1. STEM Education Sounds Great! Now Where Do I Start?
Incorporating STEM Education Into Your Curriculum
Presented by Diane Insari and Kimberly Dempsey

2. 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

3. Catapult Challenge
The Medieval Catapult was a weapon used during siege warfare. Medieval Catapults were devices for hurling stones or other objects. Today you are a medieval soldier. 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 huge boulders over the wall of the castle as possible. You will have 3 minutes.

4. Your mission….
Real- Life Situations
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.

5. Reflection: What adjustments were needed to make your boulder fly…
Further?
Higher?
Faster?
More accurately?

6. What Is STEM education? STEM- The Thinkers of Tomorrow
Science * Technology * Engineering * Math
  STEM- The Thinkers of Tomorrow

8. We define STEM education as the preparation of students in competencies and skills in the four disciplines:
Science
Technology
Engineering, and
Math.

9. STEM education provides:
Sequences that build upon
each other
Real-world applications
Integrated disciplines

10. science Hands-on activities Cooperative learning Open-ended trials
Critical thinking
Real-life applications

11. technology "...the goal of technology is
to make modifications in the world to meet human needs."
The National Science Education Standards

12. Let’s test your knowledge of the history of educational technology

13. “Students today depend upon _____ too much
“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)

14. “Students today depend upon paper too much
“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)

15. “ _________ ____ will be the ruin of education in our country
“ _________ ____ 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)

16. “ Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of education in our country
“ 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)

17. “__________ ___________ 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.”

18. “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.”

20. engineering The Design Process:
From sites.google.com
Like
Repin
engineering
The Design Process:
the engineering approach to identifying and solving problems

21. math Integration of… Computation Graphing Measurement (Weight, Length,
Volume, Time, Temperature)
Geometry
Problem Solving
Probability

22. The stem philosophy Teacher as Facilitator Hands-On Exploration
Trial and Error
More Than One Right Answer
Integrated Curriculum

23. STEM is not… An add-on Arts and crafts Showing off
Only for high-achieving students
Teacher demonstrations
Step-by-step directions

24. Stem to Steam Integrating the Arts Art Music Foreign Language
Physical Education
Social Science
Collaboration
Hands-On Activities
Problem Solving
Technology
Real-Life Applications
Design Process
Critical Thinking

25. Why Is
STEM Education
Important?

26. 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
In 2010, President Obama announced the “Educate to Innovate” campaign – a multi-million dollar public-private effort to improve the nation’s ability to compete in key scientific fields and engage students to take on the leading challenges of the 21st century.

27. 21st Century Readiness for All Students
Creativity and Innovation
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Communication
Collaboration

28. STEM in Virginia 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

29. STEM in the Elementary classroom
Investigating shadows

30. Insert 1st grade video here

31. Let’s try a stem activity!
BUILDING A LUNAR LANDER

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. The Design Process 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. 

35. Starting a stem initiative in your school

36. A Four-Tiered Approach
Our Four-Tiered
Approach

37. STEM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
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

38. 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

39. Solicit support Get Staff Buy-In Get Students Excited
Refine vision and goals
Hands-on STEM activity with staff
Gauge interest with staff survey
Get Students Excited
Morning 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’ Interest
Newsletter, Web Site, Posters, Bulletin Boards, Word of Mouth
Kick-Off Event: STEMmerday!

40. STEmmerday
An annual STEM event

42. Acquire resources Human Resources: Financial 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

43. 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

44. Insert testimonials here

45. For a copy of this presentation and more information about STEM see our website:
Or contact us: