Posts Tagged ‘meaningful learning’

STEM Video: Make a Lunar Crater Lab (NASA)

STEM Video: Make a Lunar Crater Lab (NASA)

If you plan to use this hands-on lunar activity in your STEM Discovery classroom and you have video access, NASA’s demonstration is a perfect addition to get the exploration started.

Thanks to NASA JPL for their continued support for teachers and curious future scientists in the classroom!


Sunrise STEM Club: Reaching Minorities, Reaching The Stars

Sunrise STEM Club: Reaching Minorities, Reaching The Stars

It’s the real video testimony from PBS featured Nanoscientist who recharge my excitement about the premier of our STEM club, kicking off in January. The sunrise schedule idea came about via a curious student and a conversation with a teacher who saw a dwindling crowd for the afternoon Physics club on campus. The after school crowd has football, basketball, or needs to be home to care for elementary age siblings.


Educators: You Need To Pour Yourself a Big Cup of Calm Down

Educators: You Need To Pour Yourself a Big Cup of Calm Down

Until they figure out what they need, we need to pour ourselves a big cup of calm down and do what educators do: share knowledge, empower creativity, generate a spark of hidden genius, promote self responsibility, celebrate self and community, and be patient. No one has all the answers. Choose not to be a victim. Do what you can. Let the rest go.

As an educator, tough days remind me that I can only do my best. So I pour myself big cup of CALM DOWN and reflect.


STEM Student asks “Do I have to work in a team?”

STEM Student asks  "Do I have to work in a team?"

Problem solving and team collaboration in the classroom are tough processes for some high performing students who just want to get the assignment done.

Given a choice, would you rather work alone or work in a team?

NPR looks at the science behind the team and how you can learn from the best.


Changing Social Expectations in the Education Equation

Changing Social Expectations in the Education Equation

As a STEM (science) teacher, I experience a more meaningful day with my learners from bell-to-bell when we blend real-world problems that enable them to safely problem-solve with meaning. Immediate feedback is generated through their daily learning journals in my Space Lab classes.

I promote high expectations and use instant revision to energize it. This past Friday, I invested 12 minutes towards how-to- improve the three lesson facts each student picks for their daily journal. “Don’t pick facts that you cannot connect to your life. That is boring. Boring is the opposite of discovery. Find facts that are hooked into what you do, what you want to do, and what thrills you. Then, your journal activity becomes something personal, something meaningful.” I saw an instant return on that 12 minute investment.~Kay Borglum, STEM Science Teacher (FL)


Writing On The Wall: Rules for Rusty

Writing On The Wall: Rules for Rusty

As governors and administrators modulate class size and craft budgets for teaching the next generation of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and innovators, parents cannot be removed from the equation of success for their child.


Problem-Solving Practice, Analysis of Real World Issues Boost Performance

I see the most meaningful learning happen when the unit of discovery is structured enough to guide them towards a target topic, but flexible in that their own questions energize two things: personal interest and higher quality reflective lab reports.~Kay Borglum, MS