Which magnet for hands-on work and projects?

[Anonymous]

DC is in 7th and we are looking ahead to applications next year. In reading all the discussions about magnets we are confused about which one would be best for a student who likes longer projects and hands-on work. We heard from other parents that RM seems like a lot of lectures and so do the SMCS programs. Would you recommend your child's magnet for this kind of child?

[Anonymous]

Poolesville SMCS has Research and Experimentation as kind of a shop class to work alongside physics, chemistry and computer science classes and the kids can apply stuff outside of a book. My daughter loved learning how to use all the saws and tools and she can solder a PCB much cleaner than I can, and I'm a pretty big dork. I believe there are many more engineering design type classes throughout the curriculum which is why my kid chose SMCS over RMIB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is in 7th and we are looking ahead to applications next year. In reading all the discussions about magnets we are confused about which one would be best for a student who likes longer projects and hands-on work. We heard from other parents that RM seems like a lot of lectures and so do the SMCS programs. Would you recommend your child's magnet for this kind of child?

Wheaton PLTW Biomedical Engineering

[Anonymous]

Can you give some examples of Wheaton PLTW?

[Anonymous]

Wheaton Engineering. Engineering classes are very hands on. Blair magnet has some hands on but is more theory based overall. Had kids at both. RM would have mist theory (didn't have a kid there, but went through all accepted student info sessions and had friends there).

My engineering kid is loving Wheaton, but program is very engineering focused., so kid would have to want to or at least be willing to try a program that has 1-2 engineering classes every year. Good applied club opportunities too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is in 7th and we are looking ahead to applications next year. In reading all the discussions about magnets we are confused about which one would be best for a student who likes longer projects and hands-on work. We heard from other parents that RM seems like a lot of lectures and so do the SMCS programs. Would you recommend your child's magnet for this kind of child?

The career and technology programs at Seneca Valley HS:

Automotive Technology ~ Automotive Trades Foundation
Academy of Health Professions (AOHP)*
Business Administration
Career Readiness Education Academy (CREA)
Child Development
College/Career Research & Development
Construction & Architecture ~ Construction Trades Foundation
Cybersecurity
Hospitality & Tourism Management
IB Career Certificate Program
Information Technology
Internships
Law Enforcement & Leadership
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) - Engineering

Also the Montgomery County Fire Rescue Training Academy, for the Fire Fighting Track and the EMS Track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is in 7th and we are looking ahead to applications next year. In reading all the discussions about magnets we are confused about which one would be best for a student who likes longer projects and hands-on work. We heard from other parents that RM seems like a lot of lectures and so do the SMCS programs. Would you recommend your child's magnet for this kind of child?

Wheaton PLTW Biomedical Engineering

FYI The program is not Biomedical Engineering. There is the biomedical science program (often shortened to bioscience) and then there is the engineering program. I agree, though, that these programs are very hands-on, have a lot of group projects and there is a senior capstone project.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know about Blair SMCS?

[Anonymous]

I've had kids in Global+PLTW, RMIB, SMCS. I would recommend Poolesville's Global Ecology program as being pretty hands-on with field trips and projects, combined with the PLTW sequence there for the engineering piece. Otherwise, Wheaton PLTW magnets (both Engineering and Bio) were good for friends. If you are upcounty, Seneca Valley offers a variety of interesting courses - PLTW, IB, and the specific certification programs. Flexible for kids I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wheaton Engineering. Engineering classes are very hands on. Blair magnet has some hands on but is more theory based overall. Had kids at both. RM would have mist theory (didn't have a kid there, but went through all accepted student info sessions and had friends there).

My engineering kid is loving Wheaton, but program is very engineering focused., so kid would have to want to or at least be willing to try a program that has 1-2 engineering classes every year. Good applied club opportunities too.

By theory do you mean mostly classroom lectures?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wheaton Engineering. Engineering classes are very hands on. Blair magnet has some hands on but is more theory based overall. Had kids at both. RM would have mist theory (didn't have a kid there, but went through all accepted student info sessions and had friends there).

My engineering kid is loving Wheaton, but program is very engineering focused., so kid would have to want to or at least be willing to try a program that has 1-2 engineering classes every year. Good applied club opportunities too.

By theory do you mean mostly classroom lectures?

I mean classes that are theoretical in nature. Linear Alg doing proofs vs civil engineering designing roof structures. Perhaps more lecture involved but not entirely sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in Global+PLTW, RMIB, SMCS. I would recommend Poolesville's Global Ecology program as being pretty hands-on with field trips and projects, combined with the PLTW sequence there for the engineering piece. Otherwise, Wheaton PLTW magnets (both Engineering and Bio) were good for friends. If you are upcounty, Seneca Valley offers a variety of interesting courses - PLTW, IB, and the specific certification programs. Flexible for kids I think.

The biggest issue with Global is it's in this remote corner of the county that means an hour+ bus ride each way every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know about Blair SMCS?

It's a standard STEM curriculum but the engineering class is where you apply a lot of the theory by building things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in Global+PLTW, RMIB, SMCS. I would recommend Poolesville's Global Ecology program as being pretty hands-on with field trips and projects, combined with the PLTW sequence there for the engineering piece. Otherwise, Wheaton PLTW magnets (both Engineering and Bio) were good for friends. If you are upcounty, Seneca Valley offers a variety of interesting courses - PLTW, IB, and the specific certification programs. Flexible for kids I think.

The biggest issue with Global is it's in this remote corner of the county that means an hour+ bus ride each way every day.

That depends on where you live, doesn't it? Not everybody lives that far from Poolesville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wheaton Engineering. Engineering classes are very hands on. Blair magnet has some hands on but is more theory based overall. Had kids at both. RM would have mist theory (didn't have a kid there, but went through all accepted student info sessions and had friends there).

My engineering kid is loving Wheaton, but program is very engineering focused., so kid would have to want to or at least be willing to try a program that has 1-2 engineering classes every year. Good applied club opportunities too.

Is there a robotics club at Wheaton