Parking Lot Speech Change

How has your "parking lot speech" changed?  How has it been reinforced through your research and conversations?  Are you ready to deliver it?

If I was to create a parking lot speech; it would have changed based off of this experience. The more information I find out about my topic; the more my speech expands to include passion, drive, and excitement about possibilities. Now I have learned how to use background information, current practices, and ways to reform. I tell my students to use the twelve steps of the engineering design process, which takes a problem and goes through a series of steps to solve that problem. Students need to research background information, implement their plans, refine their plans, and communicate results. I am doing something similar by collaboration and performing the process of research and development. I am ready for any challenge if I feel confident that people will list. It only takes one person to make a difference!

STEM Project Plan

Updated Link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E1bjOfqET5Wb_Kfce5QuLkm_qgJDmqoOl0BaUkGnorA/edit?usp=sharing

Planning Sheet and Blog Post

1) Where should you focus your energies to be sure to complete your research and planning sheet?

My energies are focused on gathering statistical data and visual representations. I also enjoy learning about the speakers that students can have an opportunity to talk about to provide them with a meaningful representation and motivation for decision-making. Research and develop involves fostering ideas, focusing on ideas, developing the ideas, testing and evaluating, marketing and developing, and launching. To engage students of all demographics, you need to have engaging resources so by having a creative and innovative mind; we can change the future. I am focused on the goal that I want obtain and the difference it would make. All demographics need an opportunity to strive in STEM.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E1bjOfqET5Wb_Kfce5QuLkm_qgJDmqoOl0BaUkGnorA/edit?usp=sharing

Assessments

The topic that interests me the most is my topic on Assessments. Assessments are time consuming and can often be difficult for teachers considering it is a constant process. Everything we do is based off of the assessments so we can evaluate student progress and manipulate our lessons to meet the students' needs even more. STEM relies on this process heavily to make sure that students are reaching the goals that are set for them as well as setting their own goals. STEM involves monitoring knowledge-based information, but also skills that are needed for the workforce. Assessments will develop and change over time to become more flexible and universal with the digital age. Personally, I feel like the digital age has transformed teaching and learning to involve more resources to advance skills and thought processes. Information will be stored, analyzed, and recorded for student assessments. I will use this topic in my classroom by taking more initiative to utilize multiple forms of assessments to make sure I am meeting the students needs' and learning objectives that I set for my students. I will also manipulate my lessons to make sure that I am excelling at my own expectations. We have so many resources to analyze student progress. By staying up-to-date with teaching resources' this will help me take advantage of assessment tools.

STEM education

1) How would you describe STEM education to a friend or family member in informal conversation?
Understanding the acronyms for STEM helps break down the meaning of what it stands for. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics are multiple disciplines. I describe STEM as a technique for multiple disciplines to work together through hands-on learning to enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills. For example, I had my students create a Wind Turbine using the 12-steps of the engineering design process. The students were faced with the problem that they had to create a Wind Turbine with a limited amount of materials and time. They had to brainstorm ideas, research and generate ideas, identify the criteria and constraints, explore possibilities, select an approach, develop a design proposal, make a model or prototype, test and evaluate, refine the design, create or make a solution, and communicate the whole process and results. This helps students apply technology, mathematics, science, and engineering to make a complete product for a purpose.

2) Why do you think STEM education is (or is not) important?

I do believe that STEM is important because students need to have the ability to break down information into chunks to solve problems. We need to challenge students to reach their potential. All of these fields are growing that are in high demand so we are preparing our students to take advantage of opportunities that could shape the future.

3) What is the value of incorporating or enhancing STEM in public education. 

The public education system has such of a diverse environment where everyone learns differently. STEM provides that opportunity to meet the needs of all learners. It also provides opportunities for students to take advantage of programs, scholarships, and knowledge to help further their education. These are all important fields that work together and have a strong impact on our society. It is fields that we have lacked in and have seen a decrease in enrollment with an increase in drop-outs so we need to help provide a picture to students of what it could be like and how to get there. We need to help students understand the potential these fields have by allowing the students to be independent thinkers. Students should be responsible for their education and their future.

After Research:

1) How were your initial thoughts reinforced by the resources you explored?

It does confirm that STEM prepares the next-generation of students to succeed in life. It teaches students to critically think and solve problems. The skills help students take advantage of opportunities that appear. STEM includes all friends that solve problems and creates a multi-cultural environment. By allowing students the opportunity to perform hands-on activities and understand different perspectives, we are allowing our students to grow and be included in the competitive market.

2) What are some additional reasons to incorporate STEM education into your planning and instructions?

The STEM workforce needs to become more diverse since it is not as diverse now as compared to 2001. There is encouragement to target women and minority students that may have been overlooked in schools nationwide. It also allows students to have a global perspective that is valuable for solving problems and enhancing their education experience. By allowing students to investigate the world, recognize multiple perspectives, communicate with diverse audiences, and take action; it provides global competition and student growth. When we think that 69% of high school graduates are not ready for a college-level science class then we understand that we need to enhance the areas that our students struggle the most.

Social Sites:
Personally I have mixed feelings about using social sites for STEM. I see the dangers and the lack of responsibility for the students. I understand that social sites can be used to spread information faster and help students develop relationships with programs, clubs, organizations, and people who have experiences in fields that they are learning about and/or interested in. It does seem like an interesting idea of what they can do, but I have noticed students using social sites more for personal use that is no benefit to the class time, which is why it has to be protected and regulated.