Appendix

Recommended Resources

Reference
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Appendix A: Recommended Resources

Official LCPS and ACL Resources

Academies of Loudoun Homepage

https://www.lcps.org/o/acl

The main page for all three ACL programs --- AOS, AET, and MATA. Start here for general information, news, and announcements.

Academies of Loudoun Admissions and Outreach

https://www.lcps.org/o/dtl/page/academies-of-loudoun-admissions-and-outreach

The official admissions page with application timelines, deadlines, and contact information. For direct questions, email AcademiesAdmissions@lcps.org or call 571-252-1992.

LCPS GO Student Portal

https://launchpad.classlink.com/loudoun

The portal where students access the admissions application, accept offers, and manage enrollment. The Student Opportunities section is where you'll find the Academies application when the admissions window opens.

ACL Frequently Asked Questions

https://www.lcps.org/o/acl/page/frequently-asked-questions

LCPS's own FAQ page covering common admissions and program questions.

LCPS Program of Studies --- Academies of Loudoun

https://sites.google.com/lcps.org/program-of-studies-2024-2025/academies-of-loudoun

The official course catalog for ACL programs, including course descriptions, prerequisites, and credit information for AOS, AET, and MATA. Note: this URL is year-specific. LCPS publishes a new Program of Studies each year --- search "LCPS Program of Studies Academies of Loudoun" for the most current version.

ACL School Profile

The school profile document (typically a PDF available from the ACL website or guidance office) contains enrollment numbers, demographic data, course offerings, and college matriculation statistics. This is the same document that gets sent to colleges with your student's transcript.

STEM Thinking Skills Assessment Resources

Insight Assessment --- STEM Thinking Skills Test

https://insightassessment.com/iaproduct/stem-thinking-skills-test/

The official page from Insight Assessment, the company that creates the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment used in ACL admissions. This page provides an overview of what the test measures, including the five metrics: Overall critical reasoning, Out-of-the-Box Algebra, Spatial-Relational Thinking, Tech Logic, and Scientific Thinking.

Insight Assessment Products Page

https://insightassessment.com/products/

Browse Insight Assessment's full catalog of critical thinking assessments to understand how the STEM test fits within their broader framework of reasoning skills evaluation.

Insight Basecamp

https://insightassessment.com/insight-basecamp-the-new-comprehensive-and-innovative-platform-for-developing-your-critical-thinking/

Insight Assessment's online platform for developing critical thinking skills. It includes interactive short courses on reasoning and analytical thinking that align with the skills measured by the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment.

Books for Building Scientific Thinking and STEM Literacy

These books are not test prep materials. They're books that build the kind of thinking --- scientific reasoning, logical analysis, curiosity about how things work --- that makes students stronger thinkers and stronger test-takers as a natural consequence.

For Scientific Thinking and Reasoning

  • "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman --- How our brains process information, make decisions, and fall into reasoning traps. Dense but incredibly valuable for understanding how thinking works.

  • "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark" by Carl Sagan --- The classic book on scientific thinking, skepticism, and how to evaluate evidence. Accessible and engaging for strong middle school readers.

  • "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson --- A lively, accessible tour through the history of science. Builds broad scientific literacy and a sense of wonder about how we know what we know.

  • "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" by Richard Feynman --- The legendary physicist's autobiography. Entertaining and deeply instructive about how scientists actually think and work.

For Mathematical Thinking

  • "How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking" by Jordan Ellenberg --- How math applies to everyday reasoning and decision-making. Makes abstract mathematical concepts feel relevant and interesting.

  • "The Art and Craft of Problem Solving" by Paul Zeitz --- More advanced, aimed at students who enjoy mathematical competitions. Excellent for developing the kind of creative problem-solving the STEM test rewards.

  • "Flatland" by Edwin Abbott --- A short, classic novella about geometry and spatial dimensions. A fun way to develop spatial thinking.

For Engineering and Technology Thinking

  • "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman --- How design thinking works and why some products are intuitive while others are frustrating. Excellent for students interested in the AET engineering track.

  • "Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" by Charles Petzold --- A ground-up explanation of how computers work, starting from basic electrical circuits. Ideal for students interested in the IT/CS track.

  • "What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions" by Randall Munroe --- Physics and engineering thinking applied to ridiculous questions. Funny, smart, and surprisingly educational.

Online Platforms for Practice and Skill Building

Logic and Reasoning

  • Brilliant.org --- Interactive courses in math, science, and computer science. The logic and problem-solving courses are particularly relevant for STEM Thinking Skills Assessment preparation. Free tier available; premium subscription unlocks full content.

  • Khan Academy (khanacademy.org) --- Free, comprehensive math instruction from basic arithmetic through calculus and beyond. Excellent for filling gaps in algebraic reasoning and ensuring mental math fluency.

Spatial Reasoning

  • CogniFit (cognifit.com) --- Brain training platform with specific spatial reasoning exercises. Useful for students who need to develop spatial visualization skills.

  • GeoGebra (geogebra.org) --- Free dynamic math and geometry software. Students can manipulate shapes, explore transformations, and build spatial intuition through interactive exploration.

Math Competitions and Problem Solving

  • Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) (artofproblemsolving.com) --- Online courses, textbooks, and a community for students who enjoy challenging math. The Alcumus practice system is free and adapts to student ability. This is the gold standard for math competition preparation.

  • AMC/MATHCOUNTS Practice --- The Mathematical Association of America (maa.org) publishes past AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12 exams. Working through these problems develops exactly the kind of flexible mathematical thinking the STEM test demands.

Computer Science and Tech Logic

  • Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) --- MIT's visual programming platform. For students who haven't coded before, Scratch builds computational thinking and algorithm understanding without requiring syntax knowledge.

  • Code.org (code.org) --- Free coding courses and activities. The Hour of Code activities are a good starting point; the full AP CSP curriculum goes much deeper.

  • Codecademy (codecademy.com) --- Interactive coding courses in Python, Java, and other languages. Good for students who want to start building real programming skills.

Science and Critical Thinking

  • CK-12 (ck12.org) --- Free science and math textbooks, interactive simulations, and practice problems. The science simulations are particularly good for developing experimental reasoning.

  • PhET Interactive Simulations (phet.colorado.edu) --- University of Colorado's free interactive science simulations. Students can manipulate variables and observe outcomes --- exactly the kind of experimental thinking the STEM test measures.

Test-Taking and Study Skills

  • Anki (apps.ankiweb.net) --- Free spaced-repetition flashcard software. Excellent for memorizing formulas, vocabulary, and concepts using evidence-based learning techniques.

  • Pomodoro Technique --- A time management method (25 minutes of focused work, 5-minute break) that works well for students building study stamina. Many free timer apps are available.