INFORMATION GATHERED & COMPILED FROM STEMCON2020
THE PROCESS OF HANDS-ON LEARNING & INVESTIGATION THROUGH
THE INTENTIONAL BLENDING OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING,& MATH
TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO AN OPEN-ENDED CHALLENGE, PROBLEM, OR INQUIRY
EDUCATING CHILDREN IN THE POSSIBILITIES OF
SHAPING AND DESIGNING THEIR FUTURE...
BUILDS PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS & FAILURE RESILIENCE, INCREASES MOTIVATION,
INSPIRES CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, & CRITICAL THINKING, IMPROVES TEAMWORK & COMMUNICATION
LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR THOSE WHO LEARN TRADITIONALLY AND DIFFERENTLY
WHAT IS STEM NOT?
*"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." ~THOMAS EDISON
*NO TIME, UNFAIR, & UNCHALLENGING TO EXPECT A SUCCESSFUL PRODUCT.
*BUILDING IS JUST A VEHICLE THAT GETS US TO OUR DESTINATION.
*PUTTING AN EMPHASIS ON A PRODUCT STOMPS ON THE CREATIVITY PROCESS, CAN CREATE ANXIETY, CAUSES MORE GROUP CONFLICT, AND SENDS THE MESSAGES OF UNIMPORTANCE OF LEARNING, FAILURE BEING SEEN AS FAILURE INSTEAD OF GROWTH, AND ALL THAT MATTERS IS WHAT COMES OUT IN THE END.
(HELP STUDENTS SEE RELATIONSHIPS IN CAREERS SUCH AS ASTRONOMY IN SCIENCE AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING)
*THERE ARE MULTIPLE ADDITIONAL CHARACTER LESSONS TO BE APPLIED IN LIFE NO MATTER THE PATH
5. STEM IS NOT ALWAYS LABELED CORRECTLY
*CLICK TO THE RIGHT FOR WAYS TO VET STEM CHALLENGES
5 SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF STEM
1. STEM SOFT STARTS
build, discover, imagine, think, learn, & play,
using a variety of tools and materials, without constraints, only restricted by one's own imagination.
*Creates a passion for learning
*Children have the innate ability to see the creative potential in just about anything, introducing new materials and tools can enable empowering experiences
*Can accidentally create problem-solving and critical thinking skills
*Creates a natural setting to move away from competition and allow collaboration and communication
2. INQUIRY - PROVOKE CURIOSITY AND DEEP THOUGHT
Can be STRUCTURED, CONTROLLED, GUIDED, OR FREE INQUIRY
*ASK DRIVING QUESTIONS THAT PROMPT STUDY
Guide an investigation to engage & explore
*SHOW EVENTS THAT SHOW PREDICTION DISCREPANCIES
Element of Surprise & Curiosity-Sparking Demonstrations
*PRESENTATION OF A PROBLEM
Fictitious Scenarios That Can Be Applied to Relevant Situations; Position Students as Problem-Solving Experts
CLICK ABOVE FOR A
STAGE 1/STAGE 2
CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY IN LITERATURE FOR STUDENTS - PAGES 7-38
3. TEAMWORK CHALLENGES - PREPARATORY FOR ACTUAL STEM
4. ENGINEERING DESIGN - BEGINNING OF ACTUAL STEM PROCESS
ASK
IMAGINE
PLAN
CREATE
IMPROVE
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
*Define constraints (limits - time, materials, etc)
*Define criteria (measurements, speed, size, something that can be tested)
*If working in groups, every will have a voice in the challenge
*Explore available materials -how they behave while interacting with each other, the environment, & other conditions
DESIGN THE CHOSEN SOLUTION
*Choose an idea to develop
*Lay out instructions of how the product will be built, include dimensions, materials, & all other clear details
*In a group, all are part of making the decision of what to build - either collaborating ideas or choosing one design - have designers write reasons why their design is the best - use reasoning, not rock, paper, scissors
*Choose or assign 1 or 2 jobs to team members (use pre-made job tags)
BUILD ACCORDING TO DESIGN
*Follow designs to build your solution
*Does the prototype work repeatedly and meet the criteria?
*Building is hands-on research.
SHARE, RECORD & REFLECT, DISCUSS ~ Most important learning takes place here; The previous steps of the process make up 30% of the time, this step begins the rest of the 70% of learning time
*IN ORDER TO MAKE MEANING FROM WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE BUILD, INTENTIONAL TIME SHOULD BE SET ASIDE TO PROCESS AND SYNTHESIZE WHAT WAS LEARNED - DEEP LEARNING CAN'T BE RUSHED
*CREATING ANALYSIS OF THEIR DESIGN
-What went well and what didn't? What would you do differently?
*IF POSSIBLE, HOLD AN ENGINEERING DESIGN REVIEW TO RECEIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM FROM PEERS
-Making a list of things done well - concept, materials, creation process, innovations - followed by ideas that might help
*REAL WORLD CONNECTIONS - Subject Integration, Incorporate Specific Career Exploration
*BUILD FAILURE RESILIENCE - Learn from failed attempts; Research possible causes of failure
KEEP MOVING FORWARD
*Redesigning is a critical piece of stem challenges
*Change & test one component at a time, creating multiple iterations
*Repeatedly evaluate which changes work and don't work until desired outcome is achieved
*Students do the best job at improving their design when given more time & a variety of different ways to analyze, identify patterns, & reflect on the challenge
5. BIGGER PROJECTS - MORE TECHNOLOGY, MILESTONES, & DISCIPLINES
3 months - keeping 12 people alive and happy on the moon - creating a colony - scaling, water transport, inventor fairs, engineer fairs - important to build other stages 1st
Growth Mindset
*Embrace Failure
*Be Persistent
*Take Risks
*Make Mistakes
*Always Be Learning
Skills & Process
*Create Fair Tests
*Be Safe & Careful
*Be Organized & Methodical
*Analyze & Ask Why
*Make Connections
Guiding Principles
*Work Hard
*Be Patient
*Be Resourceful
*Be Objective & Unbiased
*Use Logic & Reason
Habits of Mind
*Stay Curious
*Be Creative
*Imagine & Dream
*Be Open-minded
*Be Skeptical
Beyond Self
*Build on Prior Work
*Communicate Clearly
*Collaborate with Peers
*Work with Purpose
*Be Ethical
TEACHING RESOURCES
STEP 2-6
STEP 7: ASSESSMENTS
TEACHING ASSESSMENT OPTIONS
*As a facilitator, don't just give the project then sit and work on something else. Walk around with a notepad and listen to insights, questions, ideas, and critical thinking from students to use in class discussions.
*Assess behavior, ideals, or growth in a way that reaches a goal you have for your students.
*Look or Click below for great resources for assessing STEM Assignments:
TEACHING ABOUT STEM CAREERS
START A STEM CLUB
TEACHERS, STAFF, & PARENTS -
Hopefully students are doing STEM in their classrooms and at home, but to add more STEM exposure, maybe you have thought about starting a STEM Club at Jordan Ridge.
If you are interested in doing this, click HERE.
3 resources below.
IDEAS:
*Create projects for families to order from a STEM Menu
*Wind tunnel
*Robot lab - High School students bring robots they have created to share with students
*Construction arcade - for the younger members of the family - legos, k'nex, blocks, etc.
*Create an object that will neither float nor sink, but stay in the middle of the water when submerged
*How many drops of water can fit on a penny?
*Create a helmet to protect a balloon from popping when thrown against the floor or wall
*Create an animal for a particular habitat and make sure it would survive in that environment
*Build a durable bird's nest
*Build a spider web
*Build a structure that would survive a tornado
*Highlight STEM careers
STEM IN HISTORY
INFORMATION GATHERED FROM STEMCON2020