 school year. Explore Academy has
reinvented the learning process through an elective-based, student-centered model to provide students
choice in how they will master the required content and invest in their own learning. This catalog
details the seminars offered in each content area, when each seminar is offered, as well as a description
of each seminar and its focus.

THE SEMINAR SYSTEM
Explore Academy does not follow the traditional school system of semester-long/year-long
courses. The school year is split into eight, 22-day terms, with each school day consisting of seven
periods. These 22-day learning modules are called “seminars”.
Students are required to take at least five seminars per day, leaving them with two available
“flex” periods during which they will eat their lunch, receive tutoring as needed, make-up work,
collaborate with other students, complete their homework, and attend to any other school-related
activities.
Explore Academy seminars are built in a way not offered anywhere else. Each seminar focuses
on a specific set of standards, allowing students to focus their studies across the 22-day period.
Throughout the term, students will work toward mastering the standards within each seminar,
demonstrating their mastery on an exit exam at the conclusion of the term.
Every seminar is offered in several versions, or flavors, that appeal to the various interests of
students. For example, a Linear Equation seminar in Math can focus on measuring round objects or on
measurements seen in miniature golf. Both versions cover the same standards, yet the differentiation
allows each student to choose how he or she will complete the standards as each version of a seminar is
taught through a different theme. Explore Academy’s core philosophy centers on student choice in
learning, and because students are allowed to choose how they learn and how they will ultimately
fulfill their academic requirements, every course at Explore Academy can be considered an elective in
nature.
Students need only take one version of each seminar to fulfill each given requirement.

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COURSE NUMBERS
INTRODUCTION

Seminars at Explore Academy have a numbering system to help guide students through the
required classes in all content areas. In each core content area, seminars are given a unique course
number. These course numbers are then differentiated for each version of the seminar.
For example, the Science Process seminar is numbered SCI 100, however this seminar comes in
three versions, each of which is numbered individually:
SCI 101: You Are Not So Smart
SCI 102: Mythbusters
SCI 103: Animal Behavior
These three versions all focus on the same academic standards, yet are numbered differently to
show that they use different materials and strategies to teach the required standards. Students must
only take one version to earn credit for the seminar.

COURSE OFFERINGS
INTRODUCTION

On the final pages of this document, there are several pages which cover the scheduling matrix
for each content area. These tables will tell students when classes are offered to allow them to begin the
process of building their own schedules.
Another feature of this catalog is the category system used to give even more insight into how
each seminar will be taught. At the end of each description, there is at least one category in parenthesis.
These categories show more specific information about each seminar so that expectations are clear for
students prior to enrolling. The categories used for specific seminars within this course catalog are:
- Cooperative group-based - Problem-based learning
- Inquiry-based - Project-based learning
- Lecture-based - Mature content
- Lab-based - Self-paced
- Analytical focus - Math-intensive
- Writing-intensive - Homework intensive
- Reading-intensive - Hands-on learning
- Technology-intensive

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TIERS AND TRACKS
INTRODUCTION

TIERS
Explore Academy seminars are not all equal in their complexity and difficulty. The curriculum
map for each content area divides seminars into “tiers”, showing how each content area progresses
from basic and fundamental topics to more complex concepts. Seminars in lower tiers are more
fundamental in nature and will build the foundation on which students will construct their learning
throughout their time at Explore Academy. The tier breakdown for each content area is shown in the
sections that follow.
As tier numbers increase, the concepts and ideas taught will increase in complexity. Within a
tier, students may take seminars in any order, however it is recommended (see below) that students
complete all seminars in one tier before advancing to the next tier. This will build the best foundation
and allow them to systematically progress and master the concepts that each tier has to offer. Seminar
descriptions will include pre-requisites when applicable.

RULES FOR TIERS
Here are some basic rules for following the tiers as it applies to various areas:

- Math: complete all the seminars within a tier before moving to the next (finish all 100-level
before jumping to 200-level)
- English: complete specific seminars in lower tiers before moving to the next (e.g., complete ENG
210 before jumping to ENG 310)
- Science: can take any class at any time, except the few pre-requisites that are identified for
specific courses. Higher level classes will be more difficult
- Social Studies: can take any class at any time, except the few pre-requisites that are identified for
specific courses. Higher level classes will be more difficult
- Art: complete the 100-level seminars, then explore!
- Music: aside from the noted pre-requisites, students can take any music class of their choice
- Foreign Language: complete the 100-level seminars, then explore!
- Physical Education: students must take at least one seminar per tier, but can jump to any seminar
at any time

- Majors: (beginning in the 11th grade) unless otherwise specified for specific seminars, students
can explore any seminar from any major at any time through their 11th and 12th grade years

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TRACKS
Because Explore Academy groups its seminars based on the concepts contained within each
seminar, core subjects seen at traditional high schools are often not grouped within the same tier.
However, students may elect to follow a “track”, allowing them to pursue the specific seminars within a
traditional subject area. Instead of completing all the required seminars within a tier, students may
follow a track to complete seminars in the sequence seen in traditional courses. The tracks for the four
core content areas are shown below.

TRACKS FOR CORE CONTENT AREAS

MATHEMATICS ENGLISH SCIENCE SOCIAL STUDIES

Algebra I English 9 Earth Science Economics
100 100 130 330
110 110 150 350
200 120 240 420
300 130 430
310 140 Physical Science
400 150 110 Geography
140 100
Algebra II English 10 160 110
410 200 250 240
500 210
600 220 Chemistry New Mexico History
610 230 120 120
620 240 170 210
250 180
Geometry 200 Government
640 English 11 210 150
650 300 300 250
700 310 430 300
710 320
720 330 Biology World and American
800 340 100 History
810 350 220 130
230 140
Statistics English 12 310 200
320 400 320 220
420 410 400 230
630 420 410 310
820 430 420 320
340
400
410

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CREDITS AND GRADUATION
INTRODUCTION

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
SEMINARS
SUBJECT AREA
The school’s graduation requirements are shown in the table to REQUIRED
the right. Individual credits are earned at the end of each term. Items English (core) 22
Soc. St. (core) 22
that are crossed out will not be offered for the 2015-16 school year.
Science (core) 22

Mathematics (core) 22
CREDIT ANALYSIS
Foreign Language 12
Each student will be provided with an individual credit analysis
Art 8

to show them where they are in meeting their graduation requirements.
Physical Education 6
The credit analysis will be shared with students and parents to view Health 2
online at any time. Students should pay close attention to their Senior Thesis 1
individual credit analysis before registering classes or changing their Academic Service 5
schedules. An example credit analysis is shown below. Seminars for Dual Enrollment (4)*
Scholar Requirement 12
which a student has credit (including transfer credits) will be shown.
Academic Major 16
For seminars that are empty (foreign language, art, etc.), students have

choices in which areas they use take to fulfill the required credits. The
TOTAL SEMINARS 150 (160
credit analysis will be updated by the school’s counselor and is always
REQUIRED possible)
available to parents.
*Students will fulfill the dual enrollment credit off-campus

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SCHEDULING
INTRODUCTION

Explore Academy operates on a schedule similar to most universities where
PERIOD START TIME
students are provided the freedom to choose when to schedule their classes and free
PER 1 7:45 AM
time.
As students begin creating their schedules they will develop priorities in the PER 2 8:49 AM
seminars they prefer and will have to resolve their own conflicts in choosing PER 3 9:53 AM
specific seminars over others. Students should refer to their credit analysis form
PER 4 10:57 AM
before registering for seminars to prevent duplicate credits earned.
PER 5 12:01 PM
Within the scope of each student’s schedule, the scheduled placement of
both flex periods will be of each student’s choosing. Lunch services will be PER 6 1:05 PM
provided during periods 3, 4, and 5, so it is required that students who plan on
PER 7 2:09 PM
utilizing the school’s lunch service schedule one of their flex periods during this
window. Just as with classes, there will be a cap for the number of students on flex during a given period.
Note: Students must take a minimum of five seminars per term.

Important Note: Students must enroll in only one lunch flex period (3, 4, or 5) and must register for their
second flex period during the non-lunch flex times (periods 1, 2, 6, and 7).

FLEX TIME
Each day at Explore Academy, students have multiple free periods to allow for studying to take place
during the day, as well as school-sponsored activities. The flex period is designed to help students manage
their work outside of class, allowing extra time for the completion of work, tutoring, cooperative work, etc. A
student will schedule one of his or her flex periods to function as a lunch period.
Further information about the flex period is provided below.

SCHEDULING FLEXIBILITY
Students will build their schedules based on their interests and will be grouped with other students
who share common interests. As such, Explore Academy does not group students by age. Aside from the
recommendations made by the tiers within specific content areas (see above), Explore Academy students are
free to choose their classes, lunch, and flex periods for each term. While it is a standard practice that students
take one class within a given topic area per term (one math, one English, one science, etc.), students should
feel free, based on the versions of the classes that are offered and how their schedule arranges itself, to take
multiple classes from the same content area in the same term (example: taking two science classes at once).

As students begin creating their schedules they will develop priorities in the seminars they prefer and
will have to resolve their own conflicts in choosing specific seminars over others. Students should refer to
their credit analysis form before registering for seminars to prevent duplicate credits earned.

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CLASS LIMITS
Seminars will be capped at seventeen (17) students. As students register for their seminars, they may
come to find that some of their selected seminars are closed due to that seminar reaching its cap. When the
limit has been reached for a specific class/flex for a specific period, the section will close and no more
students will be allowed. It is suggested that students have second and third options planned out before
proceeding through the registration process. The schedule draft worksheet (see below) is intended to allow
students to plan out their schedule across all eight (8) terms. As mentioned, students will have the opportunity
to change classes prior to the beginning of a given term, and thus sections of classes may open and close as
students pass in and out.

REGISTRATION
INTRODUCTION

Course registration will take place through a form using the student’s Explore Academy username and
password. The link to the form will be released via email and posted on the school’s website. The form will
open on a time and date specified.
Students will register for the entire year (eight terms), however, as previously stated, they have the
option to edit their schedules prior to the start of any given term. Students should use their credit analysis as a
guide for registering.

FLEX PERIODS
Students will schedule themselves five flex periods within a given day. Flex periods can and will most
likely change for students from term to term, based on the classes in which they choose to enroll for each
term. No matter what periods students select for flex, there will be both study areas and tutoring available for
students to use as needed.

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STUDENT SCHEDULE

DRAFT WORKSHEET

TERM 1 TERM 2 TERM 3 TERM 4 TERM 5 TERM 6 TERM 7 TERM 8

Per. 1

7:45am

Per. 2

8:49am

Per. 3

9:53am

Per. 4

10:57am

Per. 5

12:01pm

Per. 6

1:05pm

Per. 7

2:09pm

NOTES

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