Curriculum is based upon national standards and identified best practices to advance STEM literacy for all students. Programming was developed with strategic emphasis on gender, racial and socio-economic concerns. Students establish Engineering Habits of the Mind or an open-ended problem solving capacity which will provide the served community with a STEM literate citizenry. Schools are empowered with a comprehensive STEM pedagogy and a proprietary Learning Management System for continuous improvement planning for students, teachers and administration based upon actionable, research based student outcome data. Following STEM Instructor Orientation Training participants will be welcomed to the National STEM Professional Learning Environment where collaboration and innovative education practices develop organically.
Curriculum is intended for flexible use based upon national best practice implementation and integration strategies and is accessible via internet. Teachers will find themselves at the center of this curriculum delivery with the prescribed activities, resources, and technological tools to capture and retain the inquisitive imagination of the middle school level student. Sound assessment strategies, reference resources, as well as instructional strategies for tools, materials and processes support the STEM curriculum treatment.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
All instructors, career counselors and administrators from the proposed school site will have the opportunity to attend a (4 Day) STEM Orientation Training session. Participants will learn the STEM pedagogy, best practices for curriculum delivery, course sequencing, career pathways and how to manage student outcome data. Instructors who will be leading or participating in delivery of a full academic year course can attending the (4 Day) STEM Instructor Training Boot Camp during the summer at one of our university partner sites or at a STEM Professional Development Center. During the academic year administrators can elevate the competency of instructors to deliver STEM curriculum with the onsite STEM Instructor Mentor Program. Schools will receive an onsite visit from a member of our STEM Academic Leadership Team to analyze instructor curriculum delivery practices and provide practical recommendations for improvement based upon extensive experience.
COURSES
DISCOVERING STEM (6)
Discovering STEM curriculum students will be introduced to basic STEM concepts. Students will take part in an activity from each STEM area with two culminating activities that put their STEM skills to the test. Students will enjoy hands on minds on approach to learning about science, technology, engineering, and math. Each activity is designed to give the teacher flexibility of delivery and in material choice.
UNITS: Manufacturing by Design, Design Drafting, Long Distance Flyer, Electronics, Floating Above the Rest, Robotics Orientation, Presentation
DESIGNING WITH STEM (7)
Designing with STEM curriculum is packed with all the tools to excite students and instructors alike! Designing with STEM introduces educators and students to the fun and powerful tools of designing and problem solving. The activities and academic applications engage the learner to embrace Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology while they examine each of the integral steps of critical design and problem solving.
UNITS: Problem Solving Techniques and Applications, Defining the Problem, Determining and Defining the Criteria, Developing Ideas, Creating Solutions, Testing and Evaluating, SEA Perch Challenge, Presentation
INVESTIGATING STEM SKILLS (8)
Investigating STEM Skills curriculum integrates the design skills and introductory STEM ideas from the discovering and designing courses. Investigating STEM Skills was designed with an 18 week semester instructional schedule in mind. The activities are intended to highlight the three primary elements of manufacturing: tools, materials and processes. As always, this guide is intended to be used and customized by educators to meet the specific needs of students within specific instructional settings.
UNITS: Introduction to Robotics, Introduction to Material Science, Packaging Design, Robotics Design, Underwater SEA Perch Challenges, Environmental Engineering, Sustainable Energy, Mechanical Engineering, Presentation
