MVSD Selected for Disney Imagination Campus

MVSD Selected for Disney Imagination Campus
Posted on 06/09/2023
Beginning next school year, fifth and eighth grade students in the Mountain View School District (MVSD) will be discovering the science behind Disney theme park attractions at the greatest science laboratories in the world – the Disney Parks.
MVSD was one of four school districts in Los Angeles County selected to participate in the Disney Imagination Campus. 
     “The Disney partnership is in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) and their Technology Enhanced Arts Learning (TEAL) project,” said Dr. Jeff Lagozzino, MVSD’s Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. “We are one of four districts in Los Angeles County invited to participate in this endeavor over the next three years supported by funding from the AB 181/185 Arts Block Grant.” 
     The unique curriculum and learning environment at the Disney Imagination Campus fosters creative thinking, fearless exploration and, Disney magic. Disney’s mission is to provide students with the tools they need to express themselves creatively and academically and to prepare them for real-world challenges. Students will learn from Disney Imagineering – one of the world’s most creative organizations – how science and technology are used to create favorite attractions like Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. 
     Fifth graders will be participating in Technology of Disneyland Parks, working with Disney Imagineers, learning about theme park design. Students will get an inside look at how Disney Imagineers dream, design, and use technology to enhance the Guest experience. From audio-animatronics to light and sound effects, students will learn why technology is the most valuable and most challenging tool to integrate into daily theme park operations. 
     Eighth graders will take part in Physics of Disney Parks at Disney’s California Adventure Park, learning how the laws of physics are applied to every element of the theme park experience. Students will investigate the role that properties such as Newton’s Laws of Motion, potential & kinetic energy, gravity, and more, play in the design and operation of popular theme park attractions. 
     The Imagination Campus experiences are three-hour, hands-on, collaborative learning experiences that promote creative thinking, problem-solving, and the communication of ideas and address several key State Standards in the arts, humanities, science, and technology. 
     “We are very excited to provide this excellent opportunity for our students to interact directly with Disney professionals,” said Lagozzino. “The science and technology curriculum they offer is amazing and will support our students to become both creative and critical thinkers.” 
     In addition to the three-hour workshops at Disney’s Imagination Campus, students will have a full-day pass to explore the theme parks. 
     According to Rabia Minhas, MVSD’s Director of STEAM and GATE, the Disney Imagination Campus experience supports the four C’s of Common Core as students are heavily engaged in collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. 
     “This is an exciting STEAM opportunity incorporating the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math of park rides and attractions, as well as what goes into the designing of the park itself. Our team was very impressed with our initial meeting and is excited about the opportunity and possibility this collaboration will provide for our students,” said Minhas, who along with MVSD Board Members and District administrators toured the Disney Imagination Campus in early May.
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