Integrated STEM Model-Eliciting Activities: Developing

Integrated STEM Model-Eliciting Activities:

Developing 21st Century ThinkersMicah Stohlmann

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Thursday, June 20, 13

STEM Education: Room for Improvement

The National Science Board in their National action plan for STEM (NSB, 2007) note that “the United States possesses the most innovative, technologically capable economy in the world, and yet its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education system is failing to ensure that all American students receive the skills and knowledge required for success in the 21st century workforce”(p. 1).


Separate Silos

Science Technology Engineering Mathematics


Integrated STEM Education

Studies have shown that integrating math and science makes learning more connected and relevant and has a positive impact on student attitudes and interest in school, their motivation to learn, and achievement.

Engineering is becoming more prevalent in K-12 schools and can provide great problem solving opportunities for students to learn about mathematics, science, and technology while working through the engineering design process.


Rationale for STEM education

John%Dewey%said%that%“Education%is%not%preparation%for%life;%education%is%life%

itself.”%If%life%is%to%be%education%then%the%school%experience%of%students%

should%embody%that%reality.%%In%real%life%people%are%rarely%faced%with%

problems%that%require%the%use%of%knowledge%from%only%one%subject.%

Integrated%education%allows%for%a%more%realistic%approach%to%learning.%

Students%can%see%the%connections%between%different%subjects%and%this%makes%

learning%more%meaningful.


Recommendations for Integrated STEM education

Content%knowledge%is%important

Have%to%focus%generally%on%one%subject%while%incorporating%aspects%of%

others.%

Quality%curriculum%is%needed

Should%not%just%be%used%with%high%achievers


Recommendations for Integrated STEM education


MEAs and STEM

Integrated STEM education will be defined as an effort for mathematics teachers to use the engineering design process as the structure for students to learn mathematical content along with science concepts through technology infused activities.


21st Century Creativity Framework


Characteristics of Good STEM activities/curricula

Context

Science/Math Content

• (even better if there are other content too)

Student-centered pedagogy

Technology integration

Engineering Design

• Design cycle: redsign


Introduction to Model-Eliciting Activities

ModelHEliciting%Activities%(MEAs)%are%clientHdriven,%openHended,%realistic%

problems%that%involve%the%development%or%design%of%mathematical/scienti,ic/engineering/models

These%are%broadening%classroom%experiences%that%tap%the%diversity%of%

learning%styles%and%strengths%that%students%bring%to%the%classroom%

Intended%to%make%advanced%STEM%content%and%substantive%problemHsolving%

experiences%accessible%to%a%diversity%of%students%%


Introduction to Model-Eliciting Activities

MEAs%are%Instructional%Tools%%

Meant&to&compliment&the&content&of&a&course

For&use&in&conjunction&with&other&instructional&tools&

Address&higher8order&thinking&skills

Address&multiple&educational&objectives


Realistic

Open-ended

Interdisciplinary

A"ow for multiple solutions and ideas

Team-Based

Solutions to the problems are the teams’ models

Difficult to write and properly structure

Occurs during MEAs

Students ask Questions

Discuss problem solving strategies

Observe someone’s problem solving strategies

Teach a peer

Explain one’s thinking

Model-Eliciting Activities (MEAs)


MEA Format

Read article and complete readiness questions

Teacher leads a discussion on readiness questions and the

problem statement (15 Minutes)

Group work time (40 - 70 minutes)

Group presentations (30 - 40 minutes)

Revise solutions and reflection


Trash Trouble MEA

Article: What Wi" the Future Hold? How Math Can Help People Make Predictions.

Readiness Questions:

What is a mathematical prediction?

What are some examples of areas where math is used to predict?

What are the difficulties associated with making predictions?


Problem Statement

Environmental%Protection%Agency%(EPA)%Concerned%about%United%States%Trash%

ProductionIn%order%to%make%plans%and%prepare%for%what%to%do%with%America’s%trash%it%is%

important%to%have%an%understanding%of%how%much%trash%there%will%be.%%The%EPA%

would%like%your%help%in%determining%how%much%trash%the%United%States%will%

produce%in%2015.%%Use%the%data%on%the%next%page%to%help%you%make%your%

prediction.%%You%will%write%a%letter%to%the%EPA%that%gives%your%prediction%for%the%

amount%of%trash%that%the%U.S.%will%produce%in%2015%and%also%describes%your%

procedure%for%how%you%came%up%with%your%prediction.%%Your%procedure%should%

be%described%so%that%it%could%be%used%in%future%years%when%new%data%about%U.S.%

trash%production%is%available.%You%can%also%include%suggestions%for%how%the%

amount%of%trash%produced%each%year%could%be%lowered.%%




Group Work Time

While&teams&are&working&on&the&MEA&the&teacher&should&circulate&around&the&room&to&make&sure&groups&are&working&well,&provide&feedback&to&students&about&the&social&or&group&skill,&and&write&down&mathematical&ideas&that&the&students&are&discussing.&&


Group Presentations

5 to 10 minutes for groups to explain their

procedure or model.

Students fill out a form while groups present:

(1) what I liked about other teams’ solutions

(2)What I did not like about other teams’

solutions.




Example MEAs

Bigfoot MEA:Key%question:%How do you develop a method for finding a person’s height when the only information you have is a copy of their footprint and the stride length? (Grade level 5th -10th).

Main Strands: Measurement, Algebra, Problem Solving, and Communication.

Connections:/Life Science and Forensics.

Missing Lynx MEA:Key%question:%How can data and information on the bald eagle and gray wolf, who were protected under the Endangered Species Act, be used to predict the future population of lynx in Minnesota? (Grade level: 5th -11th)

Main Strands: Algebra, Nature of Science and Engineering, Life Science, Problem Solving, and Communication

Connections: Endangered Species Act, Population growth, and Environments.


Example MEAs

Trash Trouble MEA:Key%question:%How do you create a procedure or

formula for predicting the amount of trash the U.S. will produce in the year 2015?

Grade%level:%5th%–%10th%%Main%Strands:%Algebra,%Problem%Solving,%and%CommunicationConnections:%Recycling%and%History


Contact information:

Micah%Stohlmann:%[email protected]


Documents

Integrated STEM Model-Eliciting Activities: Developing