STEM - What's Possible '15 (small)

STEM:What’s Possible?

HOW TO BRING STEM TO EVERY STUDENT

Northern California STEM Day

Redding, California ~ Friday, May 15, 2015

Presented by Jim Stolze

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STEM: What’s Possible?

HAVE YOU EVER WISHED ALL STUDENTS COULD…

• Creatively problem-solve?• Understand complex software?• Work in true collaborative teams?• Think outside the box?• Follow detailed, technical directions?• Use basic and more complex tools?• Measure?• See the connections between school and the real world?• Understand how technology and design impact society?• Apply what they learned?• Overcome adversity and failure?

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TWO STEM DEFINITIONS

“In the STEM environment, there is less emphasis on activities that demonstrate content and a greater focus on activities that allow students to engage in real world problems and experiences through project-based, experiential learning activities that lead to higher level thinking. Learning in a STEM environment compels students to understand issues, distill problems, and comprehend processes that lead to innovative solutions.” Idaho Dept. of Education (2013)

“Everybody who thinks they know what STEM means, knows what it means within their field, and everybody else is defining it to fit their own needs. It is truly impossible to define STEM because it means so much for so many different groups of people. Whether it is researchers, science and mathematics teachers, the aerospace industry, or the construction industry, they all have one thing in common: STEM is about moving forward, solving problems, learning, and pushing innovation to the next level.” Jonathan Gerlach, NSTA Reports (2012)


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THE COMMON CORE DEFINITION OF STEM

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

DIMENSION THREE – “Students should learn how science is utilized, in particular through the engineering design process, and they should come to appreciate the distinctions and relationships between engineering, technology, and applications of science.”


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Eight Standards of Mathematical Practice

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.4. Model with mathematics.5. Use appropriate tools strategically.6. Attend to precision.7. Look for and make use of structure.8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.


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Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK)

• DOK Level One: Recall & Reproductionlocate, show, solve, follow basic directions, recall, retrieve, brainstorm

• DOK Level Two: Skills & Conceptsexplain, record, organize, write, categorize, compare, find, name, interpret

• DOK Level Three: Strategic Reasoningconnect, apply, design, generalize, analyze, verify, justify, synthesize, build

• DOK Level Four: Extended Reasoninggeneralize & apply; make new; conduct experiment; analyze, organize, &

justify;design, solve, & model; evaluate; illustrate & connect multiple themes


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MESA VIEW’S DEFINITION OF STEM

When a Mesa View student launches Estes rockets, builds a functional windmill, designs a Da Vinci Day vehicle, or learns from an actual astronomer during a JPL teleconferencing session, he or she is experiencing STEM. The philosophy behind STEM is that students understand math and the sciences better when they experience it firsthand. Learning about parabolas in the textbook is one thing, but computing the actual parabola of your rocket – a rocket you built – is something else all together. Students “get it” when they have to use their minds, hands, tools, and technology to design, build, blow up, improve, and explain their own solutions to real-world problems.


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THE STEM CHALLENGE

How does an organization actualize their definition of STEM?

• …while handling competing issues• …while developing community and civic buy-in• …while connecting with other educational organizations• …while fostering links with business• …while addressing family/parent priorities• …while maintaining student interest and enrollment• …while keeping staff engagement and support• …and while keeping the bosses happy.


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HOW DID MESA VIEWACTUALIZE ITS

DEFINITION OF STEM?


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1. DEVELOP A STEM PHILOSOPHY

• At Mesa View, everyone gets STEM, from at-risk, EL, SpEd students to our Band, ASB, AVID, and Yearbook students ; universal access.• STEM problem-solving activities exercise the brain, improving overall

academic performance.• STEM project-based and problem-based activities improve student

access to and readiness for college and career.• STEM activities truly motivate and engage students.• STEM should be interdisciplinary & multidisciplinary.


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2. GRADUALLY ROLLOUT STEM COURSES

2008 – Year Zero (25 students)

FLL Robotics funded by Alliance at Canyon MS (predecessor to Mesa View)

2009 – Year One (36 students)

One section of Applied Science

2010 – Year Two (72 students)

One section of Applied Science; one section of Advanced Studies

2011 – Year Three (108 students)

Two sections of Applied Science; one section of Advanced Studies

2012 – Year Four (800 students)

Two sections of Applied Science; one section of Advanced DesignOne section of STEM 6; multiple sections experience week-long STEM units

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3. GET HELP, OUTSIDE & INSIDE

• Stakeholder Support (parents, teachers, students)• School Board & District Office Flexibility• Alliance for Education• Grants, Donations, & Financial Support• Business Outreach• Free and Low-cost Training• New Campus Tech & Infrastructure


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OUR RESULTS

• +47 points on API, reaching 813 – 2013’s highest growth in the county

• Algebra 1 scores jumped 38% (to 68% proficient & advanced)

• Math CMA scores up 23% (to 48% proficient & advanced)

• Sixth grade at 82% proficient & advanced on ELA CST, 81% in Math

• School wide low SES scores up 12% (ELA) and 14% (Math)

• Yucaipa High’s Engineering Academy up 400% in enrollment (2014)

• California Gold Ribbon School Award (2015)


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ELEVEN ELEMENTS NEEDED TO MAKE STEM

HAPPENFOR YOUR ORGANIZATION


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

ONE – Define A Clear STEM Philosophy

• What definition does STEM have in your organization?

• What do you want to accomplish with STEM?

• Is STEM instruction for all or for some?

• When does STEM instruction take place? Where?

• Reach wide; STEM involves many things, yet don’t reach too far.

• Build consensus on a common STEM definition.


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THE ELEMENTS TO MAKE STEM HAPPEN

TWO – Recruit The “Right” Staff & Train ‘Em

• Preferably an engaging math or science instructor

• Willing and able to teach STEM subjects

• Willing and able to learn and use new tech and “old” tech

• Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Modules

• MESA Workshops & Curriculum

• STEM Symposium

• AutoCAD, SketchUp, Rhinoceros, TurboCAD, SOLIDWORKS


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

THREE – Go Slow, Gradually Grow

• Start with one or only a few STEM classes

• Add a few STEM events, challenges, field trips, internships

• Consider STEM clubs and teams

• Acquire tech as you need it; used tech is okay

• Add teachers and classes as demand grows…

• …but grow in the areas that students and teachers take you


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

FOUR – Connect with Supporters & Sponsors

• Educate your parents and students on STEM

• Be sure higher-ups and Board are on same page

• Seek out county and state educational partnerships

• Establish connections with local STEM businesses

• Collaborate with other educational organizations elementary, middle school, high school, community college, universities


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

FIVE – Collect Materials & Resources

• Consumable Materials wood, PVC, metal, plastic, cardboard, batteries, wire, foam, glue, etc…

• Hand Tools hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, levels, tape measures, etc…

• Machine Tools drill press, sander, table saw, band saw, special powered tools, etc…

• Tech Kits robots, Anduinos, Raspberry Pi, solar arrays, turbines, motors


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

SIX – Stay Current

• Read STEM Literature Make: Magazine

Invent to Learn (Martinez & Stager) Creating Innovators (Wagner)

• Attend STEM workshops & conferences

• Have fun and “play” with the newest technology

• Don’t be afraid to “retire” older STEM units/courses


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

SEVEN – Market, Educate, & Give Back

• Actively promote what you are doing in STEM

• Continually educate stakeholders on STEM philosophy

• Provide guided tours of STEM facilities

• Bring STEM to other educational organizations

• Bring educational organizations to you to see STEM in action


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

EIGHT – Find the Money

• Prioritize Site Funds

• Local Donors – PTAs, Businesses, Philanthropists, Families

• District Funds – LCAP/LCFF, Bond Monies, Curriculum Funding

• State & Federal Funds – CDE and US Dept of Ed grants

• Fundraise

• Become a Field Trip Destination

• Increase Enrollment (via out-of-district transfers)


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

NINE – Organize the STEM Curriculum

• Write a STEM Scope & Sequence

• Write STEM Lesson Plans and Units

• Consider Vertical Integration of STEM among Various Sites

• Develop Common STEM Assessments

• Agree upon the Measures of Success

• “Find More Stuff!”


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

TEN – Maximize Facilities & Tech Infrastructure

• How’s Your Bandwidth?

• Do You Have Adequate Server Capacity and Network Drops?

• Tell Me you Have Wi-Fi

• Buy Computers, yes, but not just Computers; Consider BYOD

• Did Someone Say 3D Printers?

• Give Yourself Space to Conduct STEM Activities

• Where Are You Storing All Those Consumable Materials?


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MAKING STEM HAPPEN

ELEVEN – Develop Special STEM Events

• Leonardo Da Vinci Day (April 15)

• GIS Day (November 19)

• Engineering Week (February 16)

• “STEMElem” Outreach Trips

• STEM Career Day

• Knott’s Berry Farm Physics Day

• Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI)

• Pi Day (March 14)


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SUSTAINABILITY OF STEM

• Develop reliable sources of funding for training, equipment, & materials.

• Improve and modify STEM units and activities every year.

• Don’t do what isn’t working or isn’t engaging anymore.

• Build a program that is greater than one person; cross-train!

• Include other subjects in STEM (ELA, Social Studies, Art, PE, etc…).

• “One day, STEM shouldn’t be special. It should be what kids do everyday

in school.” Rick LeVan, 2007 California Teacher of the Year


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LESSONS LEARNED AT MESA VIEW

• STEM done right demands patience.

• Having the right people is more important than the right gadgets.

• Keep STEM evolving to stay relevant.

• The kids are smarter than we are.

• Share what you know; reach out to learn from others.

• Protect STEM; connect it to Common Core, Linked Learning, etc…

• Remember why you are doing STEM in the first place.


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CONTACT INFO.

Jim StolzePrincipal, Mesa View Middle [email protected]

Darlene PitmanSTEM Teacher, Mesa View Middle [email protected]

Kellie PenninoScience Teacher, Mesa View Middle [email protected]

Marilee ShookMath Teacher, Mesa View Middle [email protected]

Mesa View Middle SchoolYucaipa-Calimesa JUSD800 Mustang WayCalimesa, CA 92320(909) 790-8008

Web:http://ycjusd.mesaview.schoolfusion.us

Prezi:http://prezi.com/xz1gsmymzejo/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Twitter:@MesaViewMiddle

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d9MYrhFT_I


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STEM - What's Possible '15 (small)