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Career
Center At Steinmetz
Steinmetz Career and
Leadership Academy
(SCALA)
 An
Overview
It is essential
that students acquire skills that support digital literacy,
inventive thinking, effective communication, and high
productivity in order to ensure that they are qualified to
succeed in work and life in our global economy.
The vision for
the Digital Academy is a school in which students and teachers
use technology to learn, create and to prepare for leadership.
Technology has a fundamental role in the school environment, and
students will be engaged in active inter-disciplinary projects
that question and solve 21st century challenges.
The Digital
Academy will provide an innovative approach to instructional
delivery for students who have preferences for non-traditional
access to learning. Students will play an essential role
in preparing themselves for career opportunities.
21st Century
Learning
in a one-to-one environment
 The
Digital Academy is based on the concept that inquiry is the very
first step in the process of learning. Students will learn
in a project-based environment where the core values of inquiry,
research, collaboration, presentation, and reflection are
emphasized in all classes.
Students will
take more responsibility for their learning through work on
projects that require them to access and learn the necessary
material themselves. The digital platform supports
individual pacing and sequencing because when it is appropriate,
students can proceed at a pace that is ahead of the class or
repeat difficult lessons without disrupting the class.
One-to-one
laptop accessibility will be the primary method for accessing
the Internet and instructional material. One-to-one is a
learning environment in which there is a laptop for every
student and teacher. In a one-to-one learning environment,
students have access to wireless laptops to use at school and at
home.
Individualized Learning Plans, advisory groups and internships
 The
success of the students in the Digital Academy will be dependent
upon elements beyond the instruction and technology. The
successes will be substantially attained by addressing the needs
of the "whole child" through individualized learning plans,
advisory groups and internships.
The
Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) Program will prepare students
by giving them the opportunity to develop and answer questions
about their career goals, gain real experience working with
adult mentors, and expand their classroom into the City of
Schenectady.
With counseling
from advisors and guidance counselors, 10th and 11th graders
will write their own ILP learning goals focusing on an area of
personal interest while selecting sites where they can achieve
their goals. Students in the upper grades will have
schedules to allow for dual enrollment programs with area
colleges and career development internships in laboratory and
business settings.
The school will
focus on excellence in learning, creativity, and leadership in
order to promote achievement, graduation and college
matriculation. Parent partnership and support is critical
to the success of each Digital Academy student.
Admission
Students are
selected for the Digital Academy based on an open application
process. Interviews are conducted once a student and
his/her family has shown an interest in enrolling in the
program.
The first step
in the application process is to contact your child's guidance
counselor for enrollment information.
You can also
email
digiacad@schenectady.k12.ny.us with questions or for more
information.
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