STEM
Defining STEAM at Bracken Academy
What do you get when you add an “A” to STEM? You get an artistic and creative look at science, technology, engineering and math while creating an environment where students thrive.
The Business Role in Education: Examples, Expectations & Support
Three extraordinary corporate CEOs talk about talent development and the role of business in education. All three were trained as engineers and support the Common Core State Standards and expanded STEM education. Xerox CEO Ursula Burns urges business leaders to “include an education component into every meeting, let folks know you're paying attention, know your numbers, and use your power of convening with other companies and officials.”
Good Work: Iterating & Innovating At Scale
Four leaders had, by eight years ago, achieved a career crowning accomplishment of running a great school. None were satisfied. Each saw more opportunity to help boost youth success. They viewed blended learning as an chance to innovate and iterate. Unlike superficial Tinkering Toward Utopia, these leaders are engineering powerful learning pathways. Driven by a passion for impact at scale, leaders like Diane, Marcy, Tom and JoAnn are transforming U.S. education.
How Do You Draw a Scientist?
What comes to mind when you think of a scientist? Try this: Make a list or draw a quick sketch of a scientist.
Next Gen Science Standards 101
The Institute for Science and Math Education at the University of Washington recently offered a crash course on the Next Generation Science Standards. Director of the Institute Philip Bell and a panel of STEM education experts provided a helpful orientation well worth 75 minutes of your time - the presentation should be available on the Institute's website soon. In the mean time, don't forget to check out the resources at the end of this post.
Building STEM Skills by Learning Game Design
Alex Chisholm, Executive Director of the Learning Games Network describes the journey to the HP Catalyst Academy as grant recipients and designing the Game Design Tool Kit (GDTK).
Science Outreach with Teachers, Dinosaurs
The fossils and data collected all help UW scientists investigate the extinction that ended the age of dinosaurs 66 million years ago. DIG teachers aren't just adding to paleontology research - they're a part of it.
The Art of Teaching Science
If only teaching K-12 science was itself a science – assess student knowledge deficits and remedy them. So here’s a new tool for any teacher who’s spent evenings and weekends trying to find a lesson that’s the perfect fit for their class: it’s called MOSART...
Hacker Communities, Local Communities
Mariano Ulibarri, director of the hacker space Parachute Factory in New Mexico, heard about Hacker Scouts in the news just a few months ago. His immediate reaction was to start a troop locally – so he did.
Pondering Urban High School Improvement
“We want people to be perplexed—to embrace the paradox of starting new schools,” said Larry Rosenstock in the opening to the A+ Urban High School Summit in Denver Wednesday. As usually Larry has a rich list of quotes on the subject.