CTE ASCEND Highlight: Computer Science Pathway
The transition out of high school can be tricky. This is why Oregon Charter Academy (ORCA) works hard to prepare students for life after high school by offering a curriculum that teaches students broad skills to help them thrive in a global and technologically advanced society. We also focus considerable attention on our career and technical education (CTE) program, ASCEND, which teaches students industry-specific skills in five distinct pathways that they can transfer directly to their post-secondary education or careers.
Here we’ll take a deeper look at our computer science pathway and explore how our students benefit from this rigorous course of study.
The ASCEND Computer Science Pathway
A career in computer science can be more than just programming. So, we’ve developed a curriculum that introduces students to various computer science-related topics so they can hone in on what interests them most.
Beginner Courses
Students who want to try out the ASCEND computer science pathway begin by taking courses that don’t require any previous experience, like game design, digital literacy, and foundational computer science courses. These entry-level classes allow students to explore the subject and decide if they want to delve deeper.
Intermediate Courses
As students advance through the computer science pathway, their areas of study begin to diverge. During the intermediate phase, some students will explore programming by learning the Python coding language. This option includes lots of critical thinking as students work in labs to understand how their programming relates to hardware like robots and sensors. Other students will begin moving through our cybersecurity curriculum and learn how to protect networks, computer systems, and data from hackers and other malicious threats.
Advanced Courses
Students who have completed the first two phases of our computer science pathway spend the first semester of their senior year studying for the IT Fundamentals Certification test. This exam covers everything IT, including hardware, software, databases, and programming. Seniors take the exam in January and receive their certificate if they pass. The exam is challenging, and students who earn this certification demonstrate a skill set that most first-year college students or people entering their careers don’t have. Highly motivated ASCEND students can also earn secondary certifications by taking the CompTIA networking or PC Pro certification exams.
During their second semester, ASCEND computer science students focus on work-based learning. Some students obtain outside internships and receive school credit for working at least 20 hours during the semester. Other students become employees in ORCA’s simulated work environment, where they learn how to clock in, communicate with their managers, complete project tickets, and receive performance reviews, just like they would in an actual IT work setting.
Extracurricular Opportunities
In addition to classroom work, students can explore their interest in computer science through our extracurricular clubs. Many ORCA students first learn about the computer science pathway in our coding club, which kids in every grade level can join. The coding club exposes students to computer science topics at a young age and cultivates broader interest in our ASCEND programs as they move into high school. Several ASCEND students also participate on our esports team, which provides social opportunities while gaming and builds teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.
In addition, all ASCEND pathways are associated with SkillsUSA, a national CTE organization that encourages students to develop leadership skills. ORCA is also actively developing a National Technical Honor Society club that will only be open to ASCEND program participants with a 3.0 grade point average or higher. This new club will be another avenue for students to access resources and career development opportunities.
Ready for College or a Career
At the end of the computer science pathway, students will have gained extensive technical knowledge, third-party certification, and real-world work experience. Before graduation, they’ll prepare updated resumes and write an essay about their experience. They’ll also create a presentation to share what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown through the process.
As these students move on to college or begin their careers, they'll discover that what they learned in ORCA's computer science pathway was more than just career education; it applies to everything they do in modern society. They'll be comfortable adapting to new technology, working in teams, communicating effectively with their bosses, and relaying important information in detail. Those skills will provide an edge that will help them successfully transition out of high school and into whatever comes next.
Join Us for a Virtual Info Session
If you'd like to learn more about ORCA's ASCEND program, our computer science pathway, or our approach to virtual learning, join one of our virtual information sessions to connect with ORCA staff and preview our learning platform. We hope to see you there!