Standard 1.3

ST1.3 - Students are empowered to personalize and self-direct their STEM learning experiences supported by STEM educators who facilitate their learning.

At St. Louis School students have frequent opportunities to personalize and self-direct their STEM learning based on interdisciplinary grade level curriculum, student interests, and real world applications both in school and during extended day opportunities. Stem activities and projects allow students to direct their design and solution based on team collaboration and research. St. Louis School offers many opportunities of personalized STEM experiences for students to self-select and direct their own learning through a variety of projects and initiatives including Genius Hour, Stop Motion Animation, and other classroom based STEM lessons. STEM educators guide and support students to enhance learning by asking inquiry questions to encourage critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication.

The following extended day clubs provide additional opportunities for students to personalize and self-direct their STEM learning experiences at SLS including Design and Build, Cyber STEM, First Lego League, 3D Printing Club, MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) underwater robotics team, and Environmental Club. STEM Educators, parents, volunteers, and subject matter experts facilitate these clubs.

Middle School Projects

Three middle school projects that exemplify STEM self-directed and personal lessons include the Genius Hour, Stop-Motion Animation, and a real world math challenge. Educators in these projects serve as facilitors to help guide the students project.

Click above image to view sample website.

Genius Hour is a self-directed project for 8^th grade students to wonder, investigate, and propose a solution to a question that impacts the community. This class encourages creativity and curiosity. It empowers students to wonder about the things around us and to help those in our community. It encourages collaboration and builds research and technology skills. Students create a website to share their final projects with their classmates and family.

Click above video to view sample work.

SLS Students in 7^th grade Art class worked in small groups to create self-directed stop-motion animations. Students collaborate to create a unique story, design and build sets and characters for their video, and used a variety of technology resources to record the video and voice recordings. After the completion of their video, students had an opportunity to watch their classmates' videos and evaluate themselves on their work.

Elementary School Projects

Two elementary school STEM projects that encourage self-direction and personalization include a WeDo Lego Language Arts Storytelling project and a Design a Park STEM lesson. Educators guide and support the students during these learning oppurtunities.

During the WedDo Lego Language Arts storytelling project, first graders were challenged to create a mechanical boat using Wedo robotics, code the boat to rock back and forth, and to create a story to be presented about their boats. Students collaborated in groups to write creative stories, add sounds to their robots, and present their project to the class.

In the Design the Park STEM Lesson third grade students learned about abandoned lots in NYC and were challenged to redesign the abandoned lot into a usable space in the city such as a playground or dog park. Students were placed into groups based on the type of park they wanted to design and develop.

Extracurricular Clubs

The Cyber STEM and Design & Build programs are a few examples of after-school programs available for students interested in additional self-directed opportunities.

The Design and Build Club gives students in grades 1-4 the opportunity to design and build with LEGOs based on challenge cards and student directed themes. Students in grades 4 through 8 can participate in Cyber STEM club. Cyber STEM students engage in computer-based and hands-on STEM activities through gaming, modeling, and simulation with an emphasis on logical thinking, problem-solving, and the application of coding to real-world problems.