With the closing of so many schools nationwide and throughout the world due to the COVID-19 Pandemic educators and parents have turned to Zoom and other webinar platforms to learn as well as to teach digitally. I recently had the opportunity to conduct a Webinar via ZOOM for Region 9 Head Start Association based in Sacramento, California. We had 1000 early childhood educators from California and beyond attend the live webinar. The webinar entitled “Engaging Young Children in STEAM and Maker Education Explorations at Home”. The webinar provided early childhood educators who are working with parents remotely during the COVID-19 school closures with foundational principles of STEAM and maker education, best practices in incorporating STEAM explorations within the classroom and at home, as well as numerous STEAM and maker-based explorations that can be readily undertaken at home. The webinar provided examples of affordable and meaningful STEAM and maker ed explorations that parents would be able to incorporate within the home. From incorporating STEAM content with building blocks to exploring patterns and shapes in nature, tinkering and deconstructing, as well as introducing young children to the fundamental principles of coding through screen-free coding toys. Attendees of the webinar had access to a PDF of the webinar as well as a manual with the STEAM and maker ed explorations introduced in the webinar. Check out the recording of the webinar below, it will remain on the Region 9 Head Start YouTube Site indefinitely. I want to thank Fernando Alvarenga of Region 9 Head Start Association for being such a great host during the webinar, and all of the attendees for attending and taking an active role during the webinar. In closing, I am looking forward to presenting professional staff development in person again in the very near future. Until then, may all of you remain motivated, inspired, and healthy.
Tag: STEAMeducation
Tennessee Teachers Attend Two-Day STEAM-Teacher Training Institute
I recently had the pleasure of conducting a two-day STEAM-based teacher training institute for Metro Nashville Public School System. Sixty K-8 educators were introduced to STEAM practices and content via conducting hands-on-minds-on, inquiry-based STEAM investigations. All investigations were directly aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as well. The training started off with lively discussion to assure that all participants had a clear understanding of: What a student-driven classroom looks like; Teaching via inquiry-based practices; Incorporating 21st century learning skills and practices within all lessons; Incorporating the engineering design process within STEAM experiences, and Incorporating reflective journaling within the classroom. Throughout the two-day STEAM Institute teachers conducted investigations to explore: materials science principles, architecture and mathematics connections, aeronautics, force, solar energy, reverse engineering, motion and energy concepts. Additionally, teachers were introduced to incorporating meaningful technology including low-tech ed tools and kits, as well as incorporating STEM-related children’s literature. All experiences were inquiry-based, incorporated 21st century skills, and made connections to the related engineering careers such as Materials Science Engineer, Civil and Architectural Engineer, etc. For more information about the STEM and NGSS teacher training workshops Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski conducts world-wide contact her via the contact form on this website. The following photos were taken during the two-day STEAM Institute.