Two in one: a look at dual enrollment courses

Aragon introduced three new dual enrollment classes this year: Introduction to Business, College and Career Planning and Introduction to Kinesiology. These will join preexisting dual enrollment classes, Biotechnology and Digital Video Production. Dual enrollment classes are designed to offer collegiate  level classes and college credit to Aragon students. Last year, students were polled during schedule programming to determine what dual enrollment courses they’d be most interested in, and it was revealed that students wanted additional science courses, business and career exploration courses.

Introduction to Kinesiology, taught by College of San Mateo instructor Andrew Silva, is a one-semester course that covers the study of human movement. Offering up to three college credits, the class covers biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor skills and the different professions within the field of Kinesiology. 

“I teach the same class on campus at CSM, so the way I teach and the assignments and assessments [are essentially] the same on both campuses”

“I teach the same class on campus at CSM, so the way I teach and the assignments and assessments [are essentially] the same on both campuses,” said Silva. “This is a college class [but] it just so happens that we’ve opened it up to current high school students, and we’re just teaching at a high school.”

Introduction to Business is a one-semester class that focuses on the primary functions of business while evaluating critical business topics. This new course is taught by Christoph Heiss, who also teaches at CSM. 

“It’s quite different from teaching at a college because I find that the students at Aragon are very bright and focused on learning, while some college students can no longer afford to be as focused on studying because they got other aspects of life,” Heiss said. “Some of my students at CSM have children and [others] are in their 30s or 40s, so it’s a very different group.”

“I find that the students at Aragon are very bright and focused on learning, while some college students can no longer afford to be as focused on studying because they got other aspects of life”

College and Career Planning is a full-year course that focuses on student interests regarding a future career path while evaluating their own personal values and skills through exploration of careers. While the first semester course, College Planning and Life Exploration, focuses on personal interests, the second semester course, College Success, intends to help students career plan and focuses on college. This course is taught by academic counselors Josephine Ho and Lea Sanguinetti.

“If a student ends up [at] a four-year college or at CSM, they can use [College and Career Planning].” Ho said. ”Then they would be going into college with at least three units [of] college credits.”  

In previous years, Aragon only provided two dual enrollment classes, which are both considered Career Technical Education courses. Biotechnology courses have a partnership with Skyline Community College that provides college credits for a full year class. Biotechnology 1 includes lab work, techniques in recombinant DNA and protein production and an introduction to Standard Laboratory Operating procedures while preparing students for future research.

“I really liked the hands-on experience biotechnology came with. The biotech instruments I learned to work with made me learn more about myself and how I learn best”

“In Biotech I learned more about the employment aspect,” said senior Jayla Ortiz. “For example, I never knew cover letters were used along with your resume and how companies evaluate you with it. I really liked the hands-on experience biotechnology came with. The biotech instruments I learned to work with made me learn more about myself and how I learn best.”

The other dual enrollment course, Digital Video Production, teaches students how to make professional level video productions, filming techniques and puts these skills into practice through school-wide video announcements.

With the new addition of dual enrollment classes at Aragon, in addition to those that were already offered, students can further explore different interests and the possibility of a career path.