New STEM Program For Cheder Menachem in Los Angeles Launched by the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education
Cheder Menachem in Los Angeles is one of a select group of Jewish Day Schools nationwide that are launching an innovative, new STEM engineering program designed specifically for middle school grades — the CIJE-Tech MS Program. It is the first Chabad school to offer the CIJE STEM program to its students.
The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (www.thecije.org), which provides and support the implementation of programs that include engaging curricula, teacher training and advanced technology, is introducing the new CIJE program at 35 schools for the 2015-2016 school year.
In the CIJE-Tech Middle School program, students are provided with a challenging and rigorous program of study focusing on the application of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) subjects as well as experience in teamwork, innovative thinking and problem solving. Each class receives equipment and materials from CIJE and the teachers undergo specialized training to “reorient” how they approach class material.
“We focus on retraining teachers for a self-directed classroom and let student teams determine the best solution to a problem themselves,” explains Judy Lebovits, CIJE vice president and director. “This new program is going to give our Jewish Day School and Yeshiva students a greater advantage in STEM curriculum which encourages innovation, creativity and problem solving. The CIJE-Tech MS Program includes activities that improve student and teacher content knowledge and teacher pedagogical skills. Innovative strategies are employed, including small group collaborative work and the use of hands-on activities and experiments to promote inquiry and curiosity. Learning is connected to the real world through an emphasis on the application of STEM subjects to everyday life, employment, and the surrounding environment.”
Over the course year, students will apply their inventiveness and innovation skills in teams developing all types of products and machines. This ranges from advanced circuitry to bridge building to developing prosthetic limbs.
The CIJE-Tech Middle School Program will also help students become better prepared for the already established CIJE-Tech High School Engineering program, currently provided in close to 50 schools nationwide. CIJE-Tech is a two-year course in Scientific and Biomedical Engineering curriculum that prepares 9th and 10th grade students for careers in engineering, programming and advanced technology. Self-directed classroom study and hands on interactive curricula culminate in a year-end capstone project applying the STEM principles acquired in both CIJE programs.
“At Cheder Menachem, students are inspired to recognize every aspect of learning as part of their journey to become productive members of society and leaders in their individual communities,” says Mrs. Yudi Blauner, general studies coordinator. Partnering with CIJE provides our students the ability to learn, ask, think, and discover essential skills for life and for 21st century learning.”
About the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education
The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) strengthens and enriches education in more than 160 U.S., Jewish schools across the denominational spectrum, educating a generation for innovation, instilling critical thinking, creativity and problem solving skills. CIJE currently provides funding for programs at schools nationwide including advanced technology, engaging curricula, teacher training and vital support in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects. The organization offers a number of innovative programs including CIJE-Tech High School Engineering Program, CIJE-Tech Middle School science, engineering, teamwork, technology & training enrichment programs and Excellence 2000 (E2K). Since 2001, CIJE has built 100 computer laboratories, 25 state-of-the-art science laboratories and donated more than 500 smart boards. CIJE was established as an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 2008. For more information, please visit www.thecije.org.