What Is It:
A two-week summer Governor's School Program that provides a variety of hands-on activities in one of three subject areas selected by the student. Students spend time in the field, in labs, on tours, and with successful authors, scientists, and graphic designers. Students must attend both weeks in one program subject.
History of the Program:
The program was implemented in the summer
of 1986, serving 40 students in a Science/Math component and 20 in Theater Arts.
For 1986 - 88 students in the Science/Math component were given the opportunity
to select three science/math courses from a listing of twenty classes. In 1989 a
unified course employing lecture, laboratory observations, and computer modeling
and simulations was developed by David A. Smith, Associate Professor of
Mathematics and Physics at VHCC, for the math/science portion of the Governor's
School. A team teaching approach designed to introduce an interdisciplinary
concept (math, science, and computers) is used in the course. Starting in 1999,
the second year of the program consisted of a Precalculus course with a strong
mathematical modeling component, delivered via a combination of computerized
multimedia materials and interaction, both face-to-face and computer mediated,
with the lead instructor. The Play Analysis and Production component, designed
and implemented by Mr. William Van Keyser, Associate Professor of Theater Arts,
has not changed. In 2007, due to low enrollment, the second year math component
was replaced by a Computer Technology component. The Governor's School at Virginia Highlands has operated
twenty years.