STEM Education Sounds Great! Now Where Do I Start?

STEM Education Sounds Great!Now Where Do I Start?

Incorporating STEM Education Into Your Curriculum

Presented by Diane Insari and Kimberly Dempseydiane.insari@lcps.orgkimberly.dempsey@lcps.org

Todays objectivesWe will explore.What STEM is and what STEM is notWhy STEM is importantHow to start a STEM initiative in your schoolMini STEM activities

Catapult ChallengeThe Medieval Catapult was a weapon used during siege warfare. Medieval Catapults were devices for hurling stones or other objects. Today you are a medieval soldier. Your mission is to acquire more land for your king by laying siege on a neighboring castle. Using your catapult, your team must get as many huge boulders over the wall of the castle as possible. You will have 3 minutes. 3Your mission.Real- Life SituationsYour mission is to acquire more land for your king by laying siege on a neighboring castle. Using your catapult, your team must get as many boulders over the wall and into the castle as possible in 3 minutes.

Reflection: What adjustments were needed to make your boulder fly Further? Higher? Faster? More accurately?

What Is STEM education?Science * Technology * Engineering * Math STEM- The Thinkers of Tomorrow

We define STEM education as the preparation of students in competencies and skills in the four disciplines:ScienceTechnology Engineering, and Math.

STEM education provides: Sequences that build upon each other Real-world applicationsIntegrated disciplines

scienceHands-on activities Cooperative learningOpen-ended trials Critical thinking Real-life applications

technology

"...the goal of technology is to make modifications in the world to meet human needs."

The National Science Education Standards

Lets test your knowledge of the history ofeducational technology

Students today depend upon _____ too much. They dont know how to write on _____ without getting _____ ____ all over themselves. They cant clean a ____ properly. What will they do when they run out of _____? (Principals Association)

Students today depend upon paper too much. They dont know how to write on slate without getting chalk dust all over themselves. They cant clean a slate properly. What will they do when they run out of paper? (Principals Association 1815)

_________ ____ will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American virtues of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Business and banks will never allow such expensive luxuries. (Federal Teacher) Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American virtues of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Business and banks will never allow such expensive luxuries. (Federal Teacher 1950)__________ ___________ became visible in the mid ____s but prices were astronomical, sometimes in the thousands of dollars. In the ____s, they started to become more reasonably priced.

Electronic calculators became visible in the mid 1960s but prices were astronomical, sometimes in the thousands of dollars. In the 1970s, they started to become more reasonably priced.

engineering

From sites.google.comLike Repin The Design Process:the engineering approach to identifying and solving problems

math

Integration ofComputationGraphingMeasurement (Weight, Length, Volume, Time, Temperature) GeometryProblem SolvingProbability

The stem philosophyTeacher as FacilitatorHands-On ExplorationTrial and ErrorMore Than One Right AnswerIntegrated Curriculum

STEM is notAn add-onArts and craftsShowing offOnly for high-achieving studentsTeacher demonstrations Step-by-step directions

Stem to SteamIntegrating the ArtsArtMusicForeign LanguagePhysical EducationSocial Science

CollaborationHands-On ActivitiesProblem SolvingTechnologyReal-Life ApplicationsDesign ProcessCritical Thinking

Why Is STEM Education Important?

Educate to Innovate

Invest more in STEM education so students can learn to think critically in science, math, engineering, and technology. Improve the quality of math and science teaching so American students are no longer outperformed by those in other nations. Expand STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and girls.

President Obamas National Security Strategy, May 2010

In 2010, President Obama announced the Educate to Innovate campaign a multi-million dollar public-private effort to improve the nations ability to compete in key scientific fields and engage students to take on the leading challenges of the 21st century.2621st Century Readiness for All StudentsCreativity and InnovationCritical Thinking and Problem SolvingCommunicationCollaborationVirginia TechVT-STEM K-12 Outreach Initiative Summer STEM Institute for Teachers

College of William and Mary STEM Alliance initiative for middle school $580,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to benefit women faculty$2.5 million grant pairs teachers with professional engineers and scientists

University of VirginiaPh.D. in Interdisciplinary STEM EducationSTEM Education Programs

Programs for High School Students:Ten Governor's STEM AcademiesVirginia Council on the Status of Women 2012 STEM Essay Contest- Mrs. ODonnell, ChairSTEM in VirginiaSTEM in the Elementary classroomInvestigating shadows

Insert 1st grade video hereLets try a stem activity!BUILDING A LUNAR LANDER

the missionNASA is looking for safe landing sites on the moon. Once they find one, they need to design and build a spacecraft that can land there without injuring astronauts or damaging the spacecraft.Today youll make a landera spacecraft that can land safely when you drop it on the floor of the moonor classroom.

your task1. Design and build a shock-absorbing system out of paper, straws, and mini-marshmallows.2. Attach your shock absorber to a cardboard platform.3. Use test results to improve your design.

The Design Process

identify the problem or challenge; 2) brainstorm solutions; 3) design your equipment or device; 4) build it; 5) test and evaluate the outcome; 6) discuss your solutions; and then 7) make improvements for better performance.Starting a stem initiative in your school

A Four-Tiered Approach

Our Four-Tiered ApproachINITIATE A FOCUS GROUP Gauge interestSolicit support Brainstorm ideasForm a committee

STEM COMMITTEE MEMBERSAdministrator(s) Teachers from each grade level Technology Resource TeacherSpecialist Teacher(s)Parents/Business Partners

STEM committee first stepsCreate a LOGODefine Vision and Mission Statement: Liberty Elementary: Preparing Active Learners! We believe that cultivating active thinking through a STEM instructional approach will prepare students for their futures.Share vision with staff and communityProfessional development for committeeAcquire resources

Solicit supportGet Staff Buy-In Refine vision and goals Hands-on STEM activity with staff Gauge interest with staff survey

Get Students ExcitedMorning News Show: Fascinating Facts After-School: Robotics, Science Club, Lego League, Odyssey of the Mind Science-themed assembliesSTEM activities during school day

Peak Parents InterestNewsletter, Web Site, Posters, Bulletin Boards, Word of MouthKick-Off Event: STEMmerday!

39STEmmerday An annual STEM event

Acquire resourcesHuman Resources:Parent VolunteersLocal Technology Company EmployeesUniversitiesHigh SchoolCentral Office Science and Math Departments

Financial Resources:Inventory current resourcesGrantsDonations from parents and local businessesDonations from employers of parentsPTA support

Professional developmentSTEM Conferences/Professional Organizations Childrens Engineering ConferenceInternational Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)STEM Classes/Degree Programs at UniversitiesPeer-to-Peer CollaborationTeam Planning Days with Committee SupportProfessional Learning Communities to include Specialist TeachersCollaboration with STEM Professionals STEM Camp for TeachersSocial Networks/Blogs (Follow #STEM on Twitter) STEM Web Sites (Pitsco.com, Learning.com)STEM Literature/Articles

Insert testimonials hereFor a copy of this presentation and more information about STEM see our website: www.lcps.org/liberty Or contact us: diane.insari@lcps.orgkimberly.dempsey@lcps.org