Saturday, January 28, 2017
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Reflective Blog 1 - ED 690
Without research or significant preparation, respond to these questions in your Blog...
1) How would you describe STEM education to a friend or family member in informal conversation?
STEM education is focused on science, math, engineering, and technology. It provides students with core education in these areas while encouraging larger skills like problem solving and critical thinking. Within STEM education, the topics are not taught independently and can be found weaved together to provide students with a more comprehensive educational experience.
2) Why do you think STEM education is (or is not) important?
STEM education is important for preparing students for life after graduation. Whether a student is heading to college or joining the workforce, STEM education provides students with marketable skills that are sought after in the real world. Students become proficient problem solvers, think critically about problems, and can generate solutions. They are taught ways to design and redesign and how to persevere until an acceptable solution is obtained. They learn to question ideas and how to work collaboratively. These skills are so important because they are skills that employers want individuals to have.
3) What is the value of incorporating or enhancing STEM in public education.
While STEM focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math, the critical skills learned are applicable in all areas of education. Students become better writers when they can imagine various solutions to problems and are able to articulate these ideas to others. Additionally, STEM education is often taught in a more hands on approach. This style of learning is more appealing to students and is better aligned with real world approaches to problems.
Return to your original blog and add additional thoughts. In addition to reviewing the resources provided in the LiveBinder, I used Twitter to research the topic. I really like using Twitter to find information on STEM education because there are tons of current sources available. The resources I found on Twitter echoed those from the LiveBinder.
1) How were your initial thoughts reinforced by the resources you explored?
The wired.com article by Stephen DeAngelis reinforced my thoughts on the importance of STEM education. DeAngelis points out that STEM education promotes problem solving and critical thinking and that these skills are essential to life after school. What he points out that I did not originally touch on, is that while employers are seeking these skills they are also critical in navigating life. When students understand how to think critically and effectively solve problems, they are more capable to deal with life problems.
2) What are some additional reasons to incorporate STEM education into your planning and instructions?
Randal Mason (2015) points out the importance that STEM education plays in developing solutions for global problems. I think this is key to STEM education; encouraging students to look at bigger picture problems and having them develop solutions. This, to me, is the true basis of STEM education.
Something that stuck out to me after completing some research was the importance of diversity in STEM fields. The article by Karen D. Purcell (2015) discussed ways to encourage female participation in STEM fields. This is really important to me, being a former female Chemist. In my classroom, I use any opportunity I can to bring my prior experience into the classroom. This makes the content more personal but also provides an example that women do have a place in STEM education. In fact, my school competed in a robotics tournament recently. Our full female team took top place and it was awesome to see females successful in an area that is predominately viewed as a male field.
1) How would you describe STEM education to a friend or family member in informal conversation?
STEM education is focused on science, math, engineering, and technology. It provides students with core education in these areas while encouraging larger skills like problem solving and critical thinking. Within STEM education, the topics are not taught independently and can be found weaved together to provide students with a more comprehensive educational experience.
2) Why do you think STEM education is (or is not) important?
STEM education is important for preparing students for life after graduation. Whether a student is heading to college or joining the workforce, STEM education provides students with marketable skills that are sought after in the real world. Students become proficient problem solvers, think critically about problems, and can generate solutions. They are taught ways to design and redesign and how to persevere until an acceptable solution is obtained. They learn to question ideas and how to work collaboratively. These skills are so important because they are skills that employers want individuals to have.
3) What is the value of incorporating or enhancing STEM in public education.
While STEM focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math, the critical skills learned are applicable in all areas of education. Students become better writers when they can imagine various solutions to problems and are able to articulate these ideas to others. Additionally, STEM education is often taught in a more hands on approach. This style of learning is more appealing to students and is better aligned with real world approaches to problems.
Return to your original blog and add additional thoughts. In addition to reviewing the resources provided in the LiveBinder, I used Twitter to research the topic. I really like using Twitter to find information on STEM education because there are tons of current sources available. The resources I found on Twitter echoed those from the LiveBinder.
1) How were your initial thoughts reinforced by the resources you explored?
The wired.com article by Stephen DeAngelis reinforced my thoughts on the importance of STEM education. DeAngelis points out that STEM education promotes problem solving and critical thinking and that these skills are essential to life after school. What he points out that I did not originally touch on, is that while employers are seeking these skills they are also critical in navigating life. When students understand how to think critically and effectively solve problems, they are more capable to deal with life problems.
2) What are some additional reasons to incorporate STEM education into your planning and instructions?
Randal Mason (2015) points out the importance that STEM education plays in developing solutions for global problems. I think this is key to STEM education; encouraging students to look at bigger picture problems and having them develop solutions. This, to me, is the true basis of STEM education.
Something that stuck out to me after completing some research was the importance of diversity in STEM fields. The article by Karen D. Purcell (2015) discussed ways to encourage female participation in STEM fields. This is really important to me, being a former female Chemist. In my classroom, I use any opportunity I can to bring my prior experience into the classroom. This makes the content more personal but also provides an example that women do have a place in STEM education. In fact, my school competed in a robotics tournament recently. Our full female team took top place and it was awesome to see females successful in an area that is predominately viewed as a male field.
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