Summary of Program
The Opt-ins program is part of an increased effort to expand our students’ access to courses to explore interests and potential future majors or careers. We are starting with opening two types of courses:
- Any student in Grades 9-12: Creating new exploratory courses. These courses would not be for credit, but would give students a snapshot into future courses they could pursue. These courses will meet 1-3 times a week, during lunch or after school.
- Qualifying Seniors: Opening a small set of four pilot AP or concurrent enrollment courses to students across the network. Students will receive credit towards high school graduation requirements, have a chance to earn college credit, and have the course listed on their transcript.
How to Apply
Students in Grades 9-12: Application: Use the Grades 9-12 Exploration Courses Form to apply between Friday, August 21 at 8am and Thursday, August 27 at noon.
Qualifying Seniors Applying for Pilot Credit Courses: : Apply using the Pilot Credit Courses Form by final deadline of noon on Thursday, August 27. Priority Deadline Friday, August 21 at noon.
Students interested in applying to opt-in courses should review the student and family commitments, enrollment process and available courses explained below before applying. We will do our best to honor course requests, but space is limited in all courses.
Student and Family Commitments
To create the best learning environment for students in the virtual environment, we ask that students and families commit to the following:
- Attend all classes and communicate with teachers if an absence is needed.
- Review feedback from your teachers on a regular basis.
- If you need additional support, please contact your advisor and teacher so we can work together across DSST campuses.
- For seniors considering concurrent enrollment courses, please work with your DSST College Success team's college application manager to determine if concurrent enrollment is the best fit.
Enrollment Process
|
August 18-21 |
August 24-28 |
September 4 - September 14 |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuesday, August 18: The application for course enrollment opens. Thursday, August 20 at 12pm: Optional office hours for students or families that would like to understand their options. Friday, August 21 by 5pm: Seniors who have applied to pilot credit courses and are selected will receive updated schedules. Additional applications for pilot credit courses will be accepted on a rolling basis. |
Monday, August 24: All students are reminded about opt-ins. Tuesday and Wednesday August 25 & 26: Additional Office hours for students and families interested in opt-in courses. Thursday August 27: Application closes for all courses. |
Friday, September 4: Students notified of opt-ins programs they have been enrolled in. Friday, September 11: Teachers of opt-in exploration courses will share course information, including a syllabus and Google Classroom code with families and students. Monday, September 14: First week of opt-in exploration classes start. |
Course Offerings
Open Enrollment Courses Open to Grades 9-12
The following courses are offered to students in grade 9-12 as exploration courses. These courses do not count towards DSST graduation credit, and will occur either before or after school, or during lunch. Each course will last for the trimester. Students should enroll in these courses if they are interested in learning more about the content area.
|
Days and Times |
Course Name |
Teacher |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mondays 3:15-4:15 starting 9/14 | Space Exploration and Other Worlds | Jennie King- Advanced Engineering and AP Physics Teacher at DSST: GVR | This course begins with an overview of what is in the night sky. The course will cover topics such as current and future space exploration, how to apply to become an astronaut or work in the space industry. Finally, the course will investigate the most intriguing mysteries of the universe, including black holes, parallel universes, and the search for extraterrestrial life. |
|
Tuesdays 3:15-4:15 starting 9/15 |
Creative Writing Workshop - Poetry |
Michael Kreger- Senior Manager of Campus Leader Development at DSST's Home Office |
This course will meet weekly in a small-group setting to learn about various poetic forms and poetics. Students will engage in in-class writing prompts as well as work on creating a series of poems outside of class time. Each week, the class will also engage in a college-style poetry workshop providing feedback on poems written by 1 student from the class. A focus on poetry's power to critique, comment on and/or disrupt systems of power will be present throughout the course. |
|
Tuesdays 3:15-4:15 starting 9/15 |
Financial Literacy |
Aka Denjongpa- Manager of Entrepreneurial Studies (E-Ship) at DSST's Home Office |
This course is grounded in understanding financial concepts and how the economy works and does not. Students will understand how the economy can be a system of oppression and implement some active solutions. This course will include exposure to budgeting, banking including credit, developing goals, performing analysis, starting passive income, creating a retirement plan, and tracking and celebrating successes. |
| Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:15-4:15 starting 9/15 | Speech and Debate | Joah Chun- Manager of Talent Acquisition at DSST's Home Office |
Speech and Debate is a place to hone your public speaking in any realm - if you want to practice acting, speaking, researching, or you just like arguing, we're going to spend time in this opt-in course developing skills that you can use every day. You will also have an opportunity to participate in Speech and Debate tournaments this year (given your willingness).
|
|
Thursdays 3:15-4:15 starting 9/17 |
Black Cultural Studies |
Keena Day- Senior Manager of Humanities at DSST's Home Office |
This course is designed to serve as a survey of Black cultural studies and philosophy including literary theory and history. A variety of opportunities to explore personal identity through collaborative discussions are a hallmark of this course. Outside reading to prepare for class content is required. |
| TBD after-school two days a week |
Mass Media Concurrent Enrollment
|
DSST in partnership with Western Colorado University | An examination of media-related industries (broadcasting, journalism, advertising, public relations and online communications), and the issues related to those industries that affect contemporary public discourse. Learn more about the course and Western at https://western.edu/program/communication-arts/. Students will have the opportunity to earn college credit through this course. |
Senior Course Offerings Only
The following courses are offered to seniors only as courses that will count for DSST graduation credit as well as potential college credit. Use the embedded links to watch a video describing the courses. The following abbreviations will be used:
- AP= Advanced Placement
- CE= Concurrent Enrollment through Western Colorado University
|
Period(s) Offered |
Course Name |
College Credit Type |
DSST Graduation Credit Type |
Teacher |
Open Seats Expected |
Student Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
AP |
STEM Elective |
Schuyler Fishman - College View HS |
2 |
B or above in Biology in 11th grade or 3 or above on the AP Biology test. |
|
|
1 or 3 |
Physics C |
AP |
STEM Elective |
Sarah Gendron- Byers HS |
15 |
B minimum in Precalc or AB Calc the previous year. |
|
1 or 3 |
CE |
Math |
Mark Heffron- College View HS |
20 |
B+ through trimester 2 or stronger in Algebra 2 |
|
|
4 or 5 |
CE |
STEM Elective |
Schuyler Fishman- College View High School |
15 |
B or above in biology in 11th grade. |
|
|
4 |
Music Theory |
AP |
Fine Arts |
Mike Lang- Byers HS |
20 |
Previous experience reading and playing music, ability to practice daily. |
|
5 |
AP |
STEM Elective |
Hilary Walker- Montview HS |
3 |
B minimum in Precalc or AB Calc the previous year. |
Questions
For questions about the Opt-ins program, please email Lauren Jones-Kaplan at opt.ins@scienceandtech.org Please include your students’ name and campus in emails for faster response.
Make sure to attend one of the following office hours for additional Question & Answer opportunities. RSVP by emailing opt.ins@scienceandtech.org. You can join the Q&A via Teams by using the link here or you can join by phone by calling 312-667-7145 and using Conference ID: 846 557 984#
- Thursday, August 20 from 12-1pm
- Tuesday, August 25 from 4:15-5:15pm
- Wednesday, August 26 from 11:45-12:45pm
If you cannot join an office hours but would like to review a recording, watch the section below.
