Project Related Information
Businesses interested in providing or partnering on a project are vital to Venture.
Think about important projects in your company, that just aren’t quite top of the list. What if a team of students could bring their unique perspective to advance your corporate priorities? We think you’ll be amazed by their energy and innovation.
We desire to provide learning in the context of real-world experiences, interactions and partnerships. In a traditional classroom, students are given large amounts of knowledge but at times reduced context for that knowledge. Studies show that students learn best in active learning environments where they are collaborating with peers, employing curiosity, and applying things they are learning in the context of hands on projects. The Venture Academics program offered at Linn-Mar Community School district seeks to give students the opportunity to practice applying knowledge to real world problems and projects. Sometimes these projects might come from the classroom. Sometimes that may come directly from your business.
Students have a need to authentically explore subject areas of interest and our community has a need for skilled workers to enter the workforce. We need workers who have knowledge and an ability to apply it, take initiative, collaborate and work well with others. Venture gives students the space to grow in these valuable skills while interacting with local businesses through projects and mentor relationships.
Venture Projects can originate in two ways.
First, students and teachers often develop projects that best align with their areas (strands) of study. Businesses are important partners to supporting these projects and form important relationships to support this kind of project/problem based learning.
Click here to learn about project ideas that may align with this kind of learning.
Advanced Business:
Design, build, license, and market an innovative new product that solves a problem.
Advanced Business:
Research successful entrepreneurs. Apply identified skills and processes entrepreneurs use to create success to a personal business venture.
Behavioral Science:
- Work with local government and non-profit organizations to explore the social constructs/ institutions that dominate American culture.
- Journal and reflect on terms/ideas of personality development, individual roles within society, and social norms, and publish findings.
Business Foundations:
- Work with a local business to create and execute a marketing plan to increase sales of existing products.
- Collaborate with local businesses. Review business plans and assist with refinement and execution of modifications.
Earth Science:
- Create or improve a process for energy capture and conversion for carbon-free power.
- Research the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Mines and Minerals Bureau to learn about abandoned mined (coal) land reclamation in the State. Educate the public about restoration of abandoned mining sites.
Environmental Science:
- Monitor the level of contaminants in area waterways. Develop and implement methods to decrease pollutants through the natural filtering of run-off.
- Design, build, and test a reinvention or innovation for a material that is typically discarded at the end of its use.
Government and Law:
- Analyze current methods of political polling, hypothesize improvements, recreate, and pilot a new system to improve polling accuracy.
- Prepare for and participate in a mock Constitutional Convention to debate and clarify our Bill of Rights.
Digital Design and Communication:
- Acquire advanced understanding and application of industry standard design tools through project-based learning. Utilize conventional design aesthetics and processes to visually engage and communicate. Experience relevant job roles and responsibilities including idea conceptualization, design, communication, collaboration, and project implementation.
Health:
- Collect information, analyze, and form factual generalizations about local diet. Use the information to educate residents about community dietary health.
- Create and deliver a public service campaign on the dangers of specific substance use and abuse.
Life Science:
- Prepare and perform a study on a local ecosystem. Collect and present data on changes to the ecosystem over time.
- Research examples of natural selection and adaptation. Prepare a presentation describing the influence of genetic variation and survival on the population of species.
Writing:
- Influence a cause about which you are passionate through serial publication of persuasive writing.
- Work with a local business or government agency to provide research on a topic of mutual interest. Write formally and informally to communicate findings to business and community.