Standard 2

STEM educators collaborate to develop, implement, and improve high quality STEM learning activities.

Standard 2 Narrative

STEAM educators collaborate to develop, implement, and improve high quality Project-Based Learning and STEAM activities. Teachers implement these learning activities across all subject areas. Grade levels work together to develop high quality project based learning experiences. These experiences help teach students content knowledge and skills. Our goal at BBCES is to foster a deeper understanding for the content. Teachers at BBCES strive to create an environment that enhances collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication. Through collaboration, teachers plan activities to help students learn responsibility as they take ownership of their team role and develop their strengths. At BBCES, rubrics are created for students to help develop an understanding of their successes when they work as a group to meet the expected outcomes of the project. Teachers keep critical thinking skills in mind as they plan activities that are standards based.

Teachers are Learners

Teachers at BBCES are learning about STEAM integration!

STEAM PD

Every year the Talladega County School system hosts a STEAM by Design professional learning day. All educators in Talladega County as well as those outside of the district are invited to attend. Various breakout sessions are planned and conducted by local teachers and staff. For the past three year, our very own teachers have presented at this event. Mrs. Herman and Mrs. Knight presented "Shake up the Classroom" to their colleagues. In this session Mrs. Herman and Mrs. Knight discussed ways to get your students up and moving all while learning. They discussed how STEAM incorporation helps foster a hands-on environment.

Epic Escape

At the 2021-2022 STEAM by Design Conference, Mrs. Voss presented "Epic Escape". In this session, Mrs. Voss discussed how to set up, how to use, and the benefits of using breakouts during any subject area. After the presentation, teachers got to participate in a math breakout game.

After participating in Mrs. Voss' breakout session, teachers applied their learning in their classroom. They implemented a breakout game to enhance the learning of their students.

Engagement with Gamification

At the 2021-2022 STEAM by Design professional learning day, several of our teachers presented. Mrs. Herman modeled a variety of different ways that gamification could be used to enhance student engagement. Factile was a fan favorite.

Increasing Engagement with Gamification

Once teachers learned more about gamification and ways that it can increase student engagement, resources like Kahoot, Blooket, Quizizz and Factile can be found on a weekly basis in the classrooms at BBCES.

Choral Counting 1, 2, 3

Mrs. Thornton led a session on Choral Counting for grades K-5. In this session, teachers learned the why and how behind Choral Counting. During this session, teachers learned about this engaging number sense routine that allows students to participate in rich conversation and develop pattern recognition within their classroom. Teachers learned how to plan for and implement choral counting in their class.

Teamwork

Teachers use the PBL learning map to help guide them when planning for project-based learning projects.

PBL Planning

Collaboration among educators at B.B. Comer Elementary School has been the key to our successful STEAM program. Professional development is embedded throughout the school year to allow for collaboration and planning of PBL projects. STEAM educators at BBCES understand the importance of setting high expectations for the students to help them make real world connections. These connections are made through the authentic learning of project-based learning.

Monthly STEAM Lab Planning Forms

Design a Planet

After reviewing the January STEAM planning form, submitted by teachers, Mrs. Voss planned STEAM lessons that incorporated sixth grade math and science standards. In the classroom, students were learning about space. During their visit to the STEAM lab, students reviewed content and completed a challenge to Design their own planet.

During the 2017-2018 school year, our STEAM Lab became a co-teaching space for the classroom teachers and STEAM teacher to collaborate on STEM-inspired lessons. In an effort to make STEAM Lab lessons intentional and directly related to the instruction that is taking place in the classrooms across our school, teachers are asked to complete a monthly STEAM Lab Lesson Planning Form. The STEAM teacher takes this form and uses it to write lesson plans, create rubrics and checklists for grading student project work, and to make connections to classroom instruction during STEAM Lab visits.

STEAM Lab Planning Form

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