2. The PTSM: Curriculum Level STAGE I: Advanced content + short term creative and critical thinking activities STAGE II: Challenging activities that develop creative thinking and problem solving skills STAGE III: Independent projects

3. Role of the Teacher STAGE 1 –Provide advanced content –Plan short-term creative and critical thinking activities –Develop the tools of inquiry in the discipline –Teacher as instructor and questioner

4. Stage II Students work on inquiry-based activities related to the content of the curriculum. Activities are generally more realistic, longer in duration (generally one to several hours spanning several days), and more complex than Stage I activities. The most common strategies used in activities are creative problem solving, problem-based learning, inquiry techniques, research methods, scientific method, inductive and deductive reasoning, syllogism, analysis of arguments, and concept analysis. The level of pace and challenge must be appropriate for the ability level of the student.

5. The Role of the Teacher STAGE 2 –Create interesting and relevant ill-structured problems –Gather and organize resources –Facilitate problem solving teams –Assess problem solving process and products –Teacher as coach

6. The Role of the Teacher STAGE 3 –Provide project parameters Content Process Product –Scaffold self-regulation –Teacher as consultant

7. Strengths of the PTSM Student Benefits –Fit with the STEM disciplines –Development of thinking skills –Development of personal talent Teacher Benefits –Easy to learn –Encourages teacher creativity –Fits natural instructional progressions