Nov.+21+Meeting+-+STEM

=Agenda=
 * 1) School updates
 * 2) Additional benchmarking (e.g., mapping) needed?
 * 3) Possible programs (curricular or after school)
 * 4) Next steps

=Notes=
 * Our job isn't to find all STEM connections in current curriculum, is it? No, but to identify general connections/trends in current program.
 * Teachers, particularly MS teachers with additional duties like recess, etc., have responsibilities after school. Are we talking about requiring teachers to do additional duties. Response: we're going to make recommendations and not put too much thought into specifics; however, we're certainly not looking at increasing teacher responsibilities beyond their own interest to do so, or participate with in lieu of other responsibilities (e.g., coaching).
 * Update to "links" page.
 * Researchers without borders link - great opportunities and definitions of STEM schools.
 * LS science fair - 4th graders come up with a project that they're interested in, use the scientific process to do an experiment and collect data, then show how it supports or denies the hypothesis.
 * LS looking at International Primary Curriculum (IPC)
 * MS history curriculum - possibly alter to require looks into the most impacting technology of the era being studied; students research how it works and make connections.
 * Review of current after school activities
 * Discussions of possible curriculum integration (see school pages)
 * For students with learning differences, spiral math curriculum (what is done in MS) doesn't work
 * As part of our STEM work, what are we going to do to make sure an effective [math] curriculum is in place?
 * LS we have done the math work - spent hours on it. It's different in the LS - if we go to PBL, is the science teacher going to be teaching science different from how she does it in the classroom?
 * We could do STEM in little pieces, or we could do it the right way and say we need professional day. With the time requirements for the different subject (with the IPC), there's no way we can even fit STEM in. Even though STEM by nature is integrated, IPC keeps subject separate.
 * Curriculum mapping will help STEM succeed or fail; PBL is not as necessary for STEM as matching curriculum topics as much as possible.
 * Professional development.
 * We don't spend any time co-planning. In Japan, they spend lots of time planning. Teachers wear teacher hats and someone else where's athletic hats, etc.
 * Teachers are comfortable with what they're used to, and not everyone wants to change. Many don't see a light at the end of the tunnel.
 * Imagine what teachers would think if mandatory athletics as a teacher requirement were removed? Radical shift.
 * In LS, students HAVE to learn to read, learn to write.
 * A-day and B-day - the national inventors hall of fame school. A-day is main subjects, B-day is STEM activities.
 * This is too much to do in a limited amount of time, or it's not done well and/or there's no follow-through. PD at St. Paul's is not always productive or well-spent time.
 * It will take knowledgeable leadership to make a change.
 * How radical are these possible changes?
 * If STEM become one more thing...
 * Any recommendation should be coupled with a //time// recommendation.
 * Is STEM feasible here?

Summary of work accomplished by STEM ARC:
 * LS
 * Current activities documented
 * IPC is PBL
 * Needs - really look at IPC and confirm PBL with STEM; is IPC going to be an ad-on or a fully integrated program; look at Math curriculum and discuss with Pat current and potential integration
 * MS
 * Current activities documented
 * STEM club started
 * US
 * Current activities documented
 * STEM club started
 * General recommendations we're considering:
 * A couple key people in each school, working with the respective academic dean, pilot an integrated program with a focus on STEM documenting all that went well, all obstacles - this puts a lot of pressure on technology people. - summer grant for people who volunteer to pull this stuff together (a //wise// move). Updates to faculty upon accomplishment of milestones, both successes and failures - keep people informed. For example, a 5-minute testimonial at a faculty meeting from students who were really into the activity(ies). See 4th grade bookshare projects.
 * Adjusting school schedule to allow for collaborative planning time.
 * Review and potential adjustment of teacher extra-curricular responsibilities (i.e., look at coaching responsibilities, after school program responsibilities, etc.).
 * Continue a STEM oversight committee through school year 2012-2013.
 * The academic deans of the three schools meet on a consistent basis to ensure curriculum continuity through St. Paul's K-12.
 * Consider adopting relevant curricular and extra-curricular STEM activites.

=Engineering Curriculum=
 * @http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-1-and-2/subjects/design-and-technology/keystage1/index.aspx Lower/Middle
 * @http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-3-and-4/subjects/key-stage-3/design-and-technology/programme-of-study/index.aspx?tab=2 Middle/Upper

=Homework=
 * 1) Research schools, add links and anecdotal info.
 * 2) LS - Kathy
 * 3) MS - Randy and Brigid
 * 4) US - Mick and Jason
 * 5) Review links already on our links page.