1. MindSET Modules

2. Goals Support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education Students lose interest around middle school 3-pronged approach – Student activity modules – Teacher training – Parent workshops

3. Last Convention How to start a MindSET program http://tbp.org/mindset http://tbpmindset.org Notes from MindSET ICE 2009 http://tbpmindset.org/Main/MICE

4. This Convention Presentations – The teacher perspective – Student activity modules Data collection Modules creation/design Running modules

5. Data Collection http://tbpmindset.org End-of-semester report – Start submitting these now to keep us in the loop Data collection template – Start collecting data soon E-mail to TBPMindSET@tbp.orgTBPMindSET@tbp.org

6. Creating/Modifying Modules Existing MindSET Modules Module templates (for creating new modules) http://tbpmindset.org/Main/ActivityModules Adapt and improve existing ones – don’t need to start from scratch Submit modules back to TBP MindSET

7. Module design/selection goals Know the teachers’ competency goals Important to connect with students (keep your audience in mind) Activity must be connected to math/engineering principles

8. Module design/selection goals Don’t cover too many topics! Focus on 2-3 topics – show lots of applications Choose topics that go together – Vectors and sin/cos – Measurements and significant figures It is good to repeat topics in a different context (remind them that they have seen it before)

9. Module design/selection goals Express creativity: fun! => design activities that express creativity E.g. Rube Goldbergs, The Incredible Machine

10. Student Learning Kinesthetics – E.g. Demonstrate impact of gear ratios (e.g. cycles) – Vector cancellation using spring scales Tinkering – figure out how something works – Modify/make your own version Team-building: work in synergistic groups

11. Student Learning Observational learning – Students will admire and imitate (have fun while teaching and tinkering) – We can show why we like certain ways of looking at things – we have the intuition developed through years of practice

12. Student Learning Games/Toys – Social interaction, competition, imitation – Kinesthetic – Tangential learning E.g. – Snakes and Ladders (tangential learning, competition) – Meccano Erector (imitation, tinkering, creativity) – Algeblocks module (kinesthetic) – Circuits module (tinkering)

13. Activity examples Water bottle rockets Mousetrap cars Egg-drop Bridges Measuring/transferring volumes of water Optimizing gear ratios Algeblocks

14. Possible module outline Teach basic principles Worksheets Activity, maybe with groups, possibly competing Contest evaluation Not all of these need be in any given module

15. Post-Activity Leaves an important final impression Gives students something to think about More important to celebrate student design rather than contest winners – Discuss examples of good design – Discuss flaws in some designs and how they could have been improved – Appreciate every design (helps students appreciate their own designs)

16. Modules – Summary Data collection + end-of-semester reports Use/modify existing modules Connect with your audience, leave a positive impression Lots of information at http://tbp.org/mindset http://tbpmindset.org Contact: TBPMindSET@tbp.orgTBPMindSET@tbp.org