GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS

OF STEM TEACHING

6/19/2013

Reynoldsburg City Schools

Scott BennettSTEM Middle @ Baldwin Rd Principal, Reynoldsburg

Chris MenhornSTEM Middle @ Baldwin Rd Teacher, Reynoldsburg

Session Objectives• Understand Design Cycle : Participants will

understand and be able to use design cycle concept in their own work

• Design Cycle Implications: Participants will realize importance of design cycle thinking on student global readiness

Reynoldsburg STEM Initiative

2,000 students K-12

• 34% of District Students

• 2 High Schools

• 2 Elementary Schools

• 1 Middle School

• Some of the highest performing schools in the area.

RESULTSSTEM Middle @

Baldwin Rd

5th Grade 86%

6th Grade 94%

7th Grade 88%

8th Grade 85%

PI 102

RESULTSeSTEM Academy

(Reyn, OH)

State Performance Index Results

2011: 111.9

2012: 110.8 (preliminary)

Ohio average: 95

RESULTSSummit Rd Elem

3rd Reading 91.6

3rd Math 92.6

4th Reading 93.8

4th Math 94.8

PI 108

STEM Middle @ Baldwin Rd

• 750 Students

• Grades 5-8

• School of Choice

• Accelerated Math & Science

Why STEM?• STEM Education focuses on

developing critical thinking skills and the ability to problem solve.

• Incorporating design cycle thinking trains students to work together to solve complex problems.

Global Aspects of STEM

• At Baldwin Road, all students participate in a class called Innovation Lab that presents challenges which require design thinking to solve real-world problems.

• Students are also presented with similar problem-based challenges in their classes. These integrated projects frequently require students to think beyond the school walls into their community and the world.

Global Aspects of STEM

Students also learn about and practice skills that are necessary in the global world.

We call these the “7 C’s”.

Collaboration Compassion CuriosityCommunication Conscientiousness

Complex Thinking Committed

Global Aspects of STEMErosion and the Blacklick Watershed

Global Aspects of STEMErosion and the Blacklick Watershed

•Students worked in groups to summarize their findings and present recommendations for keeping the watershed safe from erosion and pollution caused by humans.

•Students learned that “dirt” washed into streams is the largest source of pollution.

•They made the connection between their choices in the Reynoldsburg community and how that can impactother communities downstream to the Ohio River, Mississippi River, and even the Gulf of Mexico.

•Students also looked at how erosion has impacted otherpeople in the world in events like the Dust Bowl and famineswhere farming is impacted.

Global Aspects of STEMHoliday Hop

•Our school completed a design challenge in our Innovation Lab class that addressed economics during the holiday season.

•Students researched how to create a product and market it to their peers.

•They had to create a product that could be sold for $1.00 or less and needed to consider the cost of producing their product. They were encouraged to use resources that wererecycled and reused.

•The challenge encouraged the students to think beyond the walls of the school to createproducts that members of the communitymight be interested in purchasing.

Global Aspects of STEMHoliday Hop

Global Aspects of STEMHoliday Hop

•As a school we were able to raise __ to help the in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy.

•Through these design challenges, students made connections to the world beyond the school walls and practiced skills necessary to compete and succeed in the global community.

SURVIVORSURVIVOR

GOOD GENES VS. BAD GOOD GENES VS. BAD GENESGENES

Differences in genes occur because of Differences in genes occur because of random mutations.random mutations.

Therefore, not every mutation is going to be Therefore, not every mutation is going to be a good mutation and not every mutation is a good mutation and not every mutation is going to be passed on.going to be passed on.

SUITCASES = GENESSUITCASES = GENES

Every group will receive a suitcase that contains five items.Every group will receive a suitcase that contains five items. The items in your suitcase represent the genes that you The items in your suitcase represent the genes that you

have randomly received from your parents.have randomly received from your parents. Some groups will randomly receive a better set of genes Some groups will randomly receive a better set of genes

than others.than others.

WHAT DO I DO?WHAT DO I DO? It is your job in this It is your job in this

game (just like in game (just like in life) to use the life) to use the genes that have genes that have been given to you been given to you to do your best to to do your best to survive for as long survive for as long as possible.as possible.

In order to survive In order to survive you will need to be you will need to be able to acquire 4 able to acquire 4 things: food, water, things: food, water, fire and shelter.fire and shelter.

YOU HAVE JUST LANDED!!YOU HAVE JUST LANDED!!

You and your partner(s) have just washed You and your partner(s) have just washed ashore on a deserted island with nothing but ashore on a deserted island with nothing but the clothes on your back and a suitcase.the clothes on your back and a suitcase.

Based on the island’s habitat, you must Based on the island’s habitat, you must prioritize your four basic needs and begin prioritize your four basic needs and begin acquiring them as soon as possible!acquiring them as soon as possible!

YOUR ISLANDYOUR ISLAND

Your island is a hot (80-90 degree) barren island Your island is a hot (80-90 degree) barren island surrounded by seawater (no fresh water on the surrounded by seawater (no fresh water on the island).island).

It rains daily on your island for about 15 minutes It rains daily on your island for about 15 minutes each day. each day.

There are few trees (very little wood) with a rocky There are few trees (very little wood) with a rocky coast and plenty of tall grasses.coast and plenty of tall grasses.

ISLAND POPULATIONISLAND POPULATION

There are plenty of fish in the waters surrounding your There are plenty of fish in the waters surrounding your island, but few animals on land. Seals have been island, but few animals on land. Seals have been spotted occasionally off your coast line.spotted occasionally off your coast line.

There are a few birds and small reptiles that inhabit the There are a few birds and small reptiles that inhabit the island with you.island with you.

There are some small shrubs with fruit that the animals There are some small shrubs with fruit that the animals eat, but you don’t know if you can eat it or not.eat, but you don’t know if you can eat it or not.

WHAT’S IN MY SUITCASE?WHAT’S IN MY SUITCASE? Group 1: box of matches (15 inside), hair dryer, Group 1: box of matches (15 inside), hair dryer,

wool coat, electric razor, and bag of Doritos.wool coat, electric razor, and bag of Doritos. Group 2: curling iron, 2 neckties, bottle of Group 2: curling iron, 2 neckties, bottle of

Gatorade, deck of cards, and a paperback Gatorade, deck of cards, and a paperback novel.novel.

Group 3: water desalination device, poncho, Group 3: water desalination device, poncho, straw hat, pantyhose, knife, and a pocket straw hat, pantyhose, knife, and a pocket watch.watch.

Group 4: 12 donuts, cell phone (no reception), Group 4: 12 donuts, cell phone (no reception), pair of glasses, Frisbee, and a cotton sundress.pair of glasses, Frisbee, and a cotton sundress.

Group 5: wool blanket, a lighter, an iron pot, a Group 5: wool blanket, a lighter, an iron pot, a fishing pole, a Snickers bar, and a hatchet.fishing pole, a Snickers bar, and a hatchet.

THE PLOT THICKENS!THE PLOT THICKENS! When animals move to When animals move to

a new environment, a new environment, the adaptations that the adaptations that helped them survive in helped them survive in their old habitat may their old habitat may not be very useful.not be very useful.

On the other hand, On the other hand, mutations that were mutations that were not helpful in one not helpful in one environment may environment may become crucial in a become crucial in a new environment.new environment.

YOUR NEW HABITATYOUR NEW HABITAT

You are now stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with You are now stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with nothing but the clothes on your back and the suitcase nothing but the clothes on your back and the suitcase that washed ashore.that washed ashore.

Temperatures are very cold (0-25 degrees), but Temperatures are very cold (0-25 degrees), but freshwater and wood are plentiful. freshwater and wood are plentiful.

Based on this habitat, you must prioritize your four basic Based on this habitat, you must prioritize your four basic needs and begin acquiring them as soon as possible!needs and begin acquiring them as soon as possible!

YOUR NEW POPULATIONYOUR NEW POPULATION

There are more animals to hunt here including There are more animals to hunt here including goats, deer, and an ample fish supply.goats, deer, and an ample fish supply.

There are also more animals that hunt you There are also more animals that hunt you here including wolves and grizzly bears.here including wolves and grizzly bears.

Edible nuts and berries can be found almost Edible nuts and berries can be found almost anywhere.anywhere.

ONE MORE THINGONE MORE THING Group 1: curling iron, 2 neckties, bottle of Group 1: curling iron, 2 neckties, bottle of

Gatorade, deck of cards, and a paperback Gatorade, deck of cards, and a paperback novel.novel.

Group 2: water purifier, poncho, straw hat, Group 2: water purifier, poncho, straw hat, pantyhose, knife, and a pocket watch.pantyhose, knife, and a pocket watch.

Group 3: 12 donuts, cell phone (no reception), Group 3: 12 donuts, cell phone (no reception), pair of glasses, Frisbee, and a cotton sundress.pair of glasses, Frisbee, and a cotton sundress.

Group 4: wool blanket, a lighter, an iron pot, a Group 4: wool blanket, a lighter, an iron pot, a fishing pole, a Snickers bar, and a hatchet.fishing pole, a Snickers bar, and a hatchet.

Group 5: box of matches (15 inside), hair dryer, Group 5: box of matches (15 inside), hair dryer, wool coat, electric razor, and a bag of Doritos.wool coat, electric razor, and a bag of Doritos.

Survivor Challenge Debrief

• What essential skills were needed in order to accomplish this task?

• What challenges did you face during this activity?

• How does this relate to skills needed and challenges faced by students in a global economy?