STEM 4033/5033 Introduction to STEM Education
This course provides an introduction to the foundations of STEM education disciplines and the strategies used to deliver integrated STEM education in the elementary and secondary school setting. The nature of STEM education disciplines, STEM pedagogy, teaching strategies, integrated STEM learning, STEM careers, and project-based instruction are addressed.
STEM 4033 – Spring 2024 Course Schedule
STEM Content Standards
- Arkansas Science Standards
- Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL) – The Role of Technology and Engineering in STEM Education
- Arkansas Mathematics Standards
- Additional Arkansas Learning Standards
Course Resources
Writing a STEM Design Brief.doc – Writing a STEM Design Brief.pdf
Performance-Based-Assessment-Guide
Week 15
Tuesday, April 23
- Electricity Project Presentations
- Paper Engineering Presentation
- Basic Pop-Ups (in class challenge)
Thursday, April 25
- Cardboard Engineering using MakeDO (in class challenge)
- Paper Engineering Project
- Due Thursday, May 2
Week 14
Tuesday, April 16
- Major Assignment – Electricity Curriculum Project
Thursday, April 18
- Major Assignment – Electricity Curriculum Project
- Your final curriculum submission is Due Tuesday, April 23 and you will present your teaching models at the beginning of class and then submit.
Week 13
Tuesday, April 9
- The Electricity Project Ideation
- Major Assignment – Electricity Curriculum Project
- 4th Grade Standards and Content
- Big Ideas and Essential Questions
- Scenario and Challenge
- Major Assignment – Electricity Curriculum Project
- The Electricity Project PP
Thursday, April 11
- Electricity Curriculum Project Development
Week 12
Tuesday, April 2
- Introduction to Electricity – Building electrical circuits to demonstrate transfer of energy.
- Challenge (in-class) – Paper Circuits – Drawing a Circuit Quick Challenge
- Challenge (in-class) – The Simplest Electric Motor
- Major Assignment – Electricity Curriculum Project
- Suggested Reading: Chapter 1: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/index.html
Thursday, April 4
- Challenge (in-class) – Creating an electrical circuit with 2-LEDs and a switch
- The Electricity Project PP
- Suggested Reading: Chapter 1: http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/index.html
Week 11
Tuesday, March 26 and
- Technical Procedural Problem Solving PP
- Challenge (in-class) – Lego back-to-back Challenge
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Writing a Technical/Procedural STEM Problem and Reading Reflection
Thursday, March 28
- Technical-Procedural Problem-Solving (continued)
- Challenge (in-class) – Teacher Geek
Week 10 – Spring Break
Week 9
Tuesday, March 12
- Construction Blocks in STEM Education
- Code & Go Robot Mice Challenges (in-class)
- Challenge (in-class) – HexBug Challenge – Part 1
Thursday, March 14
- Challenge (in-class) – HexBug Challenge – Part 2
Week 8
Tuesday, March 5
- Using Blocks and Construction Toys for Teaching STEM PP
- Crazy Fort Challenge (in-class challenge)
- Keva Workshop (in-class challenge)
- Weekly Reading Assignment
- Blocks As a Tool for Learning
- Using Block Play
- Complete Reading Reflection (you only need to complete one reflection for both of the readings as they are connected)
Thursday, March 7
- We will not officially meet for class as I will attending and presenting at the International Technology and Engineering Educators (ITEEA) Conference, Memphis, TN – March 6 – 9
- Homework: Complete Construction Block Ideation Guide
Week 7
Tuesday, February 27
- Literature-based Curriculum – Making Improvements and Preparing for the Peer Review
- Literature-based Curriculum Peer Presentation
- Book – Challenge – Connection to Standards
Thursday, February 29
- Literature-based Curriculum Peer Review (in-class challenge)
- Final Submission – Due, Monday, March 4, noon
- Using Blocks and Construction Toys for Teaching STEM PP
Week 6
Tuesday, February 20
- Literature-Based Curriculum Development and Ideation
Thursday, February 22
- Literature-based Curriculum Development and Ideation
- Homework: Bring your 1st draft of your teachers guide, student guide, and design journal to present on Tuesday, February 27.
- Peer-Review – Thursday, February 29
- Final Submission – Due, Monday, March 4, noon
Week 5
Tuesday, February 13
- Using Tools Challenge (in-class)
- Reading Review
- The Literature-based STEM Curriculum
- The Quick Challenge – Character Cards (Story Grammar) (in-class) Challenge
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Writing a STEM Design Brief
- Homework – Review the next Major Assignment – Literature-Based Curriculum, Rubric, and Check-List
- Select three or four potential children’s books to potentially guide your assignment
Thursday, February 15
- Literature-based Design Challenge Development
- STEM Design Challenge (in-class)
Week 4
Tuesday, February 6
- Engineering Design Process/Loop
- Quick [engineering design] Challenge (in-class)
Thursday, February 8
- Presentations – The Engineering Design Loop Assignment
- Final submissions are due Tuesday, February 13 – noon
- Tool Building – Use Tools Challenge (in-class)
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Integrating Literacy and Engineering Instruction for Young Learners and Reading Reflection
Week 3
Tuesday, January 30
- Boosting Technological and Engineering Literacy Video
- Reading Review – Using Tools
- Measuring: Materials, Tools, and Processes PP
- Challenge (in-class) – Space Frame Building Challenge
- Weekly Reading Assignment – A Framework for STEM Problem-Solving
- You do not have to complete a reading assignment – be sure to read this before starting on the Engineering Design Loop Assignment
Thursday, February 1
- Challenge (in-class) –
- Space Frame Building Challenge (continued)
- The Design Process PP
- Major Assignment – Major Assignment – The Engineering Design Loop
Week 2
Tuesday, January 23
- Reading Review – The STEL
- Challenge (in-class) – Engineering Design Challenge – Teacher Trophy Challenge
- Measure of Problem-Solving Fitness (MPSF)
Thursday, January 25
- Engineering Design Challenge (in-class) – Moving Outward Design Challenge
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Enhancing the Technology and Engineering in Elementary Classrooms: Safer Tool Usage and Reading Reflection
Week 1
Tuesday, January 16 and
- Introduction to STEM Education PP
- Syllabus and Schedule Review
- Challenge (at-home) – YouTube Introduction Assignment-STEM 4033 – Due Monday, January 22 by noon.
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Introduction and Background and History of the STEM Movement in The Overlooked STEM Imperatives and Reading Reflection – Due Thursday, January 18 by noon.
Thursday, January 18
- Reading Review
- Introduction to STEM Education PP
- Challenge (in-class) – Climer Cards Introduction
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy and STEM Education article and Reading Reflection