Session 2: Going deeper
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Description of Session 2
This session will delve deeper into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and explain why and how to introduce concepts and terminology to students. This session will explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) through videos, narrated lectures, case studies and additional online resources. After completing this session, click on Session 3 to continue.
If this course is being taken to document Professional Development hours, use the checklist on the menu to the left.
Video Presentations
Please watch the two lecture presentations below as well as the YouTube videos. These videos highlight ways to pique the interest of students to help engage them with the subject matter. (Adobe Flash Player is required to view the PowerPoint lectures.) Click on the title to load presentations.
1. Planning STEM Activities, Science and Math. Methods to introduce Science and Math to the classroom.
2. Planning STEM Activities, Engineering and Technology. Methods to introduce Engineering and Technology to the classroom.
The following YouTube videos demonstrate fun activities to engage the imagination of K-8 students. These videos can be shown in the classroom or the teacher can demonstrate and students can practice the activities.
| Mathematics Videos: | Science Videos: |
|---|---|
| Engineering Videos: | Technology Videos: |
Sample Discussion
Below is a sample of discussion questions that can be used when training faculty with the above materials.
Consider the following questions
- Which learning activities were most engaging? Why were they so engaging?
- Choose one concept you have learned about and describe how it will improve your day-to-day practice when you are working with children in your program.
Recommended directions for online learners would be:
"Post your response [in the discussion area]. Once you have responded to both questions, post a reply to two other learners. You may choose to respond to learners who have posted about the same child scenario or others."
Sample Activity for Planning and Feedback
The following is a sample of an activity that can be completed and documented for Professional Development hours. Creating a sample of an activity will help teachers participating in this training to develop a plan for their classroom:
- Think about the children in your classroom or program
- Consider STEM learning needs
- Consider barriers and challenges
- Consider age and developmental stage
- Consider interests
- Consider the environment and available resources, materials, etc.
- Create a sample of an activity that meets the following criteria:
- Aligns to the STEM learning needs of the children in your group
- Aligns to Universal Design for Learning
- Is at an appropriate learning level for your group of children’s current language development needs
- Aligns to a specific item in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks (identify which Framework -- Mathematics, STE 2006 or draft STE -- and the specific standard)
- Is engaging and exciting for you and for the children
- Consider the following questions: Which learning activities were the most engaging? Why were they so engaging? Document for yourself one concept you have learned about and describe how it will improve your day-to-day practice when you are working with children in your program.
- Write a detailed description of your sample activity that includes standard numbers and other details to describe how all of the above-listed criteria is met by your activity.
Recommended directions for online learners:
- Post your description [in the discussion area]
- Peer-review one other sample activity written by another learner and provide specific, detailed, constructive feedback and concrete suggestions for improvement
