The document discusses STEM education, which integrates the four disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM focuses on hands-on, inquiry-based learning where the teacher acts as a facilitator and students collaborate to solve open-ended problems. Research shows that STEM approaches improve student scores on content assessments and help close achievement gaps compared to traditional teaching methods.
1. STEM Demands Higher
Level Cognitive Skills
Teaching at the application level and above
Paul Pack, Diane Insari, Kim Dempsey
2. What is STEM?
STEM education is the integrated
preparation of students in
competencies and skills in the
four disciplines:
Science
Technology
Engineering, and
Math
3. The STEM Philosophy
➢ Teacher as Facilitator
➢ Hands-On Inquiry
➢ Trial and Error
➢ More Than One Right Answer
➢ Integrated Curriculum
It’s NOT inquiry if…
1. Students know what
results they’re
supposed to get.
2. The question and steps
are predetermined for
them.
3. The teacher is working
harder than the
students.
4. What STEM is NOT
● Units taught in isolation
● An add-on
● Arts and crafts
● Only for high-achieving
students
● Teacher demonstrations
● Step-by-step directions
5. Research
Research at Purdue has shown that students
taught through a hands-on STEM approach
had higher scores and a much higher degree
of improvement than the traditionally taught
students on both true/false and open-ended
questions on the content taught.
https://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009a/090128DarkStudy.html
6. Achievement Gap
The STEM approach
helps to close the
achievement gap.
Students collaborate
and work together to
solve problems based
on shared experiences.
http://stemwire.org/2013/04/01/at-stem-centered-high-school-test-scores-rise-to-the-top/
8. The Design Brief
Setting the background, criteria, design challenge, materials, and tools
Name:_________________________________ Date:____________
Rocket Launcher Design Brief
5th grade
Background Statement:
We have been learning about and measuring right, acute, obtuse, and straight angles. Currently, Syria is experiencing a civil war. Many Syrians are without fresh
food and medicine.
Design Challenge:
You are an agent of the Red Cross. You are to design and build a model rocket that will allow you to get supplies over the Syrian border to the citizens in Aleppo,
where the worst fighting is located. Using the straw rocket launcher as a scale model, work together to discover the best angle for the rocket launcher and the
optimal force you should apply in order to have an accurate launch.
Criteria:
1. You must be safe and respectful at all times
2. You must work in groups of 2-3 classmates
3. You must record the following measurements.
15. Lessons & Activities
Authentic Assessment
http://youtu.be/qF67Ai7Juug
Liberty’s Website
http://www.lcps.org/domain/9860
STEMCollaborative.org- Lessons and activity guides
http://stemcollaborative.org/additionalResources.html
Virginia Children’s Engineering Council
http://childrensengineering.org
LCPS Core Experiences
Available in the Science Curriculum Guides- (Odette Scovel,Pat Herr)
This information is all in your email sent on August 5, 2014.
17. Your turn!
Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy Reference Tool
● Moving parts to isolate or highlight specific levels of
Bloom’s taxonomy
● Descriptors, verbs, questions to guide lesson planning
and instruction
● Go through the design process (design, build, test,
redesign, reflect)
18. Paper Engineering
Rate yourself on paper engineering
1- Paper wha??
2- I’ve made something with paper
3- I think I’ve heard of paper engineering
4- I’ve used some paper engineering techniques
5- I got this. Move out of the way.
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