Creativity and Innovation in STEM

STEM 4043/5023 Creativity and Innovation in STEM Education

This course in technology and engineering education focuses on the development and introduction of technology and engineering-based activities to support science and mathematics instruction in the elementary classroom. Through hands-on, problem based learning challenges, students will develop an understanding of the design process and the integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) often used to solve real-world problems.

STEM 4043-5023 Course Syllabus

STEM 4043-5023 – 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
  • STEL standards and benchmarks.doc – STEL standards and benchmarks.pdf
  • STEL full document
• Arkansas Mathematics Standards
• Additional Arkansas Learning Standards

Course Resources

Writing a STEM Design Brief.doc  – Writing a STEM Design Brief.pdf

Engineering-Design-Journal

Performance-Based-Assessment-Guide

Reading Reflection Format

Week 15

Tuesday, April 23

• Ideation and Development of Ideas – The Final Project – Innovation Fest 2024

Thursday, April 25

• Rough drafts of your one-pagers presented to the class
  • We will select the ideas that will be implemented at the beginning of class

Week 14

Tuesday, April 16

• MagLev Design Challenge – Development
  • Testing and Improving

Thursday, April 18

• MagLev Race Day
  • Submission of your completed design and planning documentation (budget)
• The Final Project – Innovation Fest 2024

Vaughn Elementary STEM Night – 5:00 – 7:00pm

Week 13

Tuesday, April 9

• Introduction to Magnetic Levitation Transportation
• Moving Along the Tracks Unit
• MagLev Design Challenge – 2024

Thursday, April 11

• MagLev Project Development

Centerton-Gamble Elementary STEM Night – 5:00 – 7:00pm

Week 12

Tuesday, April 2

• Field Trip to the Thaden School – Following your visit to Crystal Bridges (for those in Ms. Owen’s class) well will all meet together at the Thaden School at 2:15
• Reading: Remaking Literacy Chapter 6 – Guidance for Implementation and Reading Reflection

Sugar Creek Elementary STEM Night – 5:00 – 7:00pm

Thursday, April 4

• Frugal Teacher Assignment – Complete the project and presentations of completed solutions

Week 11

Tuesday, March 26

• Frugal Teacher Assignment Development

Spring 2024 STEM/STEAM Night Additional Opportunities

• Tuesday, April 2 – Sugar Creek Elementary STEM Night – 5:00 – 7:00pm
• Thursday, April 11 – Center-Gamble Elementary STEM Night – 5:00 – 7:00pm
• Thursday, April 18 – Vaughn Elementary STEM Night – 5:00 – 7:00pm

*Please sign up for the event that you plan on attending

Thursday, March 28

• Frugal Teacher Assignment Development

Week 10 – Spring Break

Week 9  

Tuesday, March 12

• Wrap-up High-Tech Remaking Literacy Challenge Presentations
• Complete ArtBOT Teaching Models
• Intro to the The Frugal Teacher STEAM Design Challenge

*complete 3D printed creatures to be presented to the class on Thursday

Thursday, March 14

• 3D Printed Creature Design Presentations
• Frugal Teacher Assignment Development

Week 8

Monday, March 4 – Holcomb Elementary School STEM Night – 5:30-7:00pm

Tuesday, March 5

• High-Tech Remaking Literacy Challenge Presentations
• ArtBOT/VibroBOT Challenge – Intro to the The Frugal Teacher STEAM Design Challenge

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

Week 7

*Throughout the week – please start 3D printing your 3D creatures.

Tuesday, February 27

• Reading Review – Remaking with Maker Tech
  • Homework Assignment – High-Tech Remaking Literacy Challenge – Due Tuesday, March
    • Be sure to sign up for a high-tech idea for the assignment
• High Tech Remaking PP
• Engineering a Play discussion

Thursday, February 29

• Engineering a Play PP
  • The Hen and the Apple Tree – Story and Script
• Preparation for Holcomb Elementary STEM Night – Monday, March 4 – 5:30-7:00pm – please arrive early to set up
  • STEAM NIGHT 2024 Map

Spring 2024 STEM/STEAM Night Additional Opportunities

• Tuesday, April 2 – Sugar Creek Elementary STEM Night – 5:00 – 7:00pm
• Thursday, April 11 – Center-Gamble Elementary STEM Night – 5:00 – 7:00pm
• Thursday, April 18 – Vaughn Elementary STEM Night – 5:00 – 7:00pm

Week 6

Tuesday, February 20

• Reading Review – Low Tech Making
  • Homework: Watch the Video Caine’s Arcade
• The Amazeum – Friendville discussion
• 3D Geometric Design in TinkerCAD – STL files, Cura, and 3D Printing

Thursday, February 22

• Laser-Cut Creature Presentations
• 3D Geometric Design in TinkerCAD – STL files, Cura, and 3D Printing
• Reading: Remaking Literacy Chapter 5 – Remaking with Maker Tech

Week 5

Tuesday, February 13

• STL files, Cura, and 3D Printing
• Complete laser-cut geometric creatures
• Homework – Tinker CAD Set-Up and Exercises
• Get started on your 3D Printing Technology Design Challenge – 2024

Thursday, February 15

• Unfield Trip to the Amazeum – 2:00 – 4:00pm – We will meet at the Amazeum
• Reading: Remaking Literacy Chapter 4 – Low Tech Making

Week 4

Tuesday, February 6

• Reading Review
• Geometric Creatures Design Challenge
• CO2 Laser -Putting it all together – designing with shapes

Thursday, February 8

• Introduction to TinkerCAD
  • https://www.tinkercad.com/joinclass/PNHUXT9EK
• Reading: Remaking Literacy Chapter 3 – Thinking and Designing

Week 3

Tuesday, January 30

• Reading Review
• Not a Box Design Challenge Presentations
• Using AI to develop innovative curriculum ideas
• Homework for Thursday – AI Developed STEM Challenge Assignment

Thursday, February 1

• AI Developed STEM Challenge Assignment – sharing and discussion
• Geometric Creatures Design Challenge
• Introduction to the CO2 Laser
• Reading: Remaking Literacy – Chapter 2 – Creative Pathways to Learning

Week 2

Tuesday, January 23

• Reading Review
• Fostering Creativity in the Classroom
  • Introduction to Tinkering and Take-Apart

Thursday, January 25

• Complete Take-Apart Challenge (Pictures and sorting loose parts)
• Reading: Remaking Literacy – Introduction and Chapter 1 – What the Research Says – complete reading reflection
• Homework: Not a Box Design Challenge

 Week 1

Tuesday, January 16

• Introductions and Syllabus Review
  • STEM 4043-5023 Course Syllabus
  • STEM 4043-5023 – Spring 2024 Course Schedule
• Challenge (at-home) – YouTube Introduction Assignment-STEM 4043 Creativity and Innovation – Due Monday, January 22 by noon

Thursday, January 18

• Welcome to STEM 4043-5023 PP
• Engineering Design Challenge (in-class challenge)
• Introduction to Tinkering and Take-Apart
• Reading: Introduction and Chapter 1 – STEAM Makers: Fostering Creativity & Innovation in the Elementary Classroom and Reading Reflection – Due Tuesday, January 23 by noon