Mid-year Report

Mid-year ReportLogo 1 by Jackson Doughty, 2013

STEM ARC Committee

Report Outline1. Overview of discussions2. Findings/research3. Preliminary recommendations4. Next steps5. Questions for consideration

Why STEM?1. Promote and teach "21st century skills"2. It's an excellent preparation for life and

any profession3. Connects class content with "the real

world"4. Adds a new level of fun and creativity

to standard course content5. Introduce students to STEM

professions as an option

Goals of Committee

1. What are we doing well with STEM?1. Administratively2. Inside/outside classroom

2. How can we improve on what we do?

3. What high-impact STEM activities can we implement immediately and over time?

Preliminary Recommendations

Long Term1. Continuation of STEM ARC 2. Teacher workshops3. Measure STEM progress

1. IPC will dovetail well with existing science curriculum.

2. Discovery center and related PBL3. Turn science topics into “authentic

problems”4. Correlate math skills and science

Preliminary Recommendations

Short Term – LS

1. Robotics competitions2. Technology relevance to

history/geography topics (e.g., debate format in higher grades)

3. Expert guest speakers providing integral view of science

4. 6th grade integrated science/woodshop project

Preliminary Recommendations

Short Term – MS

1. Science curriculum2. 9th grade computer tech class3. Computer science4. Robotics club5. STEM club continuation

Preliminary Recommendations

Short Term – US

Next Steps• Visits to other schools • Coordination with Strategic Planning• External research (students, faculty,

compatible schools)• Begin making community connections– Local higher ed. (JHU, MSU, UMBC)– Industry (NASA, NSA, SP parent/alumni

affiliations)• Finalize recommendations

Questions for Consideration

1. What resources are necessary? Teachers, materials, funding

2. Teachers don’t collaborate as much as we should. What models and research are out there for how this is done well?

3. How do we get teachers to realize STEM doesn’t mean more work?

4. Project-based learning:– What skills do we want kids to have at end of

each year?– How can we integrate different classes to teach

the skills?

Logo 2 by Evan Sauter, 2013