Education Commons^™

Imagination To Innovation: Design Thinking For Young Learners, Lindsey Herlehy, Cassandra Armstrong

Publications & Research

Design thinking is the intersection of engineering design and social-emotional learning. Today’s learners must be empathetic problem solvers capable of defining problems and designing appropriate solutions to meet the needs of the user. In this session, participants will experience design thinking through literature-based scenarios appropriate for early learners. They will analyze and compare their own models to those of others and compose a lesson that will engage students in the design thinking process.

Naval Engineering For Grades 4-6, Patrick Young

Publications & Research

Reading The Girl with a Mind for Math, we learn about the career of Raye Montague, an African-American woman who broke every barrier to pioneer computer-aided ship design and become the first female program manager in the United States Navy. Lessons are provided for using free, online software to design ships while exercising several Common Core Math standards and NGSS standards for engineering design.

Saving Skee-Ball: Applying Engineering & Science With A Fun Storyline, Christine L. Moskalik

Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

Got 99 Problems? Pbl Can Help!, Nicole Ross, Allison Albert

Publications & Research

Interested in using Problem Based Learning ((PBL) in the classroom but concerned over implementation time, classroom management and assessments? Our PBL training may help! In this session we introduce our training structure which relates traditional PBL perspectives to current K-12 instructional trends. In doing so, we highlight how frequently utilized inquiry based, student-centered tools are essential in any PBL activity, and help mitigate classroom time and management issues. Further, as PBL is used to engage students in content learning, we address how traditional assessment, used alongside authentic opportunities, can aid in the PBL process.

Math & Construction: Curriculum, Community, & Career Connections, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

The Art Of Getting It Wrong: Developing Persistence, Nicole Ross, Allison Albert

Publications & Research

Winston Churchill once said “success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” Unfortunately, highly structured traditional lab activities are often confirmatory in nature and do not require or encourage students to engage authentically in the scientific process. These confirmatory labs do not provide students with the opportunity to fail, reevaluate and redesign – all necessary components in science and research. In this session, participants will explore and reflect on an open-ended activity that provides a more authentic learning environment and better reflects the nature of science.

Math & Machining: Curricular Connections For The Classroom, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

Aviation Integration: Promoting Careers Through Curricular Connections Within The Math Classroom, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

5th -12th grade teachers, curriculum/instructional leaders, & CTE directors will: 1) discover aviation-related careers, connections, and pathways that can be promoted within the math classroom, 2) gain knowledge of topics, tech, and tools that can be integrated within the mathematics curriculum, and 3) acquire lots of RESOURCES to help educators positively impact teacher instruction, student learning, and career awareness. Careers include: Load Master, Engineer, Mechanic, Pilot, Air Traffic Controller, Crash Reconstructionist, GIS Analyst, Machinist…. Aviation topics include: Forces of Flight, Time Zones, Drones, Satellite Imagery, GPS, CNC Programming... Math Concepts include: Angles, Area, Coordinate Geometry, Decimals, Fractions, Intersecting Circles, Linear …

Playing With Push Toys And Technology: Solving A System Of Linear Equations, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

When students are given the opportunity to utilize technology and engage in hands-on activities within a mathematics class, they can experience mathematics in action. Mathematical action technologies “offer students opportunities to interact...in ways that are not possible (alone) with paper and pencil” (McCullough et. al, 2021, p. 739). One such mathematical action technology, for instance, involves a calculator-based ranger (CBR) which collects and displays motion data in real-time. As CBR activities impact students’ abilities to interpret and model “physical phenomena” which enhances graphical understanding (Kwon, 2010), I have incorporated various CBR activities that involve students walking in front of a …

Flags Of Africa: Promoting Cultures & Connecting Math Concepts, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

Objectives

1. To share ideas for using flags of Africa and technology to engage students with math concepts: counting, fractions, percentage, aspect ratio, linear equations/inequalities, domain/range, angles/distances/slope, classifying triangles, area of polygons, slope, parallelograms, & coordinate geometry.
2. To highlight technology such as Google Slides, Google Sheets Pixel Art, GeoGebra, Desmos, and CNC Machines that help enrich the teaching of math concepts.
3. To provide ideas for promoting discussion of culture, history, & geography within the math classroom.

Playing With Code: Big Ideas For Early Learners, Lindsey Herlehy, Cassandra Armstrong

Publications & Research

For young children growing in today’s digital world, the acquisition of coding and computer programming skills has become a popular and appropriate focus in education. Beyond engaging in technology and coding applications as consumers – the passive act of sitting in front of a screen and merely pressing buttons without a high level of thought – early childhood students are capable of high-quality programming tasks through play-based learning experiences. As producers, our youngest students may explore the open-ended nature of computer programming and coding through design, art, and innovation. Engaging in coding builds valuable and transferable practices such as problem …

Aviation Integration: Topics, Tech, & Career Connections For Enhancing Math Concepts, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

5th -12th grade teachers will: 1) discover how to incorporate aviation concepts, tech, & tools into math curriculum & 2) gain ideas, corresponding activities, & LOTS of resources to enhance the teaching & learning of math concepts. Aviation Topics: Forces of Flight, Time Zones, Drones, Satellite Imagery, GPS, CNC Programming... Math Concepts: Angles, Area, Coordinate Geometry, Intersecting Circles, Linear Functions, Shapes, ...

Playing With Math And Science In The Early Childhood Classroom, Cassandra Armstrong, Lindsey Herlehy

Publications & Research

Young students are equipped with the curiosity and creativity to be successful scientists and mathematicians. In today’s classrooms, strong foundational skills in STEM promote success for years to come. Through play, young students can subitize, sort, draw, recognize patterns, and explore loose parts. Participants will actively take part in several activities highlighting each of these skills.

Travel The World With Flags: Using Desmos To Explore Design With Equations & Inequalities, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

Explore and discover how to replicate flags of various countries using math concepts within Desmos such as: linear equations/Inequalities, absolute value equations/Inequalities, equations/Inequalities of circles, and domain/range.

The Great Water Design Challenge: A Collaboration With Noaa Planet Stewards, Elizabeth Martinez

Publications & Research

Session Goals

• Define design challenge
• Generate ideas for classroom design challenge
• Outline design challenge for your classroom

NOAA Planet Stewards NESTA Article

Meaningful Math: Activities, Applications, & Career Connections For The Teaching & Learning Of Math Concepts, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

5^th-12^th grade teachers will:

1. Discover career connections & tech tools that can be integrated into the math curriculum
2. Gain ideas, activities, & LOTS of resources which can enhance the teaching/learning of math concepts

Tech & Toys To Teach Linear Algebra, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

6th - 12 Grade Math teachers will Discover activities involving tech and/or toys:

1. CNC Machines- graphing points & line segments
2. Desmos/GeoGebra & flags- graphing linear equations/inequalities w/ domain/range
3. CBR & movement- graphing/analyzing lines
4. Push toys- systems of equations
5. Water growing toys- growth rate
6. Ziplines, Balloons, Barbie, & Lego People - slope & linear equations

Flags And Tech To Teach Math, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

Teachers will discover innovative activities for math concepts that engage students with flags & technology such as CNC Machines, Google Sheets Pixel Art, Desmos, & GeoGebra.

Pixel Math Across All Levels, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

What’S The Buzz? A Hands-On, Interdisciplinary, And Fun Way To Learn About Circuits, Energy, Engineering, Bee Communication, And Pollination, Christine L. Moskalik

Publications & Research

How can a simple toothbrush- bot be used to model honey bee communication as well as the role of such communication in pollination? Learners explore basic circuitry through the popular tooth- brush-bot activity, with a spin.

Young Mathematicians: Stem Skills For Success, Lindsey Herlehy

Publications & Research

Our youngest STEAM learners are creative and curious, but require support and foundational skills in mathematics and science. Join us for a series of integrated activities that explore subitizing, sorting, drawing, patterns, and data analysis, and leave with new ideas of how to build these STEAM skills in your classroom and remote-learning environment.

Problem Centered Teaching By Tomorrow, Cassandra Armstrong

Publications & Research

Problem Centered Instruction is a great way to engage students, integrate content, and inspire learning. However, true problem centered instruction requires a major shift in both teaching and learning, requiring the one thing teachers don't have: time. In today's session, we will look at some simple strategies that teachers can put to immediate use within the classroom to help start the shift towards a student-led, problem centered learning environment.

The Great Water Design Challenge: A Noaa Planet Stewards And Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy (Imsa) Collaboration, Elizabeth Martinez

Publications & Research

Through generous NOAA Planet Stewards funding, schools in the Northern Illinois area had the unique opportunity to participate in a one-day design challenge that focused on local and state environmental issues. Student teams, which ranged from fifth grade through high school, engaged in research and design thinking to create innovative responses and solutions to address their selected water challenge. Subject matter experts were available, both virtually and in person, for questions, conversations, and insights as teams worked. Simultaneously team sponsors engaged in their own professional development related to the NOAA Planet Stewards Program. Students showcased their work at the end …

Teaching In The Classroom With The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, José M. Torres, Robert Hernandez, Crystal Randall

Publications & Research

Engagement in the United nations Sustainability Goals (SDGs)

• As an academy

- What are the UN SDGs?
- IMSA history with the SDGs
- ISSF 2018

• In the classroom

- Introduction of UN SDG projects in core classes
- Development of a new core course that presents key concepts in real-world context
- Integrate UN SDGs into elective courses.

• As a faculty

- Across disciplines
- Sharing work through Digital commons
- Student independent research program

Context Is Critical: K-5th Grade Three-Act Math Tasks, Lindsey Herlehy

Publications & Research

Mathematicians view mathematics within interesting and natural contexts. In this session, participants will engage and explore Three-Act Math Tasks; a story-telling pedagogical strategy that elicits student curiosity, collaboration, and questioning while redefining the term “real-world context” and the role that students play in the learning process. Resources will be provided

Teaching With A Full Deck: Card Sorts, Lindsey Herlehy

Publications & Research

Card sorts tend to make students do the “thing” we value most: talk. Beyond making matches, card sorts provide opportunities for students to classify, rank, sequence, and mind map while setting a natural context for argumentation and use of the claim-evidence-reasoning framework. Join me for a series of card sorts to explore how this easy-to-prep tool will encourage your students to reason and think critically. Math and science resources will be shared.

Resources available below for download include all cards used in the training.

Back To Basics: Mathematical Play, Lindsey Herlehy

Publications & Research

Our youngest students are curious and creative with the skills and practices needed to be successful mathematicians. Engaging in play, students naturally take risks and pursue their own questions. Research shows this practice is beneficial for all students, regardless of grade level. So, let’s play!

Stem Storytelling: Using Picture Books To Integrate Mathematics - "Dare To Tinker", Lindsey Herlehy, Karen Togliatti

Publications & Research

This series of activities invites students to engage in a design challenge that elicits mathematical and scientific thinking. In the first activity, the picture book The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires will be used as a catalyst to discuss the engineering design process as experienced by the protagonist, a little girl. Suggested questioning techniques and inferential reasoning strategies will focus on the trials and tribulations, frustrations, and successes achieved by the little girl. Additionally, discussion prompts are included to provide students an opportunity to reflect on the little girl as a mathematician and scientist as she takes action and …

Stem Storytelling: Using Picture Books To Integrate Mathematics - "Who Lives Here?", Lindsey Herlehy, Karen Togliatti

Publications & Research

This series of activities invites students to explore animals and their habitats, classify “animal” figures by habitat, sort, represent, and analyze data. In the first activity, the picture book Listen to Our World by Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson will be used to discuss eleven different animals and their habitats. Questioning strategies will focus on student comprehension and inferential reasoning skills related to why each animal lives in a particular type of habitat. This book is utilized at all grade levels to introduce the subsequent activity.

The grade-level activities that follow integrate students’ knowledge of animals and their habitats …

Imsa© Fusion: Preparing Students For Future Scientific Expertise, Michelle Kolar, Dora Phillips, Elizabeth Martinez, Laurie S. Sutherland

Publications & Research

Illinois adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) on February 19, 2014 with implementation scheduled to begin in the 2016-17 school year. This article explores (1) the national and statewide need for STEM college and career readiness based on current data; (2) the research on best practices in STEM teaching and learning; and (3) the work of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) to create IMSA Fusion, a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational program that is aligned with NGSS and utilizes research-based best practices to serve Illinois educators and students.

The introduction of the Next Generation Science …