From the DEA to video game design, J-Term projects educate
01.08.10
What's life like as a DEA agent? What's the best way to reach Kindergarten students? How much force is used to slap a hockey puck into a goal?
Those are just some of the questions TVHS students seek to answer as they undertake their J-Term research projects in Capital Region businesses, schools and offices this month. J-Term projects, which are unique to TVHS in the state, are designed to enable individual interaction between students and area professionals that help students gain a realistic understanding of an industry or field of study that is practiced in our region. The projects take between a week and three weeks for students to complete and involve dozens of area professionals. The work culminates with presentations by the students to their peers at TVHS in early February.
Freshman Ashley Ankenman, from Greenville, is working with researchers at the University at Albany's Cancer Research Center to study the evolution of cancer and its treatment in the U.S. Meanwhile, a pair of TVHS students are going to school for their research, taking their spots this time in the front of the classroom to deliver lessons. Junior Siana Botts is returning to her home school district, Germantown, where she will study with her own former teacher, Mrs. Ide, elementary education and then deliver a lesson to kindergarten students. Likewise, Junior Allison Beerle will study teaching in Mohonason, where she will work with teacher Mr. Diacetes for two weeks and deliver a lesson.
Junior Jesse Feinman, from Guilderland, is furthering his understanding of technology by working with Albany-based Momentive, during which time he said he "will explore the use of computers in corporate collaboration, in particular how it works from behind the scenes with Mr. Coon, a computer technician."
"By shadowing and assisting Mr. Coon in creating and maintaining computer-based collaboration tools and other systems, I will further understand the reaches of computers and their effects on a collaborative group based environment," he said.
Meanwhile, sophomore Joseph Coelho will do his learning on the floors of St. Peter's Hospital.
Coelho, from Green Island, said he hopes to "learn the importance of internal medicine in modern society" while working his father, a physician at the hospital.
Coelho will be at the hospital the entire week of January 11.
For junior Laura Behan, her interest is taking her into the world of narcotics.
Behan, who attends TVHS from Cohoes, will work with a local Drug Enforcement Agent (DEA) to learn about careers in that field and to see how pervasive the drug problem is in the Capital Region.
"I chose the field of drug enforcement to study because it is important to me and it's a career I would like to have," said Behan,. explaining her interests.
Communicating in a multicultural world will be the studies of junior Cody Bellair. The student from South Colonie will answer the question with his J-Term project, "why it's important to be multilingual in the 21st century?"
To answer that question, he will work with linguist Malu Benton, from Hudson Valley Community College.
J-Term projects are a critical tool at Tech Valley High for partnering the school's education directives with business and university leaders in the region.
"If we want to graduate students who are self-directed, we have to give them opportunities to show self-direction," said Principal Dan Liebert. "Most of the year, our students learn through project-based learning what is required by New York State and the New Tech Network standards. January is an opportunity for the students to pursue topics that are of interest to them."
