STEM Mindset

• Students are encouraged to approach problems with an open mind, consider a range of solutions, seek innovation, and express their ideas in a variety of modes. 

• Students are encouraged to investigate questions objectively by generating and testing hypotheses, and by collecting and analyzing evidence to support claims. 

• Activities are designed to promote students’ curiosity and flexibility across situations by providing many types of projects and problem scenarios. 

• Supports are provided to facilitate teacher and student discussion and reasoning about STEM epistemologies (e.g., empiricism, design thinking, mathematical proof) and productive STEM

Agency & Persistence:

• Activities are designed to allow adequate time for student-directed exploration of problem-solving approaches, setbacks, and adoption of new approaches as obstacles are encountered. 

• Failure is treated as an opportunity to learn and troubleshoot. 

• Failure to find a complete or satisfactory solution to a problem does not adversely affect students’ grades or standing. 

• Supports are included to assist teachers in facilitating student-driven exploration and providing feedback to students when they experience failure or frustration.

Social & Cultural Awareness:

• Materials introduce multiple cultural perspectives and address the value of social and cultural awareness, sensitivity, and empathy in STEM professional work and in society, especially as related to global citizenship and global STEM challenges. 

• Materials link directly to the social studies curriculum as appropriate. 

• Supports are provided to help teachers facilitate class discussions about empathy and sensitivity, and identify opportunities to raise issues of social and cultural awareness beyond those in the materials (e.g., selecting a diverse group of STEM experts to interact with students). 

Student Leadership:

• Students have opportunities to take leadership roles and practice leadership skills. 

• Skills such as taking initiative, building consensus, and communicating effectively in groups are practiced and evaluated. 

• Materials include guidance for teachers to organize groups, assign leadership roles, offer students feedback about their leadership skills, and facilitate discussions about leadership. 

Ethics:

• Materials introduce students to the notion of ethics as part of STEM professional work and its application. 

• Materials prompt students to consider ethics in their approach to their work, and by recognizing diverse perspectives and viewpoints. 

• Supports are provided to help teachers facilitate discussions about ethics in students’ work and in STEM professional work.