STEM Is The Buzzword!

When teachers are lucky enough to have control over their own curriculum, or to work in an environment of collaboration, the opportunity to develop cross-curricular lesson plans should be a main focus. Students will benefit from hearing about topics from varied points of view, and will develop real world skills as they apply their knowledge in significant ways. As a science teacher, I was lucky to take part in a program at one of the University of California schools that worked to create connections between science and art. So many students were excited and inspired by our progress in this area, but most schools would find it difficult to incorporate such a curriculum into their schedules for hundreds of high school students. However, the new national push for STEM may make things easier. 

Breaking STEM Down

STEM is quickly becoming a buzzword in teaching communities across the nation. Teachers are trying to find time to develop resources and find materials to help win grants or other funding. With the drastic increase in employment and advances in fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, the importance of student achievement in these areas has grown. To improve the job market and potential technological developments, the government started to encourage teaching in these four technical areas from the elementary level up. 

Incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math may seem easy, but the goal is not just to examine something, record data and then draw a graph. It is more closely defined by:

• S - Study a problem
• T - Find a solution
• E - Design a way to implement the solution
• M - Analyze data to prove an increase in efficiency

The four areas are difficult to always incorporate and justify in the world of standards today, but with the extra time taken to design a project-based learning set, students will step-up and the results will hopefully justify the extra work. 

Where STEM Applies

The units of study that lend themselves to STEM are those within robotics, architecture, and environmental engineering. Whether elementary or high school level, students can understand the relevancy of designing the most efficient LEGO car, or developing ways to reduce the impact of environmental disasters, or to investigate ways of purifying water. Depending upon the amount of time you have with your students, and whether you have colleagues on board to help incorporate your needs into their class schedule, projects like these can cover many of the curriculum requirements. 

STEM in the Professional World

Continuing interest and enthusiasm for professions in the sciences is becoming a problem. STEM is a solution, in addition to work experience, and professional guest speakers in any of the areas listed above. The more exposure students have to potential professions, the more likely they will continue their studies, and even possibly get some sponsorship for their degree.

Lesson Plans: 

Introduction to Robotics

This lesson teaches students to operate a computer program to create a robot. They will use legos to create their robots, and use simple motors to move them. Furthermore, students will then track the speed of their robots using a computer program and record the data on a graph

Cooperative Carbon Copy LEGO Creations

Students will work together to duplicate a LEGO structure. They will form groups to discuss and reflect on the activity, and a computer activity is also included. 

What is a LEGO Mindstorm Robot?

Students will explore the LEGO website and answer questions as part of a webquest. They will then read an excerpt from Robots & Robot and will have to read, chart, and share their findings with the class about the jobs robots perform in the world.