Hello! I’m Luna Ramirez, and I’m delighted to be your CTE Teacher at Thomas A. Edison High School, NYCDOE. I also have the privilege of being an Adjunct Professor at CUNY Queensborough Community College, a Math for America Fellow, and a Code.org Facilitator.

I’m truly excited to share my passion for technology and engineering with you. I specialize in teaching subjects like Web/App/Game Design, Network Communications, Computer Repair, and Robotics. Some of my favorite things are: 🍱 🐶 🎮 👾 💙 💤 🔭 🌃 🗽 🌅 ⛄ 🚀 🛶 🛷 🌎

I can’t wait to get to know each of you and embark on this exciting learning journey together. Let’s dive into the world of software engineering with enthusiasm and curiosity!

Our program prepares students for industry-recognized certifications, enhancing their resumes and career prospects:

• Unity Certified Programmer: Validates foundational C# scripting and Unity development skills.
• Unity Certified Artist: Focuses on creating and optimizing art assets within Unity.
• IT Specialist HTML5 Certification: Demonstrates proficiency in HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
• Python Certification: Confirms fundamental Python programming knowledge.

Students actively participate in various annual competitions, fostering creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills:

• Emoticon Design League: A design competition focusing on UI/UX principles using Figma.
• Games for Change (G4C) Challenge: Students design digital games that tackle real-world issues.
• InfyApp Challenge: A national competition where students develop innovative mobile applications.
• School Hackathons: Internal events promoting rapid prototyping and collaborative coding.

Our learning methodology emphasizes practical, hands-on learning and a collaborative environment:

• Team-Based Projects: Students work in teams on major projects like the G4C Challenge and Capstone, mirroring industry practices.
• Pair Programming: Encourages collaborative coding, knowledge sharing, and immediate feedback.
• Hackathons: Intensive, short-term coding events to foster rapid development and problem-solving.
• Peer Review and Critique: Students evaluate each other's work, including "Shark Tank" style presentations for game pitches.
• Self-Reflection: Regular opportunities for students to assess their own learning and progress.
• Digital Tools for Feedback: Utilizing platforms like FigJam for collaborative design and feedback.
• Cyclical Iterative Design Process: Emphasis on prototyping, testing, refining, and version control (GitHub) for all projects.

A key outcome of this pathway is the development of a professional web-based portfolio. This portfolio will showcase students' growth and achievements, including:

• Game designs and playable prototypes
• Coding projects (Python, C#, JavaScript)
• UI/UX design mockups
• Competition entries and awards
• Reflections on learning and project challenges

These portfolios serve as a valuable asset for college applications and future career opportunities.

Grading Breakdown:

• Portfolio / Tech Manual: 30%
• Quizzes & Assessments: 30%
• Assignments/Lab/Projects: 25%
• Homework/Participation: 15%

Classroom Expectations:

• Be respectful to peers and instructors.
• Actively participate in discussions and group activities.
• Complete assignments on time.
• Seek help when needed and offer help to others.
• Maintain a positive and growth-oriented mindset.

Late Work Policy:

Late work will be accepted with a penalty. For every day an assignment is late, 10% will be deducted from the grade, up to a maximum of 50% deduction. Exceptions may be made for documented emergencies.

Students will gain proficiency in a variety of industry-standard software, programming languages, and platforms:

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out:

I look forward to hearing from you!