Pathway Ideas The courses would start with the initial math class for students which can be anything from algebra to geometry, etc. An option down the road is to offer a business algebra class (there are approved courses via UC's own sponsored programs), which would then be followed by the Business Accounting course (still pending UC approval), then the Business Economics course which could include the capstone project and/or add the Career and Workplace Readiness Course as the capstone, giving the students some options. Another option might be to add a business law course as well.

The goal for next year is to: (1) get both the courses on the UC approved list; (2) find backers and finalize the pathway with the Board (mostly done already); (3) start marketing the course early in the year in conjunction with the Career Class; (4) have partner set up for the course for the 13-14 school year including possible new computers to run the accounting software for that portion of the course.

This year has been a lot of research and collecting resources for the accounting courses and the business part of the course. Have found some open source and free books (to our students) that will work for the course and once the school year is over will be spending most of the summer time getting the syllabus and projects all prepared and ready for the 13-14 year while revising the current Business Math and Economics courses to accommodate and use the as test runs for the other projects. In the Business Math will be adding in some accounting activities and test out the software that will hoped to be used the next year. Again, 90% is open source or limited source and the goal is to find local companies willing to allow the course to use their materials as testing centers and it can be a win-win for them -- if the students know their products and then go into businesses, they would be able to offer the product as an alternative.

I have also purchased most copies of the the current accounting textbooks and workbooks so that I will be able to develop and adapt the open-source textbooks that I have found to be sure that they are covering all of the same items. The open source textbooks are totally available online as pdf's to view. If the students want to download or print them, they will have to pay a fee. We may be able to work out something to assist in that cost or just charge a fee to get the access for them like we do for shop fees in other classes. If the students just want to access online, then it's free. They just have to register and for some of the sites, download a specialized reader program. I have not tested with various devices but hope to this summer as I have friends who have kindle fires as I only have the apple tablets.

On the business end I have found a website that takes students through the process of starting a business including writing a lesson plan that is totally free and open. This aspect of the course for economics will be added into the international summit simulation when we are talking about how to increase the gross domestic product per capita. Students will be given the option to start their own company or to do an in-depth analysis of the current status comparing the U.S. and global economy and to make specific recommendations as to what U.S. companies would and should invest in the countries they have been assigned. I have found some textbooks for the business part of the course that also are open source and have the same online reading and download for a fee structure.

I am very excited about the possibilities and will continue to share the class outlines as I get them updated. With the end of the year, I am new to this whole process and it's a bit more intense than at the middle school. I will have the revised business economics done and ready to upload before the end of the year so we can try it again and will be available this summer to revise as needed should it be necessary.

This year has also been about getting to know the high school students, the culture, the flow of the year with regards to special things to think about -- like that with seniors you have to get things done a bit earlier than if with other grades--, have done some home-hospital and learned that system, and tried to get involved in the culture of the school and really putting my students' first. It's a much more intense and different mixture than the middle school -- counts a bit more. Next year, there will be a bit more balance and I now know what they can and cannot handle academically. Looking forward to rolling out the new curriculum and then seeing the pathway blossom in 13-14.