STEM Education Sounds Great!Now Where Do I Start?

INCORPORATING STEM EDUCATION INTO YOUR

CURRICULUM

P R E S E N T E D B Y D I A N E I N S A R I A N D K I M B E R LY D E M P S E Y

DI A N E . I N S A R I @ L C P S . O R G

KI M B E R L Y. D E M P S E Y @ L C P S . O R G

TODAY’S OBJECTIVES

We will explore…. What STEM is and what

STEM is not Why STEM is important How to start a STEM

initiative in your school Mini STEM activities

Catapult Challenge

YOUR M

ISSIO

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AL - L

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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 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 S

TEM

EDUCATIO

N?

SC

I EN

CE

* T

EC

HN

OL O

GY

* E

NG

I NE

ER

I NG

*

MA

TH

  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

applications• Integrated

disciplines

SCIENCE• Hands-on activities • Cooperative learning• Open-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

LET’S TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY OFEDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

“Students today depend upon _____ too much. They don’t know how to write on _____ without getting _____ ____ all over themselves. They can’t clean a ____ properly. What will they do when they run out of _____?”

(Principal’s Association)

“Students today depend upon paper too much. They don’t know how to write on slate without getting chalk dust all over themselves. They can’t clean a slate properly. What will they do when they run out of paper?”

(Principal’s 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 1960’s but prices

were astronomical, sometimes in

the thousands of dollars.  In the

1970’s, they started to become more

reasonably priced.”

ENGINEERING

From sites.google.com•Like •Repin

The Design Process:the engineering approach to identifying and solving problems

MATHIntegration of…• Computation• Graphing• Measurement (Weight,

Length, Volume, Time, Temperature) • Geometry• Problem Solving• Probability

THE STEM PHILOSOPHY

Teacher as Facilitator Hands-On Exploration Trial and Error More Than One Right

Answer Integrated Curriculum

STEM IS NOT…

An add-on Arts and crafts Showing off Only for high-achieving

students Teacher demonstrations Step-by-step directions

STEM TO STEAM

Integrating 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 Obama’s National Security Strategy, May 2010

21st Century Readiness for All Students

Creativity and Innovation Critical Thinking and

Problem Solving Communication Collaboration

Virginia Tech• VT-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 Virginia• Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary STEM Education• STEM Education Programs

Programs for High School Students:• Ten Governor's STEM Academies• Virginia Council on the Status of Women 2012 STEM Essay Contest- Mrs. O’Donnell, Chair

STEM in Virginia

STEM IN

THE

ELEMENTA

RY

CLASSROOM

INVEST IG

AT ING

SH

ADO

WS

Insert 1st grade video here

LET’

S TRY

A

STEM

ACTIVIT

Y!

BUILDIN

G A L

UNAR LANDER

THE MISSION

NASA 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 you’ll make a lander—a spacecraft that can land safely when you drop it on the floor of the moon–or classroom.

YOUR TASK

1. 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

1)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. 

START

ING A

STEM IN

ITIA

TIVE

IN YO

UR SCHOOL

A Four-Tiered ApproachOur Four-Tiered

Approach

INITIATE A FOCUS GROUP • Gauge interest• Solicit support • Brainstorm ideas• Form a committee

STEM COMMITTEE MEMBERS• Administrator(s) • Teachers from each grade level • Technology Resource Teacher• Specialist Teacher(s)• Parents/Business Partners

STEM COMMITTEE FIRST STEPS

• Create a LOGO

• Define 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 community

• Professional development for committee

• Acquire resources

SOLICIT SUPPORT Get 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 assemblies

STEM activities during school day

Peak Parents’ InterestNewsletter, Web Site, Posters, Bulletin Boards, Word of Mouth

Kick-Off Event: STEMmerday!

STEMMERDAY

AN

AN

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ACQUIRE RESOURCESHuman Resources: Parent Volunteers Local Technology Company Employees Universities High School Central Office Science and Math Departments

Financial Resources: Inventory current resources Grants Donations from parents and local

businesses Donations from employers of parents PTA support

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STEM Conferences/Professional Organizations

Children’s Engineering Conference

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) STEM Classes/Degree Programs at Universities Peer-to-Peer Collaboration Team Planning Days with Committee Support Professional Learning Communities to include

Specialist Teachers Collaboration with STEM Professionals STEM Camp for Teachers Social Networks/Blogs (Follow #STEM on Twitter) STEM Web Sites (Pitsco.com, Learning.com) STEM Literature/Articles

Insert testimonials here

For 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