Strengths
Fortunately, we have been able to maintain a core group of teachers that are very knowledgeable about the implementation of STEM in the building that continue to add to their repertoire. This group of veterans work hard to provide support for those teachers with less experience through the building through modeling, team planning, and team teaching. Teachers are comfortable with one another and openly communicate to share ideas or think through lessons.
Sustainability
Administration supports teachers by encouraging them to seek out professional development focused on components of STEM. Funds for such staff development is provided and the teachers are asked to provide in-house staff development in order to share strategies and information with others.
Challenges
One of our biggest challenges is erasing our preconceived misconceptions of what students are capable of doing. Differentiation is necessary with STEM as well as other aspects of education. The belief that certain groups may not be able to reach a certain goal had to be “unlearned”. Our diverse population requires that lessons be adjusted to ensure that all students reach the goal. The end product is attainable for all, but we need to have additional supports in place to help students. Additional research and experimentation may be required to ensure that ALL students are ready to design with a level of experience to ensure informed decision making. As a school, we needed to shift our awareness of what learning looks like. It is messy. It is noisy. It isn’t perfect. Successes teach us but sometimes the greatest learning comes from the designs that fall short. Perseverance is a skill that each individual needs to possess regardless of age. Historically, the teachers who taught science or math were the ones who did STEM learning. Through this process, we have found STEM can be incorporated and enhanced in all subject areas.
Continuous Improvement
Though we have worked hard to prepare our teachers for STEM education, we can always learn more and strive to increase our expertise. A plan would be to increase teachers sharing their knowledge within the school and to ensure that every teacher is able to attend. We would be interested in finding innovative presenters to facilitate additional school-wide training.