SUMMER 2014     

13  

New STEM Entrepreneurial Program is Laguna’s newest tool 
in 21st century skill development 

This fall, Laguna Blanca School will launch a formal STEM (science, 
technology, engineering, and math) program for students in grades 
EK-12. Although this is the development year, there will be three new 
STEM elective offerings in the Middle and Upper Schools. One of these 
new courses—coding for seventh through ninth grade—has been added
to foster a love of technology and create a solid design and coding 
foundation. This course will allow students to continue to build upon skills 
in computer systems, digital design, and project management with an 
emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving. Through complex team 
based, hands-on projects, students will have the chance to design, plan, 
execute, and review their projects—just as they would in the “real world.”
They will use coding standards, pair coding, code reviews, advanced source 
code management, and other collaboration tools to bring projects to life.
 April Browne, the new coding instructor, will also be working with Middle 
School and Lower School teachers to leverage the coding curriculum in 
multidisciplinary ways, such as integrating coding into our fifth and sixth 
grade computer curriculum, introducing project-based LeGO® Mindstorm
robotics in sixth grade, and supporting pre-algebra instruction with 
mathematical concepts of coding projects and activities. Students will 
even have the chance to attend field trips and seminars to gain a greater 
understanding of all of the amazing things possible in the coding world.
 In addition to the new coding course, the school is offering engineering 
for both Middle and Upper School students. 

CRACKING THE CODE

130344_LB_summer 2014_EM.indd 13

9/5/14 5:18 PM