Educators are in search of STEM curriculum solutions that engage students, are truly cross-curricular, and meet many of the Common Core State Standards. As the leader of the STEM East initiative, Hill says an overarching goal is to turn out students with strong 21st-century skills. “We want kids who have the ability to think through problems and do it on their own. This is what business leaders are asking. They’re not asking kids to come out knowing a different formula or to know these facts or to know what date this happened. They’re asking, ‘When you get a problem, can you evaluate the problem, work through it, and ask questions? Can you ask intelligent questions?’ They’re looking for these types of skills that kids in these labs have to develop to get through the Modules and to work them out.” The Tar Heel state, a first-round Race to the Top awardee, is not alone in
seeking STEM excellence. Educators in neighboring South Carolina have been developing leading-edge programs for a few years, even seeding the fertile ground of elementary schools. Greenville Public Schools, the largest district in the state, opened community-based A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School of Engineering two years ago. Curriculum Director Tom Roe was tasked with researching and implementing project- and inquiry-based engineering curriculum. Among his selections were LEGO® Education robotics and Pitsco crewbased Missions at which students work in crews of four. “The LEGO units are building the foundation with knowledge and understanding of simple principles within science,” Roe said. “Then the kids in turn
use that knowledge because they’re going to have to have it during the larger engineering units themselves. Everything actually builds, and it’s put in a particular sequence on purpose.” As for the cooperative learning that is necessary when students work in teams of four, Roe noted, “Doing research and talking with engineering firms, that’s something they said they’re looking for. They’re looking for people who are team players and know how to collaborate, that have those skills.” Regardless the level – elementary, middle, high school, or postsecondary – educators have the same endgame in mind when they implement a STEM solution: develop students’ skills and interests so they eventually feel confident in their ability to grow in a career that helps strengthen the local, regional, and state economies. The allimportant first step, though, is to establish and support a STEM program that engages students and helps them understand the relevance of their education. Matt Frankenbery is Vice President for Education at Pitsco, Inc.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, CAREER! We all love television, that’s why TV One invites you to bring that passion into your classrooms with a STEAM education. Explore engaging tools for teaching and learning, and go behind-the-scenes with a project-based curriculum, for grades 6-12, to expand students’ learning and open doors to careers in television production. Visit tvonesteam.com to bring TV One’s STEAM initiative into your classroom with full lesson plans and resources.
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SouthEast Education Network
Winter/Spring 2017
81