(ILC)

This year I am teaching two block scheduled classes of sophomores in my physical science classes.  They are the Sophomore Integrated Learning Community. (see below) The course is a combination of chemistry and physics.  Most students follow this course with chemistry.

ILC  Integrated Learning Community

The Integrated Learning Community is a block scheduled group of courses: English, geometry, and physical science.  Joe Nemetz teaches the English component, Frank Salatino teaches geometry, and Ken Turner teaches physical science. The classes can be independent of each other, or they may be taught in conjunction with the others according to what is being taught that day.  The ILC seeks to increase learning and retention in all three subjects by formalizing the links between the courses.  The ILC avoids the artificial barriers between the courses, by seeking to increase the amount of material that is taught in one course and used in another.

For example, there is no reason why the data taken in a science lab cannot be used the next day to illustrate a math concept, or communicated through a lab report that is graded by an English teacher.  The sophomore ILC specializes in project and problem based learning.  This means that content from all three courses will be required to solve the problem or complete the project.  Some of the projects we have used or are using include: analyzing the water quality at a local lake, designing a home, and racing student-built boats across the pool.  Although the project may be graded by each of the three teachers, each student receives their grade separately in English, geometry, and physical science.

Some of the special projects and materials used in the sophomore ILC are supported from grants through GTE, the Education to Careers Partnership, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (Thanks USFW!)  Grants like these allow SHS to pursue innovative projects, which grant opportunities to the students of SHS

Updated on January 4, 2006 by Juan Reyna and Bijan Behrouzi.