News

February 11, 2019

This website ‘virus’ spreads knowledge for P-TECH students

It may seem a far-fetched idea, but students in the Capital Region BOCES Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) are combining epidemics and diseases with computer technology to expand their knowledge of both.

Students in the innovative high school’s west campus at the Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonasen are studying how the development of society influenced the evolution of pathogens and diseases and how diseases are spread. Students are simultaneously learning how computer coding works and the processes necessary to create a website. Using the information garnered from their medical research, as well as their new coding knowledge, students will then create informative websites about the various pathogens.

The interactive websites will be formatted in a “Web MD” style and include information about symptoms, treatment and prevention and why knowledge about the disease is important.

“I really like the project because we are learning in-depth and doing it while actually working on a project and building a website,” said freshman Andre Byrd of the Schenectady City School District.

“Building the website gives you a better understanding of the pathogen and diseases and teaches us valuable skills that we can use in our careers,” added classmate Ethan Gonelly, also from Schlamont.

Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School game design and implementation students will serve as mentors to the P-TECH students, providing insight and assistance as the P-TECH students design their websites.

“This is a great example of collaboration between different Capital Region BOCES schools and provides an excellent opportunity for students to share their knowledge with their peers while at the same time cementing that knowledge,” said P-TECH Principal Makensie Bullinger.

P-TECH is an innovative four- to six-year program (grades 9-14) offered to students throughout the region through a consortium that includes Capital Region BOCES, the Capital Region Chamber, Hudson Valley Community College and SUNY Schenectady County Community College. The program has two campuses – east campus is at Watervliet High School, west campus at the Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonason – and provides pathways for students to earn free college degrees in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity.

The P-TECH curriculum focuses on engaging students in hands-on, project-based learning – such as coding – to be successful in careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and providing students with workplace skills that will ensure success, no matter the career path they are applied to. Through the program, business partners provide students access to cutting-edge technologies and innovations that allow them to see the real-world application of the knowledge they are gaining at P-TECH.

Applications are being accepted now for 2019-20 school year. For more information, go to https://www.capitalregionboces.org/capital-region-p-tech/.