STEM Activities PD - 2020 Bundle

This bundle contains three professional development trainings and resources for teachers implementing STEM activities with their students.

Training 1 focuses on seven myths, misconceptions, or outright mistakes about STEM Challenge practices that lead to missed opportunities.

In training 2, we'll discuss options for STEM Challenge assessments to support your student goals and discuss how to avoid undermining those goals with the wrong assessment choice.

In training 3, we'll go through three of the most common STEM Challenge issues and how to troubleshoot them.

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What's Included?

TRAINING 1: 7 MYTHS, MISCONCEPTIONS, AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

There's no judgment here! I've made a LOT of these mistakes myself over the years, so let me save you the time of doing your own trial & error.

Time stamps:

• Students Research Prior to Building (1:07)
• Students Always Plan by Sketching Designs (9:46)
• The Build Phase is Treated as the Most Important Step (14:23)
• STEM Challenges are Done Just One Time (20:52)
• Assessments Value Product Over Process (24:37)
• Trusting STEM Challenge Labels (25:30)
• Believing STEM Challenges Should Be Fun (33:06)

A note about "simple" STEM:

There are STEM resources coined as “simple” STEM that refer to the simplicity of the materials needed and/or teacher setup. That isn’t what I’m referring to here.

The issue is with another kind of “simple” STEM — STEM that is easy. STEM that can be done in a few minutes. STEM that is only a reward for early finishers. STEM that is fun, makes students happy and doesn’t challenge them much or create too much drama. Read more about it on this blog post.

Included with this training:

• Vetting STEM Challenges Questions Chart

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TRAINING 2: STEM Challenge Activities Assessment PD

In this session from Elementary STEM CON & Beyond, we'll go through options for STEM Challenge assessments to support your student goals and discuss how to avoid undermining those goals with the wrong assessment choice.

Included with this training:

• The 4 C's Assessment Rubric for STEM Activities

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TRAINING 3: Troubleshooting STEM Activities - Student Shutdown, Copying and Epic Fails

Time Stamps:

1. Student Shutdown (00:36)
2. Lookalike Designs (20:53)
3. Epic Fails (24:53)

Included with this training:

• Student Shutdown Discussion Script (EDITABLE)
• Student Shutdown Procedure Chart (EDITABLE)
• Epic Fail Flow Chart & Class Discussion Questions

Note 1: I know you may have encountered additional tricky situations with your STEM Activities. If there's something else you're looking for, hit the Q&A tab on this page and let me know. I might have another resource to help you out.

Note 2: If you already own another resource that contains the Student Shutdown piece of this training, let me know using the Q&A tab. I'll let you know how to upgrade so you don't pay for the same part twice. :)

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What did Elementary STEM CON Attendees say about these sessions?

"Kerry offered a lot of new and insightful ideas on how to use assessment with STEM challenges. I really liked how she has students go back and self assess how they think their design meets the different criteria and constraints; this is something I will be using in the future with my students."

"I really loved how she broke down each misconception and gave ideas on what you can do with a stem challenge. I loved the visuals, and the vetting questions when determining if something is a stem challenge or science craft. "

"Thank you for helping me rethink the way I do STEM. You really opened opened my eyes to the misconceptions that I am so guilty of doing. Lots of great resources!!"

"Love this presentation! The slide about the 30% - 70% was a great reminder of where my focus should be as we navigate through our STEM challenges! THANKS!!!!"

"I have been teaching workshops/classes on STEM for years, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness on what makes quality STEM engagement."

"One of the biggest issues I have in my classes. Thanks for addressing it and giving immediately usable techniques to deal with it!"

"I LOVE the way you talked your students through their failure moments! I feel like I need to save these slides for myself!!! LOL"

"Great integration of SEL/Grit into learning. Everyone needs to learn these concepts to function in everyday life."

"Excellent and thorough presentation for troubleshooting and preparing for those epic fails or other problems. Definitely applicable to other content area[s]! These times are important learning /teachable moments."

"This is a great session! Fantastic, practical ideas for applying best practice consistently."

"Your sessions are so full of wisdom and information. I love that your attitude mirrors mine so I cheer as I listen to you speaking of epic fails... There is so much much goodness to truly absorb. Thanks again. "

"These are problems that occur all the time in STEM and I don't think I've ever heard it addressed in a presentation like this. Very useful information. Thanks"

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Elementary STEM CON & Beyond is an annual virtual conference that hosts thousands of teachers from around the world each spring. These sessions were presented as part of the 2020 event.

This resource is priced for a single viewer. For group and site license packages, please contact me using the Q&A tab on this page.