In March I had the privilege of returning to Vietnam to continue providing on-going science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professional staff development to teachers and administrators of STEAMe Garten and Apax Leaders. Early childhood teachers of STEAMe Garten in Hanoi and Apax Leaders from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were introduced to STEM practices and content during five-day STEM teacher training institutes. Participants were introduced to the foundational principles of STEM education, best practices in STEM education, and STEM content. Participants took an active role in the training by working in small groups to conduct a wide-array of STEM-based investigations. Participants were introduced to inquiry-based teaching practices, incorporating journaling in the classroom, using STEM-based children’s literature within STEM lessons, and the engineering design process. A great deal of time was spent on providing opportunities for the participants to see what a quality STEM lesson entails, how it should be delivered, and creating a classroom learning environment that provides opportunities for students to develop and strengthen their 21st-century skills. STEAMe Garten, Vietnam is one of the first private educational corporations to incorporate STEM within early childhood and kindergarten classrooms. Additionally, Apax Vietnam is now offering ESL after school programs that teach English through STEM-based learning experiences. During the two-five day STEM, teacher training institutes participants were actively engaged in conducting “real-world” STEM-based lessons that could readily be incorporated within their early childhood through kindergarten classrooms, and ESL lessons. From designing and building marble roller coasters, to reverse engineering and coding teachers were immersed in exploring the power and beauty that STEM education has in transforming education. The following photos are a sampling of the two five-day institutes that took place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for STEAMe Garten and Apax Leaders.
Tag: ngss
Using Children’s Literature to Inspire STEM Learning
I recently had the pleasure of partnering with the Van Andel Education Institute in conducting a day-long professional staff development teacher training for K-5 Michigan Teachers. During the training teachers were introduced to reflective journaling, STEM practices, incorporating low-cost technology, inquiry-based teaching practices, aligning lessons with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and of course having the opportunity to preview a wide-array of K-5+ children’s literature books with STEM themes. Teachers explored the nature of matter aka Materials Science using simple forms of technology, observed patterns and shapes in nature and in man-made designs, and designed, built and tested marble rollercoasters. It’s always interesting and exciting to see the revelations and transformations teachers make throughout a training. The Van Andel Education Institute is a proponent for quality, long-term and sustainable professional staff development that will enable teachers to feel confident and empowered to go back into the classroom and engage and empower their students. Check out a sampling of photos taken during “Using Children’s Literature to Inspire STEM Learning” professional staff development training.
Using Phenomena in NGSS-Designed Lessons and Units
Using phenomena to drive instruction is at the forefront of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Phenomena are natural and observable events that occur in the universe and that we can use our science knowledge to explain or predict. Despite the fact that phenomena are a key component in science and engineering, phenomena have been a missing piece in science education. By selecting phenomena that is interesting and relevant to students lives will focus the learning shifts from learning about a topic to figuring it out through hands-on-minds-on inquiry and problem-based learning experiences. For more information about using phenomena in your NGSS lessons from theory to practice check out the following resource from ngss.org at the following link https://www.ngssphenomena.com/phenomena/.
Washington Teachers Explore STEM and MakerEd Challenges During Teacher Training Workshop
I recently had the pleasure of sharing my knowledge and expertise of STEM and MakerEd strategies with elementary and middle school teachers in Washington. During the two day training teachers were introduced to the engineering design process, incorporating lessons that develop and strengthen 21st century skills, the design cycle, and methods/strategies to incorporate Makerspaces within their school library and classrooms. During the two-day training teachers were given the engineering design challenge of designing a roller coaster marble run using recycled materials, designing and creating a vehicle that was powered by air, using recycled materials, as well as designing and building a Vibrobot. Teachers were introduced to strategies on incorporating a Makerspace within their library, as well as ideas for Maker Centers within their classrooms. Teachers were introduced to a wide-array of technology, tools and kits that are commonly used in school library and classroom Makerspaces such as: Makey Makey, Snap Circuits, LittleBits, Makedo, Ozobot, Fisher Price Code-A-Pillar, Squishy Circuits and more. Additionally, teachers were introduced to incorporating tinkering/ take-apart centers within their Makerspaces. Teachers were given the task of analyzing a toy or household gadget with their group, they were then asked to take the gadget apart. They were to identify and label the parts etc. The components from the deconstructed broken gadgets can be used to create new gadgets and inventions, or used to repair similar gadgets. Students of all ages love to tinker, and I find that adults love to tinker and take part in deconstructing gadgets as well. The process of tinkering, and deconstructing gadgets indeed develops and strengthens 21st century skills, and incorporates science and engineering practices. The following photos are a sample of the STEM and Maker Explorations that were conducted during the two day STEM and MakerEd teacher training workshop. To schedule a STEM, MakerEd, or NGSS teacher training workshop complete the contact form found on the contact page.
St. Paul School Hanoi Staff Attend STEAM Institute
My childhood days were spent growing up in Bangkok, Thailand and Vientiane, Laos thus when I was contacted to conduct science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) training for the entire teaching staff of St. Paul School in Hanoi, Vietnam I was elated! During a four-day STEAM Institute early childhood-grade 8 teachers and school administrators were introduced to STEAM practices and content. To make the training as beneficial and meaningful to all the staff, the staff was separated into grade levels. There was also scheduled time to meet with individual departments across the disciplines in small groups. The training started off with introducing and modeling inquiry-based teaching practices and learning to the staff. The staff was also introduced to incorporating journaling across the disciplines. All investigations incorporated 21st century skills, and were aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. Throughout the four day institute teachers conducting hands-on-minds-on inquiry-based STEAM investigations including: engineering design process, materials science, connecting mathematical principles and architecture, building science, reverse engineering, building dimensional structures with recycled materials, sustainable engineering, incorporating meaningful technology and more. It was a great group of teachers, with a very supportive administrative staff that will help the teaching staff in their efforts to incorporate “meaningful STEAM experiences” within their classrooms in the 2017-2018 year. The entire teaching staff and administrators truly embraced the benefits of incorporating STEAM-based practices and content across the disciplines and all grade levels. I look forward to hearing how St. Paul American School in Hanoi students become immersed in exploring STEAM this year. The following photos are a small sampling of the STEAM-based investigations that were undertaken during the STEAM institute. For more information about the STEM, STEAM, and NGSS professional staff development Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski conducts worldwide complete the contact form found on this website.
Vibrobots and Bristlebots Engineering Design Challenge for STEM and Maker Classrooms
If you are looking for an affordable electrical-based engineering or makespace design challenge, Vibrobots and Bristlebots are the perfect challenge. When I introduce teachers and Media Specialists to the engineering design challenge of designing and building Vibrobots and/or Bristlebots I start off the lesson by having the teachers analyze simple Hexbugs. Hexbugs were invented years ago by Beam Robotics, they are a simple robot that moves about based on a vibrating motor. Hexbug models have become more complex throughout the years, with the later models sensing light, objects, and having the ability to swim in water. Students will choose their own materials to build their Vibrobot or Bristlebot, most materials can be purchased at your local dollar store, as well as using recyclable and re-usable materials. This engineering design challenge can be completed as an individual challenge or in groups of 2. Provide students with basic perimeters and goals to what you expect the Vibrobot or Bristlebot to perform. After students have completed designing, building and testing their models have each student or groups of students provide a demonstration of their model. Students are to discuss how they incorporated the engineering design cycle or design process, and related STEM terms. The following video gives an overview of the Vibrobot Engineering Design Challenge, a challenge that develops and strengthen 21st century skills, and aligns with Next Generation Science Standards. It’s an affordable electrical-based engineering design challenge perfect for the STEM classroom or Makerspace. For more information about the STEM and MakerEd professional staff development Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski conducts worldwide complete the contact information on the contact page. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgonaB2d9co[/embedyt]
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.