STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering Mathematics.
It stands for everyone!
We use STEM in our everyday lives, so I would like to share with you what STEM in
education is NOT:
It’s NOT a $1,000 drone.
It’s NOT a $500 robot.
It’s NOT a $2,500 computer.
It’s NOT a $700 cell phone.
It’s NOT just for gifted children.
STEM in education IS problem-solving. Our children NEED the mindset and skillset of problem-solving. It is
empowering for ALL students to think, and struggle with real-world problems.
How do you create a mindset for our students to learn STEM? If you are a newbie to STEM, I have free STEM
Drip Tips which I used in my classroom. Also, I’ve used a modified NASA Engineering By Design visual that has
helped me teach my students with special needs. These are freebies are sent straight to your inbox. Click here
to get begin your STEM in Education journey.
Let’s begin by addressing our students as scientists and engineers.
As educators, we intentionally judge our students on what they CAN’T do and not on what they CAN do.
Unfortunately, too many educators consider our students who are minorities incompetent to learn STEM.
Unfortunately, too many teachers believe STEM is too complicated to teach a culturally diverse population.
Well, it starts with baseline data. You need to get that “previous knowledge”. Please don’t take for granted
that a student can identify what a scientist is nevertheless what they look like. Their answers may surprise you.
Just take a quick survey.
Ask a student” What does a scientist look like? What does an engineer look like?
Just Google It! What do you see? Better yet……
What do you NOT see? You will NOT see a considerable amount of people who are represented by minorities: girls, people of color, and people with disabilities.
One of my successful techniques for getting my students to believe they were scientists and engineers was
teaching them basic computer programming or coding skills from
passion for cultural diversity in STEM, especially in computer science.
My upper elementary and middle school students didn’t have any clue about Computer Science, nevertheless
software engineering. During Computer Science Week (which is usually the first week in December), we
participate in the Hour Of Code every year.
During the beginning of the COVID shutdown, my students continued to track the weather in order to
determine the bestest time to release our butterflies. They had to track the current temperature, the high and
low temperatures, precipitation, and wind speed. For my students who could not physically write, they gave
me verbal answers. Before the shut down, the local meteorologist came to visit our classroom. Yes, having a
real-world scientist visit our classroom was mind blowing. Can we say cheaper than a field trip!
STEM In Education is solving real-world problems.
We need to talk about minorities in STEM. For instance, let’s chit-chat about Black Inventors and Innovators.
Yes, I can talk for hours about Garrett Morgan, The NASA Hidden Figures, and George Washington Carver.
There are several online resources devoted to them. How did they get their claim to fame? Their innovative
minds helped solve real-world problems. Their inventions helped shape our daily lives. There are several
everyday items that were invented by Black inventors. And yet, our students know little to nothing about
these scientists and engineers. Think about it. Inventors and Innovators are engineers!
Here are 5 Little Known Black Inventors:
Phillip Downing: He designed the mailbox system.
Gladys Mae West: She created the Global Positioning System.
Sarah Goode: She invented the cabinet bed.
Benjamin Banneker: He designed the first US domestic wooden clock. He published several Farmer’s Almanacs
with an accurate solar eclipse prediction.
Lewis Howard Latimer: He invented the carbon filament which made Thomas Edison’s innovation of the light
bulb last longer and made it safer to use.
Side note: Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb. He was an innovator, he improved the design of the
lightbulb. A British Chemist, Sir Humphry Davy invented the lightbulb.
LET US PAUSE Right Here:
Have you heard of Ralph Braun? He was an inventor with a physical disability, who designed the wheelchair
lift-accessible vehicle. Right? This guy who had a disability solved his own real-world problem with his
determination and ingenuity. So, why would we limit students with special needs exposure to STEM in
Education? Who are some other inventors and innovators with a disability?
Temple Grandin (Autism) Invented the “squeeze box” for animals
Thomas Edison (Learning Disability) Invented the phonograph, movie camera, carbon microphone,
incandescent light bulb
Stephen Hawking (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) Research on black holes, gravity
STEM In Education needs to embrace and encourage our girls. I absolutely love to see my female students
fascinated with STEM activities. It’s an EPIC moment for me, to witness their struggle to their “I got this.”
Sally Ride (1st female NASA astronaut)
Ada Lovelace (Computer Scientist Innovator)
Marie Van Britten-Brown (Home security system)
Ellen Ochoa (Hispanic astronaut)
Stephanie Kwolek (Invented Kevlar fabric)
STEM IS Experiential. “Learning By Doing It”
Let’s tell the Truth. How many times have you looked at an owner’s manual in order to put something
together…to assemble a bookshelf, to download a computer program? You looked at it for about 2 minutes,
toss it to the side, and tried to crank out it.
Right? You just worked it out because you wanted to because you needed to do it. Now, you might stumble or
get frustrated, you might pick up the manual. However, you did not give up. I say that to say this, it is not
always easy to see yourself stumble through a problem. However, it is essential for our students to stumble
and fumble their way to solving a problem, regardless of their diverse backgrounds.
STOP Asking our students what they want to be when they grow up.
START Asking our students which problem will solve when they get older.
This is NOT an ‘oh by the way’ moment for me. I truly believe all students can learn STEM. I taught students
with severe disabilities how to problem solve through STEM instruction.
STEM in education is about teaching our students how to solve real-world problems. Therefore, all students need to be encouraged to think like scientists and engineers. My STEM Drip Tips helps you make this happen. My modified NASA Engineering By Design printable will help you make STEM in education more accessible. Feel free to DM me with your questions.
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