Urbandale High School Students Training To Solve Real-World Problems

From Urbandale Community Schools:

Continuing the strategic focus on transforming education throughout the Urbandale Community School District, a team of Urbandale High Student TEAMS (training, evaluation, analyzing, measuring, and systems) learn about quality principles and tools in order to collaborate, analyze, and solve a set problem.

Students then have the opportunity to take what they’ve learned and apply it in their everyday lives. Training will take place at Urbandale High School, January 16 – 18, 2013.

Student TEAMS training is a collaborative effort between the Iowa Quality Center, Langford International, The Quality Network, and Grant Wood Area Education Agency. The training was developed by David P. Langford, Langford International, based on research that determined students learn best when immersed in the process of learning and constantly involved in critical thinking that can be applied to real-world problems. View the Iowa Quality Center video on Student TEAMS training.

“I was first made aware of this program two years ago as I observed a group of high school students from Cedar Rapids Kennedy present the results of their work with a business in the Cedar Rapids area. I believe this will be a great experience for these students, providing them real-life learning and tools that will help prepare them for college and career,” said Dr. Doug Stilwell, Superintendent, Urbandale Community School District.

Typically, Student TEAMS work directly with businesses, but in this case, Urbandale students will be working on the problem of connecting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines in schools. Solving challenges using critical thinking and quality tools is yet another way Urbandale schools are preparing students for a lifetime of success.

About Iowa Quality Center
Formed in 1993, the Woods Quality Center began as a shared vision of a total quality environment for the entire community, including business and industry, schools, government, nonprofit organizations, labor unions, and the service and retail industries. In 2001 the name was changed to the Iowa Quality Center (IQC) as a result of a new state-wide focus. Today, IQC has over 180 member organizations with more than 48,000 individual members representing government, manufacturing, business, education, labor, retail, service, and healthcare organizations. While the IQC staff is based in Marion, its networking groups, consultation, and membership activities take place throughout the state. For more information, visit:
www.iowaqc.org