integrated stem model-eliciting activities: developing
TRANSCRIPT
Integrated STEM Model-Eliciting Activities:
Developing 21st Century ThinkersMicah Stohlmann
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Thursday, June 20, 13
STEM Education: Room for Improvement
The National Science Board in their National action plan for STEM (NSB, 2007) note that “the United States possesses the most innovative, technologically capable economy in the world, and yet its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education system is failing to ensure that all American students receive the skills and knowledge required for success in the 21st century workforce”(p. 1).
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Separate Silos
Science Technology Engineering Mathematics
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Integrated STEM Education
Studies have shown that integrating math and science makes learning more connected and relevant and has a positive impact on student attitudes and interest in school, their motivation to learn, and achievement.
Engineering is becoming more prevalent in K-12 schools and can provide great problem solving opportunities for students to learn about mathematics, science, and technology while working through the engineering design process.
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Rationale for STEM education
John%Dewey%said%that%“Education%is%not%preparation%for%life;%education%is%life%
itself.”%If%life%is%to%be%education%then%the%school%experience%of%students%
should%embody%that%reality.%%In%real%life%people%are%rarely%faced%with%
problems%that%require%the%use%of%knowledge%from%only%one%subject.%
Integrated%education%allows%for%a%more%realistic%approach%to%learning.%
Students%can%see%the%connections%between%different%subjects%and%this%makes%
learning%more%meaningful.
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Recommendations for Integrated STEM education
Content%knowledge%is%important
Have%to%focus%generally%on%one%subject%while%incorporating%aspects%of%
others.%
Quality%curriculum%is%needed
Should%not%just%be%used%with%high%achievers
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Recommendations for Integrated STEM education
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MEAs and STEM
Integrated STEM education will be defined as an effort for mathematics teachers to use the engineering design process as the structure for students to learn mathematical content along with science concepts through technology infused activities.
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21st Century Creativity Framework
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Characteristics of Good STEM activities/curricula
Context
Science/Math Content
• (even better if there are other content too)
Student-centered pedagogy
Technology integration
Engineering Design
• Design cycle: redsign
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Introduction to Model-Eliciting Activities
ModelHEliciting%Activities%(MEAs)%are%clientHdriven,%openHended,%realistic%
problems%that%involve%the%development%or%design%of%mathematical/scienti,ic/engineering/models
These%are%broadening%classroom%experiences%that%tap%the%diversity%of%
learning%styles%and%strengths%that%students%bring%to%the%classroom%
Intended%to%make%advanced%STEM%content%and%substantive%problemHsolving%
experiences%accessible%to%a%diversity%of%students%%
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Introduction to Model-Eliciting Activities
MEAs%are%Instructional%Tools%%
Meant&to&compliment&the&content&of&a&course
For&use&in&conjunction&with&other&instructional&tools&
Address&higher8order&thinking&skills
Address&multiple&educational&objectives
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Realistic
Open-ended
Interdisciplinary
A"ow for multiple solutions and ideas
Team-Based
Solutions to the problems are the teams’ models
Difficult to write and properly structure
Occurs during MEAs
Students ask Questions
Discuss problem solving strategies
Observe someone’s problem solving strategies
Teach a peer
Explain one’s thinking
Model-Eliciting Activities (MEAs)
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MEA Format
Read article and complete readiness questions
Teacher leads a discussion on readiness questions and the
problem statement (15 Minutes)
Group work time (40 - 70 minutes)
Group presentations (30 - 40 minutes)
Revise solutions and reflection
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Trash Trouble MEA
Article: What Wi" the Future Hold? How Math Can Help People Make Predictions.
Readiness Questions:
What is a mathematical prediction?
What are some examples of areas where math is used to predict?
What are the difficulties associated with making predictions?
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Problem Statement
Environmental%Protection%Agency%(EPA)%Concerned%about%United%States%Trash%
ProductionIn%order%to%make%plans%and%prepare%for%what%to%do%with%America’s%trash%it%is%
important%to%have%an%understanding%of%how%much%trash%there%will%be.%%The%EPA%
would%like%your%help%in%determining%how%much%trash%the%United%States%will%
produce%in%2015.%%Use%the%data%on%the%next%page%to%help%you%make%your%
prediction.%%You%will%write%a%letter%to%the%EPA%that%gives%your%prediction%for%the%
amount%of%trash%that%the%U.S.%will%produce%in%2015%and%also%describes%your%
procedure%for%how%you%came%up%with%your%prediction.%%Your%procedure%should%
be%described%so%that%it%could%be%used%in%future%years%when%new%data%about%U.S.%
trash%production%is%available.%You%can%also%include%suggestions%for%how%the%
amount%of%trash%produced%each%year%could%be%lowered.%%
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Group Work Time
While&teams&are&working&on&the&MEA&the&teacher&should&circulate&around&the&room&to&make&sure&groups&are&working&well,&provide&feedback&to&students&about&the&social&or&group&skill,&and&write&down&mathematical&ideas&that&the&students&are&discussing.&&
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Group Presentations
5 to 10 minutes for groups to explain their
procedure or model.
Students fill out a form while groups present:
(1) what I liked about other teams’ solutions
(2)What I did not like about other teams’
solutions.
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Example MEAs
Bigfoot MEA:Key%question:%How do you develop a method for finding a person’s height when the only information you have is a copy of their footprint and the stride length? (Grade level 5th -10th).
Main Strands: Measurement, Algebra, Problem Solving, and Communication.
Connections:/Life Science and Forensics.
Missing Lynx MEA:Key%question:%How can data and information on the bald eagle and gray wolf, who were protected under the Endangered Species Act, be used to predict the future population of lynx in Minnesota? (Grade level: 5th -11th)
Main Strands: Algebra, Nature of Science and Engineering, Life Science, Problem Solving, and Communication
Connections: Endangered Species Act, Population growth, and Environments.
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Example MEAs
Trash Trouble MEA:Key%question:%How do you create a procedure or
formula for predicting the amount of trash the U.S. will produce in the year 2015?
Grade%level:%5th%–%10th%%Main%Strands:%Algebra,%Problem%Solving,%and%CommunicationConnections:%Recycling%and%History
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