Teaching in STEM

From d11.org
 

For one of my pre-service teacher assignments, I am required to create a STEM lesson which incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  Due to my limited knowledge in the subject, I thought I'd do some research online to find out more detail before going forward and beginning this project.  STEM is an enriching inquiry-based concept that engages students in guiding their own learning, whereby the educator only acts as facilitator.  STEM learning can be incorporated in any subject matter, from science to social science to history and geography.  The goal of this concept is to give students the opportunity to learn through a minds-on approach where they get exposed to real life situations that require real problem-solving.

There are numerous articles available that explain what STEM is, and how important it is to integrate it in the classroom.  But trying to make sense of it all can be a bit overwhelming.  Based on the information I gathered, here are the four (4) main steps needed to design a meaningful STEM lesson/activity for your students:

S is for SCIENCE:  A scientific method approach is important in any STEM lesson.  To satisfy this step, students can incorporate a theory or hypothesis for an experiment or lab and add dependent and independent variables.  Students' science background can also help them determine possible sources of errors in the design of their project, to improve the functionality or solution to the real life problem they are assessing.  Alternatively, students can simply use a science activity to introduce the concept they will be exploring.

T is for TECHNOLOGY:  A great way to incorporate technology in a STEM lesson is to use it as a means to do further research on the topic of choice and even data collection (see math component).  A large variety of resources can be used, including online research, mobile apps, simulation and virtual lab websites, and connecting with real experts by way of email, video-conference, Skype, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and more.  Other technologies used can include games, videos, and even music.

E is for ENGINEERING:  For this step to be satisfied, students must design, build or improve the design of a product, idea or concept.  The purpose of this step is to solve a real-life problem by creating a solution.  This step is mostly hands-on and involves a lot of trial and errors.  Because STEM involves a lot of teamwork, this step works very well when many students work collaboratively to build on each other's ideas.

M is for MATHEMATICS:  The last step involves the use of data collection (through the use of various measuring tools) and analysis methods.  The purpose of this step is to quantify data resulting from the testing of the concept, which can be presented by way of tables, graphs, and maps.  It is also applied when students attempt to find patterns and trends in the data collected that would otherwise not necessarily be apparent.

Of course, there are a lot more ways Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics can be applied to STEM projects.  This article was simply written as an introduction to help understand the basis of STEM.  If you have integrated STEM in the classroom, and know of other ways these four steps can be applied, please comment below and I will gladly add it to the content of this article.

Inquiry-Based Learning for the Novice Teacher

From wilkes.discoveryeducation.com

Inquiry-based learning in one sentence, can be best summed as per Blogger Lisa Donohue:  "helping students know where to look, but not telling them what to see”.  This process of inquiry has been found to be one of the most effective ways of learning as it deepens student knowledge, understanding and interest of a specific topic (Capacity Building Series, 2013).

In order for inquiry-based learning to be successfully implemented in the classroom, teachers must not only be knowledgeable about the curriculum, but must also know how to correctly guide students through inquiry-based thinking.  The latter is not an easy task, and as a novice teacher myself, I find it to be an overwhelming process.  However, through research I have found many effective ways to get started, which I would like to share with you.

Many students may not have had the opportunity to learn in an inquiry-based environment before.  Thus, it is important for the teacher to initiate the process through demonstrations early at the beginning of the year.  This not only helps students understand what is expected of them, but it also encourages them to build good habits of thinking which will no doubt flourish throughout the course of the year.  According to the article Capacity Building Series - Inquiry-based Learning (2013), there are various types of contributions teachers can model, in order to teach students how to inquire.  These can include:

a) Declarative statements, such as "Do you agree or disagree with...?"; "Can you provide a reason for your answer?"; and "What example do you have that supports your decision?"

b) Building on, which includes further explaining or adding to a student's answer in order to elicit deeper thinking for the rest of the students (ie. this works best during a whole class discussion).

c) Paraphrasing statements made by students, to clarify that what was said was understood.  This is also a great opportunity to ask other students if they would like to add to the statement, during group or whole class discussions.

d) Making connections, such as using analogies or experiences to explain a concept or idea further.  This is a great opportunity to prompt students to give other examples of connections found in order to make the learning more meaningful and memorable. 

e) Asking questions, in order to guide students into deeper thought and perhaps recognize patterns or see things through another lens.  Ex.  Is life better or worse today than it was for the people in Canada as it was in the mid-1800s?

f) Proposing theories, such as asking students how we could test their theory in order to verify if their statement can in fact be true.  Ex.  Think about the education today compared to what it was in the mid-1800s.  What do you think the main focus of knowledge was at the time?

If you are a teacher who uses inquiry-based learning on a regular basis, what other ways can novice teachers initiate the process in their classroom effectively?