Students at Grapevine’s Cannon Elementary School are developing their digital fluency with help from CompTIA Spark
GRAPEVINE, Texas, Feb. 20, 2024 – Students at Cannon Elementary School are operating a lunar cruise line, running a school store that features 3D printed items and developing other skills for the dynamic workplace settings of the 21st century with help from CompTIA Spark, a national nonprofit organization that’s unlocking young people’s potential in technology.
The curriculum, which uses new methods to make tech exciting, accessible and inclusive, will be showcased for area educators by Cannon Elementary: A GCISD STEM School and CompTIA Spark this Thursday, Feb. 22, at the school. Dr. Tina Garrett, the school's award-winning principal and former STEM director, will host the showcase, along with representatives of CompTIA Spark.
"The addition of CompTIA Spark curriculum has enhanced our Applied STEM coursework in several ways,” said Dr. Garrett. “The engaging project-based units are not only student-centered and collaborative, but they also enhance critical thinking and problem-solving. This curriculum has elevated our campus STEM mission, filled a resource gap, and ignited our students' confidence and skills to pursue their technology interests."
Designed for real-world applications and incorporating the latest tech concepts, CompTIA Spark curriculum empowers students with skills and confidence for success in today's tech-driven world. By focusing on middle grades, programs aim to spark an interest in tech at a crucial time in students’ development. As a result, students are more prepared to further grow tech skills in high school and beyond. The curriculum is free for all educators, supported by industry and requires no prior tech teaching experience.
"It's truly inspiring to see how the students at Cannon Elementary School are embracing our curriculum," said Randi Parker, vice president and chief of staff, CompTIA Spark. "By making tech education fun and accessible, we're not just teaching them skills for today but also sparking their interest and increasing their understanding about all the possibilities in tech. In today’s tech-driven world, we know that their newfound skills and confidence will make them unstoppable."
Cannon students are engaged in two online, project-based Tech Exploration units provided by CompTIA Spark, actively applying digital skills to help solve real-world problems.
The Lunar Cruise Lines unit is set in 2050, and NASA has declared that the Moon is open to tourism. As a class, students complete activities to create the first lunar tourism company.
In the 3D School Store unit, students design and sell 3D-printed items in a fictional school store.
Both units feature a unique structure of phases that expose students to a variety of technology, applications and career and technical education clusters. Students specialize and develop relevant expertise in the areas of most interest to them.
This week’s curriculum showcase will include opportunities to connect with fellow educators, watch as Cannon students present a hands-on demo of the curriculum and meet with CompTIA Spark team members to learn how to integrate this innovative, free tech education curriculum into your classrooms.
For more information on CompTIA Spark curriculum for middle grades, visit https://www.comptiaspark.org/curriculum-get-started.
About CompTIA Spark
CompTIA Spark, a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, is a social impact organization that works to unlock young people's potential in technology. It aims to bring high quality tech education to youth — whatever their background — making tech exciting, accessible and inclusive while building skills and confidence for life. CompTIA Spark was founded in 1998 by CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry and workforce. Learn more at https://comptiaspark.org.
Media Contact
Anna Turman