2017 EDUCATION MAGAZINE

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Page 40 2017 EDUCATION MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS MARCH 1, 2017
design process through
electrical, chemical and
biomedical engineering.
Students grades seventh
and eighth think big
while going small
in MicroSTEM, the
exploration of the
STEM of tiny things
from microwaves,
to molecules, to
circuits and code.
Harnessing the power
of smartphones and
innovative scope
lenses, students will
find the answers to the
most microscopic of
conundrums.
IMSA also offers an online
research study program called
Research, Inquiry Skills &
Experimentation (RISE) for all
students in Illinois. RISE enables
students from across the state to
conduct in-depth research on a
subject of their choice, learning all
of the research methods necessary
and presenting their research
outcomes at events throughout the
state.
IMSA’s STEM outreach programs
that delve deep into fascinating
STEM subjects for both students
and educators are a direct result of
the exceptional STEM education
model taught at the residential
academy in Aurora, Illinois.
Founded 30 years ago, by a group
of pioneering, innovative scientists
and educators, with the support
of progressive-thinking state
officials, IMSA continues to lead
the nation in STEM education
and was recently ranked the #2
public high school in the country
by . Niche is similar to
the U.S. News and World Reports
university ranking for K-12
schools. Specifically, IMSA had
the best teachers nationally, placed
first in STEM within Illinois and
second for STEM education across
the nation.
With an emphasis on advanced
science, technology, engineering
and mathematics classes, IMSA
provides educational experiences to
students at the residential academy
that they may not have access to at
their home schools. Additionally,
IMSA employs Google’s 80/20
model – with 80% of coursework
following traditional studies and
20% allocated to independent
research on topics specific to each
students’ individual interests.
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