Since 2009, the FMS Technology Department organizes the 21CL Technology Expo, a yearly event for middle and high school students to showcase projects created throughout the school year, and that utilized the technology that FMS makes available.
Each middle school submits six projects, while Farmington High School and Piedra Vista High School each submit twelve projects. Typically, every year, between 50 and 75 students participate in either solo or group projects.
“The student-created projects are always fun, and creative, and all demonstrate 21st Century Skills of communication, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, and collaboration. The projects help our students consider the kind of world they’ll enter after graduation and what skills they’ll need to be successful, which include conveying ideas quickly and clearly, curiosity, personal expression, and teamwork, to name just a few,” said Eli Thomas, FMS District Technology Specialist.
The Technology Department started the FLI Showcase (as 21CL Technology Expo was first called) in the Spring of 2009, which was the first year of the Farmington Learning Initiative or FLI – the 1-1 initiative provided laptops for all 6th-8th grade students in our district.
To assist students with their projects, our middle schools and high schools have a site coordinator that submits the best student project, which then represents the school in the District Tech Expo. The 21CL is not a competition, but rather a showcase of the best projects throughout the district. Historically the showcase has been an in-person event, held in center court at the Animas Valley Mall, but since 2020 it has shifted to a virtual event due to the pandemic.
More to come.
Participants will be awarded a certificate along with a gift bag containing numerous freebies and coupons donated from local businesses. All participants are also entered into a random drawing to win bigger prizes by the FMS Technology Department.
The projects will be available for viewing on Friday, May 13, at this link: https://21cltechexpo.com
Top photo: One of four winning posters for this year’s expo. All posters were designed by FMS students.