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 STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Math, and the STEM lab will allow students to do more hands-on
learning.
Barb Coffey, Technology Integrationist at LJHS said, “The curriculum
will focus on hands-on activities that reinforce grade level
standards in all content areas but most importantly, students will
practice the ‘Soft Skills’ or 4C's that workplaces really want in an
employee ~ the ability to communicate, collaborate create and think
critically.”
Coffey said, “Students will be taught to power through a challenge,
don't give up and learn from their mistakes to improve their final
product. Emphasis is also being placed on reflective practices [such
as] what did you do, change, do differently, what skills do you have
that helped with the challenge, and what did you learn.”
There are several new activities students do in the STEM lab.
According to Coffey there are several learning activities that are
new to the district, which teach students various skills. These
activities include:
Breakout Boxes, in which students work in teams of three to five
using clues that allow them to "Break Out” of two to three boxes
with about five clues used to unlock three to five locks. The goal
is to work through all clues when a given amount of time. Students
need to think creatively to uncover the clues, providing them an
opportunity to work in small groups with others to reach an end goal
under pressure. Most Break Outs are also designed to reinforce a
topic being studied including DNA, flight, energy, and math
concepts.
The 3-D Printing and Design introduces students to the web-based
program, Scratch, which allows people to design their own 3-D models
that can then be rendered in one of the school’s two 3-D printers.
Student designs are printed when the group determines which of the
team's designs will be the most effective. Classroom teachers have
used the printer to make 3-D replicas of artifacts or structures
that once were only viewed in an image.
Design solutions that students are encouraged to create include a
3-D rendering Robots and Coding by using Ozobots, Spheros and Lego
EV3s. The most complex of these is the Lego EV3 Robot, which is also
used to compete in First Lego League Competitions.
Graphic Design, in which students use Google Suite Apps (Docs,
Slides, and Drawing) as well as other web-based design programs to
create brochures, posters, flyers, banners with final products
printed on a large format printers. Students use eight design
principles to create professional presentations that convey their
understanding of a topic.
- Marketing, in which students will be taught some tips for
marketing and design and use these tips to market a design solution
their team creates. Coffey said LJHS eventually would like students
to have a unit on marketing a product they personally have designed.
- CSI investigations, in which middle school students will
complete an interactive web-based unit on Forensic Science. The STEM
teacher hopes to work with local law enforcement and scientists to
simulate a crime scene that students will have to review clues to
solve the mystery. It will be set up in a similar way as escape
rooms.
- Passion Projects, where students in some classes learn
about what drives them. For instance, in Mrs. Ramlow's class,
students can pursue these areas of interest during their homeroom
time each day. It motivates them to use class time wisely to
complete work.
Passion Projects are being used by Google to
motivate their work force and foster creative thinking. The goal at
LJHS is that students will begin to uncover their own passions and
try to discover ways to pursue them in their future endeavors.
Coffey said, all seventh and eighth grade students
will also experience a unit on Coding and Robotics.
[to top of second column] |
 Coffey noted that in the past, “We were noticing
that students could not imagine a future career for themselves.
While we will not focus on specific jobs, we will talk more about a
student's natural aptitudes and interests. By helping them identify
these, it is our hope that students can begin to think about which
jobs they may want to do or the classes they may want to take in
high school to prepare them for a career they can be passionate
about.”
Coffey said, “In addition, we are opening the door to a learning
style that will help students feel more successful. It is more
hands-on and highly engaging.”
In December, the first group of students from LJHS participated in a
Robotics competition and Coffey said, “The teachers and students
have so much to learn but it was an exciting day and we definitely
see an interest in this type of learning.”
STEM has value in the classrooms because technology and innovation
are such a big part of our world and its economy today.
As Coffey noted, “By forming partnerships with
community groups like the Logan County 4-H and Lincubate, we hope to
target a group of students who have an interest in technology. By
taking the time to develop their interests now, we are helping to
produce a qualified and skilled workforce that could help Lincoln
grow its economy.”
Related article:
LJHS new Eaton STEM Lab sparks learning
Related link:
http://www.csitheexperience.org/
|
Read all the articles in our
new
2019 Education Magazine
Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES |
Page |
|
Lessons
for all - How to be good people |
4 |
| LJHS
new Eaton STEM Lab sparks learning |
9 |
|
Hands-n learning in LJHS STEM lab |
11 |
|
Cheerleading encourages discipline and high
academic standards |
16 |
|
Outstanding educators produce students who
succeed at life |
19 |
|
Current status report for West Lincoln Broadwell
School |
23 |
|
Tutoring can minimize anxiety and result in
stronger grades |
24 |
| ACT or
SAT: What is a college bound high school
student to do? |
28 |
| Logan
County Education Coalition assists in finding
post secondary education opportunities and funds |
31 |
|
Lincoln Colleges moves forward by looking to its
past |
35 |
|
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