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.