STEM

Welcome to the **STEM EDUCATION** page of the St. Paul's School Action Research Committee. This space will contain collected data, reflections, resources and will help to inform committee recommendations for future action. toc =__2012-2013 Committee Members__= Mick Scott Kathy Smith Nancy Dimitriades Doug Finkel Darren Holgate Willy Matsuzaki Rebecca Pollard Anileen Gray

__9-25 Meeting Minutes:__
 * ARC recommendations from 2012 report handed out (short and long term).
 * Wiki agreed upon as organization of committee data, but faculty meeting presentations to different divisions a necessity.
 * "We will be the leader in academic innovation in the region" etc., from strategic planning committee recommendations.
 * Project-based vs. //problem//-based learning
 * Project - learning goals focused on product of project
 * Problem - group picks a problem to work on together to solve
 * Agreed that language in reports should be something like "problem- and project-based learning".
 * Went through ARC recommendations from 2012 report.
 * HW: go through entire 2012 ARC report, review recommendations, and pick a few to chomp into.


 * 2011-2012 **

=__Committee members__= Mick Scott Eric Nordstrom Jason Stine Randy Woods Brigid Mitcherling Diana Koska Kathy Smith Darren Holgate

=__Committee Reports__=



=__Links to School Pages__= Lower School STEM page Middle School STEM page Upper School STEM page

=__Field Research__=

=__**What is STEM?**__= Here's a great description from the website of Dr. Patricia Fioriello, a K-12 consultant:

"The acronym STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This program was started by __[|Judith A. Ramaley]__, the former director of the National Science Foundation’s education and human-resources division. This approach to education is designed to revolutionize the teaching of subject areas such as mathematics and science by incorporating technology and engineering into regular curriculum by creating a 'meta-discipline.'

There is more; STEM Education attempts to transform the typical teacher-centered classroom by encouraging a curriculum that is driven by problem-solving, discovery, exploratory learning, and require students to actively engage a situation in order to find its solution."

Mr. Scott's class introduction to STEM and Engineering: media type="custom" key="10644882"

=__Why STEM?__=
 * Promote and teach "21st century skills"
 * It's an excellent preparation for life and any profession
 * Connects class content with "the real world"
 * Adds a new level of fun and creativity to standard course content
 * Introduce students to STEM professions as an option
 * "Given today’s global challenges compared to the rest of recorded history, there has never been an age with a greater need for new scientists, engineers and problem solving leaders. Recent breakthroughs in chemistry, medicine and physics have revealed a new set of challenges and created even greater opportunity for problem solving through technology. This underscores a dramatic challenge: there are not enough students choosing related paths to meet that global demand." - from the VEX Robotics // education // page.

=__Goals of Committee__= With regards to our science, technology, engineering, and math activities:
 * 1) What are we doing well?
 * Administratively
 * Outside classroom
 * Inside classroom
 * 1) How can we improve on what we do?
 * 2) What high-impact STEM activities can we implement immediately and over time?

Do our programs (academic and non-academic) promote the following 21st century skills:
 * Self-directed learning and a work ethic, intrinsic motivation
 * Communication skills (written, verbal), literacy
 * Collaborative skills
 * Critical thinking
 * Creative thinking

=__Action items__=
 * Find and use effective rubric for assessing current program (doesn't need to be a review of Rubicon and curriculum content)
 * Identify best practices and great models, whether research-only or existent programs

Action Plan

 * 1) Split up responsibilities
 * 2) Review links and separate into relevant groups
 * 3) Find effective assessment rubric
 * 4) Begin assessing LS, MS, US activities
 * 5) Begin developing new STEM activities, in and after school

=__Questions__=
 * Teachers don't collaborate as much as we should. What models and research are out there for how this is done well?
 * STEM is a direction we should be moving towards - how do we get teachers to realize it doesn't mean more work?
 * Project-based learning:
 * What skills do we want kids to have at the end of each year?
 * How can we integrate different classes to teach those skills?

=__Spring Actions__= Questions to keep in mind: 1. What resources are necessary to feed a budding program? 2. What models, research, and tools will assist an increase in teacher collaboration? 3. What skills are most important in each year, and how can we integrate different classes to teach these skills?

NAIS STEM highlights (presented by Susan):

 * 1) Every school should have design thinking
 * 2) Backward design - looking at outcomes first
 * 3) The big shifts in education:
 * 4) Knowing to doing
 * 5) Teacher to student-centered
 * 6) From I to team
 * 7) Construction of meaning
 * 8) Individual to networks of schools (professional learning community)
 * 9) Boundaries between school and work are less concrete than previously

Items to discuss:
1. Make connections with strategic planning group. 2. Reach out to begin making community connections. 3. Review small group agenda.

Items to accomplish in school groups:
1. Brainstorm: based on what we've learned so far, what would an ideal STEM program at SP LS/MS/US look like? 2. Plan visits to other schools to occur between now and April 23.

Discussion notes:

 * 1) Possible to work more teacher collab time into schedule? Lakeside - 3 hours per week. Would wreck teacher/mentor/coach model.
 * 2) We need to be careful about our language - we're not out to make SP a STEM school. This should be communicated. If we focus on 21st century skills.
 * 3) Collaborating for excellence. Opens up the conversation and impacts.
 * 4) What is it we need to do at the highest level of excellence for our students?
 * 5) Have someone from outside, motivating speaker, come in regarding 21st century skills and innovating.
 * 6) Big barrier in changing the minds of teachers to accept collaborating for excellence.
 * 7) Curriculum coordinator role?
 * 8) There's got to be faculty input.
 * 9) Try things you've never done before, it's okay to fail. This is good philosophy for changing a traditional independent school education. Are you willing to fail? Are you willing to let someone else succeed?
 * 10) PD is always a complaint. A considerable amount of time, energy, money must be put into it. PD curriculum?
 * 11) We've increased the number of days for students (180), but haven't increased the number for faculty.

Realms of Recommendations:

 * Infrastructure
 * Advisory/service learning
 * Curriculum
 * Faculty development
 * Schedule
 * Leadership/administration

Questions to ask schools:

 * What vehicle do you use to manage an integrated curriculum?
 * What's your mission statement?
 * [Susan will complete this list.]

**COLLABORATING FOR EXCELLENCE** Recognizing the need for 21st century students to acquire a enhanced set of skills that will enhance their position in the global marketplace, we support the development of curricula that is driven by student – centered problem solving, collaboration, exploration, and discovery. In their efforts, they will utilize the most current and effective technological resources available.