21st Century Learning
DESA is a leader in offering innovative learning experience as a means to prepare students for a 21st century global economy. We are the only school in Dallas ISD offering Gateway to Technology as part of our curriculum. The Gateway To Technology® (GTT) cutting-edge program addresses the interest and energy of middle school students, while incorporating national standards in mathematics, science, and technology. GTT is activity oriented to show students how technology is used in engineering to solve everyday problems in units of study. There are currently four instructional units that excite and motivate students to use their imaginations and teach them to be creative and innovative, while gaining the skills they need to develop, produce, and use products and services.
The GTT curriculum provides project-based learninga hands-on approach–that is exciting and fun for the full-range of students in todays grade 6 8 classrooms and that relates technology to students daily lives. It also promotes communication and collaboration by emphasizing a teaming approach in the instructional units. This approach utilizes the strengths of each team member to accomplish the goals of the project, while offering students learning challenges at all ability levels.
The mathematics, science, and technology integrated GTT program helps students develop and hone skills in middle school that enable them to enter the high school program with foundation knowledge and skills for success in pre-engineering. Although not intended as an introduction to the Project Lead The Way® pre-engineering high school program, many schools report improved interest in the high school program because of GTT.
Gateway To Technology® – GTT harnesses the enthusiasm and energy of middle school students. The program focuses on showing, not telling, students how to use engineering skills to solve everyday problems. Students won’t ask, “Will I ever have to use this in real life?” because they will be applying their skills as they learn them. The primary focus is on stronger math, science, and technology inquiry skills. Project Lead the Way Website