Educational Methods Commons^™

Hands-On Stem (Even In The Virtual Space): Bioluminescent Jellyfish Model, Christine L. Moskalik

Professional Learning Day

Come see how FUN, relevant, hands-on STEM can happen successfully in your (virtual or in-person) classroom as we build a bioluminescent jellyfish model together. Using only a few basic supplies (see materials list & bring supplies to build your own), this activity will help you engage students while addressing a variety of STEM concepts; modeling, jellyfish anatomy & physiology, jellyfish life cycle, jellyfish adaptations, and/or chemical reactions of bioluminescence.

Chemistry Happy Hour: Simple And Smart Spectrometry, Karen Ye

Professional Learning Day

In this session, educators will engage in an activity in which they utilize a free color app on a smartphone to analyze the transmittance and absorbance of light through colored solutions. This hands-on activity is a simple and inexpensive way for chemistry students to explore absorption spectrometry concepts and can be implemented for virtual learning or used in any classroom with limited or no access to spectrophotometers. Suggested materials for this session include: 5 clear 9 oz. Plastic cups, 2 cup glass measuring cup, ¼ cup measuring cup, 2 cup mason jar, food coloring (red or blue) smartphone with the …

Integrated Inquiry: Three-Act Stem Tasks, Lindsey Herlehy

Professional Learning Day

Mathematicians and scientists view their subjects within interesting and natural contexts. In this session, participants will engage in a STEM-integrated Three-Act Task; a story-telling pedagogical strategy that elicits student curiosity, collaboration, and questioning. Beginning with a rich problem, this instructional approach redefines real-world applications and clarifies the role that the student plays in the learning process. Participants will receive resources to access Three-Act tasks appropriate for middle and high school grade levels.

The G-Suite Life, Cassandra Armstrong, Karen Ye

Professional Learning Day

As we continue to navigate a world of remote and hybrid learning options, teachers are continuously seeking new ways to give and receive information from students. In this session, we will explore four unique teaching method/resources that are available through Google G-Suite. Topics include: making and sharing drag and drop activities using Google Slides, using the Document Studio Excel Add-on, creative uses for Google Jamboard, and using Google Slides as an organizational tool.

Treasure Or Forgery: A Challenge In Basic Measurements, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

Chinese antiquities may be readily found for sale on eBay. Ancient coins may be purchased for very reasonable prices. Are these authentic artifacts, or modern forgeries? An investigation will include measurements and calculations to identify the metals involved. Using only inexpensive, school-grade equipment, students are challenged to solve the mystery. Success will hinge on careful technique, thoughtful reasoning, and a considerations of measurement uncertainty.

Teaching Physics And Engineering Remotely (And What We Plan To Keep When We’Re In Person), Peter Dong, Mark Carlson

Professional Learning Day

Physics and engineering pose special challenges for remote learning, but the process of re-inventing a class provides an opportunity for looking at teaching and assessment in a new light. We share some of the techniques we used, including analysis of the physics of YouTube clips, pursuing hands-on projects and labs at home, and submitting videos explaining problems--some of which worked, some of which didn’t, and some of which were good enough to continue even when we’re back in person.

Biofilms: Impacts On Humans, The Environment, And Infrastructure, Elizabeth Martinez

Professional Learning Day

Biofilms are having a greater impact on human health, the environment, and modern infrastructure; thus, they are receiving more attention from the science community and media. Background on biofilms and their impacts will be discussed. A lab, resources, and how to incorporate the topic into your biology curriculum will also be shared.

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.

Little Big Minds: Stem For Our Youngest Learners, Cassandra Armstrong, Lindsey Herlehy

Publications & Research

STEAM-integrated activities are for all learners, including those in an early childhood setting. Participate in a series of play-based activities that promote foundational mathematics skills and foster curiosity, creativity, and innovation. Measure, graph, sort, categorize, argue, and defend your ideas while previewing a series of STEAM-integrated concepts featuring simple machines.

Unit #4: Playing With Code - Remote Learning Activities, Lindsey Herlehy, Cassandra Armstrong

Little STEAMers: Early Learning Program

No abstract provided.

Unit #3: Simple Machines - Remote Learning Activities, Lindsey Herlehy, Cassandra Armstrong

Little STEAMers: Early Learning Program

No abstract provided.

Unit #2: Water - Remote Learning Activities, Lindsey Herlehy, Cassandra Armstrong

Little STEAMers: Early Learning Program

No abstract provided.

Using Robotics And Engineering Design Inquiries To Optimize Learning For Middle Level Teachers: A Case Study, Iman Chafik Chahine, Norman Robinson Iii, Kimbeni Mansion

Publications & Research

This exploratory case study reports findings on 20 middle-level science and mathematics teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of a one-year project in which teachers engaged in using robotics and engineering design inquiries in their classrooms. Principled by Bandura’s Social Learning Theory (SLT) and using mixed methods approaches, the study measured teachers' efficacy through the Mathematics Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (MTEBI) and observation logs before and after the program. The results of this study showed statistically significant differences between PRE MTEBI and POST MTEBI scores. Furthermore, five themes emerged that illuminated potential affordances and constraints that teachers perceive as opportunities and …

Students In The Lead: Game Design In The Classroom, Peggy Steffen

Professional Learning Day

Game design can be woven into any science curricula, providing a way for students to learn science content and to creatively apply what they have learned. Games are increasingly used in educational settings to help inspire curiosity, creativity, collaboration, optimism, and problem-solving skills among a wide variety of audiences. Serious games address real-world challenges, compress time and space, encourage systems thinking, and promote active engagement, making them particularly well suited to conservation and science education.

Climate Change - Designer Bags, Allison Albert

Professional Learning Day

This session will focus on repurposing materials to reduce landfill debris. Participants will plan, design, and develop a new product from plastic. This fun hands on activity is great for problem centered learning.

Code Of The Wild, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

K-2 students love to create stories about their favorite animals. Using free software called ScratchJr, participants will learn to teach basic Computational Thinking skills that allow K-2 students to create animated stories about animals in their natural environments. Participants should bring a laptop or tablet.

Dna, Rna, & Proteins, Oh My!, Cassandra Wissink Armstrong

Professional Learning Day

A staple topic in any life science classroom, we will take a look at some innovative ways to not only teach these topics, but assess them using the Next Generation Science Standards.

Picture Books And Engineering: Dare To Tinker, Lindsey Herlehy

Professional Learning Day

Up for a challenge? Join us for a K-2 STEM integrated workshop based upon the picture book The Most Magnificent Thing. Connecting literature with engineering, questioning techniques and inferential reasoning strategies will focus on the trials and tribulations, frustrations, and successes achieved by the protagonist, a little girl. Participants will engage in a design challenge to construct their own magnificent thing while working within constraints. Counting, graphing, working with money, and measurement will be emphasized.

Dare to Tinker: including Teacher's Page and student resources

Stem, Not S-T-E-M! A Workshop On Integrative Teaching, Nicole Ross

Professional Learning Day

Are you tired of experiencing STEM activities that really only focus on one content area within the acronym? Join us for a workshop on integrative STEM. We will begin with a general introduction to what an Integrative activity entails, move on to some quick examples and then jump into developing an original integrative STEM activity. Be prepared to think creatively and take risks as we explore the "multi-content-verse" in which STEM lives

Universal Mental Health Screening: Why Is It Needed And How To Get Started, Kevin Kusy

Professional Learning Day

Schools screen for physical and medical purposes, but less than 15% of schools in the United States screen for mental health needs. The purpose of this session is to discuss what mental health screening is, how it can help your community, and how to start the process of implementing it based on community needs.

Inquiry Based Teaching & Learning Panel, Kelly Lofgren, Dave Devol

Professional Learning Day

In this session, IMSA students and faculty will share their experiences with using a strong inquiry model of teaching and learning. Students will share their excitement and frustrations with learning to ask questions to drive their learning. Faculty will share their successes and evidence on the power of this type of learning. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and engage in the conversation.

Analyzing Student Work, Valentina Sorescu, Christine Loos

Professional Learning Day

No abstract provided.

Applying An Equity Lense To The Danielson Framework, Comfort Akwaji-Anderson, Angela Rowley

Professional Learning Day

This session will focus on applying a lens of Equity to the Danielson Evaluation Framework. Although there are mentions of equitable practices and differentiation in the original Danielson Framework, this workshop will focus on the interpretation of that language and how districts can use the existing evaluation framework to promote Equity and Excellence for all learners.

Stress In Education: Finding Solutions To Combat Negativity And Burnout, Kevin Kusy, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Professional Learning Day

Working in education can be one of the most fulfilling jobs, but the current climate for many staff is filled with stress and frustration. With teachers feeling underappreciated and overworked, mental health issues are on the rise and the climate of many schools has had a negative turn. This session will discuss topics around compassion fatigue, negativity, not feeling connected, and overall discomfort to change.

Real-World Gps Stem Activities, Peggy Steffen

Professional Learning Day

Hands-on activities for students with no/low costs for materials include stories, videos, presentation materials, and career highlights Four modules (Earth, Life, Space, Movement) include 12 lessons designed to support the new science standards and the Common Core. Scenarios highlight STEM applications in satellites, orbital space clutter, energy grids, precision agriculture, global supply chains, aviation, weather forecasting, and conservation.

Code Of The Wild, Patrick Young

Professional Learning Day

K-2 students love to create stories about their favorite animals. Using free software called ScratchJr, participants will learn to teach basic Computational Thinking skills that allow K-2 students to create animated stories about animals in their natural environments. Participants should bring a laptop or tablet.

Teaching With A Full Deck: Card Sorts, Lindsey Herlehy

Professional Learning Day

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.

Teacher and Student resources available for download

Science For A Brainy Day, Nicole Ross

Professional Learning Day

Interested in Brain-Based-Learning? Come for an informative and hands-on approach about the topic. We will focus not just on understanding how brain development impacts learning, but on how to utilize this knowledge to engage our students with the content we teach every day. Activities will focus less on learning styles and more on how can we ask questions or write assessments that develop executive function in our students?

Inquiry Based Instruction In Chemistry With Games, Karen Ye

Professional Learning Day

Games can be a fun and motivating way to engage students, but they are often used as a means to practice, apply, or review learned content instead of introducing a new concept. In this session, participants will explore the use of common games as a tool for an inquiry-based approach to introducing topics in high school chemistry such as atomic structure and periodic trends.

The Wright Stuff: An Integrative Approach To Stained Glass, Cassandra Wissink Armstrong

Professional Learning Day

In this session we'll explore the scientific and mathematical influences behind the artistic stained glass creations of Frank Lloyd Wright, and use them to create our own Wright-inspired stained glass designs. This is a truly integrative lesson that touches on properties of glass, linear functions, and artistic design.