Student-selected, problem- based learning to promote lifelong learning skills and diversity in STEM Jim Egenrieder Virginia Tech, National Capital Region

Overview Background on project-based learning Background on project-based learning Strategies for promoting inquiry Strategies for promoting inquiry Building connections between STEM and non-STEM curricula Building connections between STEM and non-STEM curricula Developing skills for lifelong learning, management and leadership Developing skills for lifelong learning, management and leadership Promoting projects that result in products with extended utility Promoting projects that result in products with extended utility Attracting students to STEM careers Attracting students to STEM careers

Introduction Project-based learning has been part of the school curriculum for nearly a century Project-based learning has been part of the school curriculum for nearly a century teacher strategies have changed significantly teacher strategies have changed significantly now an integral part of the curriculum, rather than a supplement now an integral part of the curriculum, rather than a supplement Breaks the traditional classroom routines characterized by control, reiteration and duplication, and standardization. Breaks the traditional classroom routines characterized by control, reiteration and duplication, and standardization.

Goal for the STEM educator to develop and maintain students’ connections to STEM tools and practices that foster lifelong learning and appreciation for STEM disciplines to develop and maintain students’ connections to STEM tools and practices that foster lifelong learning and appreciation for STEM disciplines Even when such students do not pursue STEM careers, their appreciation for STEM connections in the world around them benefits everyone.

Pedagogy of Project-Based Learning involves students in project design, involves students in project design, problem-solving investigations or problem-solving investigations or experiences that give students extended periods of time to work autonomously. experiences that give students extended periods of time to work autonomously. resulting products or presentations demonstrate understanding, application and often, synthesis. resulting products or presentations demonstrate understanding, application and often, synthesis.

Other components: authentic content and assessment, authentic content and assessment, a reduced role for the teacher as instructor, a reduced role for the teacher as instructor, increased role as a facilitator increased role as a facilitator cooperative learning cooperative learning reflective self-assessment reflective self-assessment constructivism constructivism development of adult skills development of adult skills community involvement community involvement cognitive use of technology-based tools cognitive use of technology-based tools

Project-based learning is also well- rooted in constructivist principles Collaboration Collaboration personal autonomy personal autonomy guiding the next generation guiding the next generation reflection and self assessment reflection and self assessment Peer assessment Peer assessment active engagement active engagement personal relevance personal relevance and pluralism and pluralism

Project-based learning as inquiry Project-based learning is an informal type of inquiry learning. Project-based learning is an informal type of inquiry learning. provides relevance, depth, application and understanding to the formal transfer of knowledge provides relevance, depth, application and understanding to the formal transfer of knowledge inquiry, whether formal or informal, does not entirely replace the efficiency and effectiveness of lectures and classroom discussion. inquiry, whether formal or informal, does not entirely replace the efficiency and effectiveness of lectures and classroom discussion.

5-E Approach to Inquiry IDENTIFY THE SCIENTIFIC CONCEPT FOR THE LESSON Engage - real-world or practical applications Engage - real-world or practical applications Explore - opportunities for students to observe, collect and record information Explore - opportunities for students to observe, collect and record information Explain – driven by research questions Explain – driven by research questions Elaborate (Extend) – deepen students’ understanding Elaborate (Extend) – deepen students’ understanding Evaluate – throughout; and then revise Evaluate – throughout; and then revise

Inquiry and Established Curricula NSES promote an emphasis on guiding students in active and extended inquiry NSES promote an emphasis on guiding students in active and extended inquiry NSES also promote teachers’ recognizing and responding to students’ individual interests, strengths, experiences and needs NSES also promote teachers’ recognizing and responding to students’ individual interests, strengths, experiences and needs AAAS promotes inquiry through investigation as the tool for scientific literacy AAAS promotes inquiry through investigation as the tool for scientific literacy

In Virginia Beginning with the third grade, all Virginia Science Standards of Learning except chemistry begin with, “The student will plan and conduct investigations in which…” followed by a grade- specific or subject-specific list of metrics that typically include observations, background research, and the construction of a scientific viewpoint (Virginia Department of Education, 2007). Beginning with the third grade, all Virginia Science Standards of Learning except chemistry begin with, “The student will plan and conduct investigations in which…” followed by a grade- specific or subject-specific list of metrics that typically include observations, background research, and the construction of a scientific viewpoint (Virginia Department of Education, 2007). Standards for the younger grades and chemistry include investigations but not planning. Standards for the younger grades and chemistry include investigations but not planning.

Project-based learning allows for cognitive scaffolding that parallels the most familiar scientific methods: a.) a problem or question is identified; a.) a problem or question is identified; b.) background information is developed to identify possible solutions; b.) background information is developed to identify possible solutions; c.) procedures to evaluate the solution are performed; c.) procedures to evaluate the solution are performed; d.) inferences are made; d.) inferences are made; e.) the solution is evaluated in consideration of other knowledge; e.) the solution is evaluated in consideration of other knowledge; f.) the results are presented to others; and f.) the results are presented to others; and g.) the outcomes are discussed and further inquiry is considered g.) the outcomes are discussed and further inquiry is considered

The Nature of Science: demand for empirical evidence demand for empirical evidence multiple approaches to defining problems and conducting research multiple approaches to defining problems and conducting research the creative aspects of research the creative aspects of research the role of technologies the role of technologies recognition of inherent subjectivity, and recognition of inherent subjectivity, and the cultural and social influences on science the cultural and social influences on science

Project-based learning opportunities: development of new skills development of new skills exploration of curiosities exploration of curiosities practice in project- management practice in project- management differentiation in instruction differentiation in instruction

Procedures vs. Investigations Procedures prescribed steps prescribed steps prescribed outcome prescribed outcome “cookbook labs” “cookbook labs” Hands-on Hands-on Investigation answer questions or solve problems answer questions or solve problems open-ended inquiry open-ended inquiry includes procedures includes procedures

Inquiry means…. Investigate Investigate Experiment Experiment Explore Explore Design Design Develop Develop

Procedures vs. Investigations

Student-selected projects: connections between their classroom experiences and their interests and environments. greater opportunities for cross-curricular discoveries connections between their classroom experiences and their interests and environments. greater opportunities for cross-curricular discoveries greater student investment greater student investment Positive experience in school Positive experience in school Meaningful experience with inquiry Meaningful experience with inquiry connections between their interests and STEM connections between their interests and STEM

Benefits of student-choice in project-based learning 1. Students take greater ownership in their projects and the products. 2. Students benefit from control of their curriculum. 3. Particularly in larger projects, all students can participate, and they can often choose the level at which they participate. 4. Students develop tools for lifelong learning. 5. Field experiences provide practice for developing and validating data collection protocols and procedures. 6. Data collected by students can have an impact on the community. 7. Student involvement often leads to greater parent involvement and contribution of resources.

Projects Producing Products with Utility What happens when a teacher is the only audience for documents, models and other demonstrations of learning? Secondary teachers should require that all projects have a product with utility beyond the student or students that developed it. Secondary teachers should require that all projects have a product with utility beyond the student or students that developed it.

Examples Watershed Monitoring Watershed Monitoring Invasive plant removal Invasive plant removal Science newsletters Science newsletters Neighborhood Trees Neighborhood Trees Taxidermy Taxidermy Bee-Keeping Bee-Keeping

Remote-Controlled Aerial Videography

Indigenous Fisheries / Embryology

More on fishes

Biodiesel and Waste Oil Fuels

Forestry

STEM and Diverse Learners All students have fundamental needs (Osterman, 2000): desire to belong or to feel accepted desire to belong or to feel accepted control or power to set their own goals control or power to set their own goals self-determination or freedom to pursue their goals self-determination or freedom to pursue their goals pleasure, satisfaction, or fun pleasure, satisfaction, or fun

Reaching a more diverse group of students: Artists Artists Poets Poets Athletes Athletes Gamers Gamers Skaters Skaters Others: Others: food choices food choices human sexuality human sexuality diseases in their family diseases in their family

Project Management Concerns expanded monitoring and troubleshooting by the teacher expanded monitoring and troubleshooting by the teacher spreadsheets are helpful for tracking project milestones, recording project names, and keeping track of experts, permissions and action-items. spreadsheets are helpful for tracking project milestones, recording project names, and keeping track of experts, permissions and action-items. teachers can delegate teachers can delegate teacher must also guide the students to manage their own projects teacher must also guide the students to manage their own projects prepared forms, or better, memoranda or to mimic the workplace prepared forms, or better, memoranda or to mimic the workplace

Presentations reflective of the products, but not be the focus of the project reflective of the products, but not be the focus of the project product minimizes importance of the presentation product minimizes importance of the presentation presentation can be shortened significantly presentation can be shortened significantly allows for 10 to 15 presentations per week allows for 10 to 15 presentations per week presentations become routine, and a life skill presentations become routine, and a life skill experience with presentation technology, (e.g., PowerPoint and Blackboard) prepares students for higher education and the workplace experience with presentation technology, (e.g., PowerPoint and Blackboard) prepares students for higher education and the workplace web pages highlighting their project and findings are marketable skills web pages highlighting their project and findings are marketable skills

Project and Product Concerns murals in schools are permanent murals in schools are permanent web pages are available worldwide, 24 hours as day web pages are available worldwide, 24 hours as day students off school grounds students off school grounds relationships with experts relationships with experts

What About the Science and Engineering Fair? Most science fair projects do not receive any special recognition and may discourage students. However, teachers can promote a timeline and structure for IRB and SRC review

Summary The value of project-based learning in STEM disciplines is enhanced when teachers facilitate students’ selection of project topics. The value of project-based learning in STEM disciplines is enhanced when teachers facilitate students’ selection of project topics. Students take greater ownership in their projects and benefit from control of their curriculum in choosing the level at which they participate. Students take greater ownership in their projects and benefit from control of their curriculum in choosing the level at which they participate. They also develop tools for lifelong learning while gaining field experience in data collection. They also develop tools for lifelong learning while gaining field experience in data collection. The communities benefit in many ways and often provide recognitions for students’ contributions, and this reflects on the school, the teacher, and teenagers in general. The communities benefit in many ways and often provide recognitions for students’ contributions, and this reflects on the school, the teacher, and teenagers in general. Parents’ involvement in the community may also increase as they facilitate their kid’s interests. Parents’ involvement in the community may also increase as they facilitate their kid’s interests. Community-focused projects may add additional challenges for teachers because of the higher visibility of students’ activities. Community-focused projects may add additional challenges for teachers because of the higher visibility of students’ activities.