2.7 STEM Journals

Excelling: Students consistently document long-term projects-based learning, day-to-day interdisciplinary learning, and investigative research in STEM journals. Written journals demonstrate cross-curricular integration across multiple disciplines. Written journals are in place to demonstrate written student reflections and project ownership. Student thinking is well-documented throughout the journal.

STEM Journal Protocal

During the 2024–2025 school year, our STEM Committee identified a challenge in distinguishing which step of the Engineering Design Process students were working on in their STEM journals. To address this need, we developed a STEM Journal Color Key Protocol, inspired by best practices from other schools in the county. This system uses color coding to indicate each design step, ensuring consistency and improving both teacher feedback and student understanding of the process.

STEM Journal Organization:

Beginning in the 2024–2025 school year, our school implemented a system to save and advance student STEM journals each year, creating a continuous record of their STEM learning. During this transition, the STEM Committee identified that students were becoming confused when Project-Based Learning (PBL) activities were scattered among STEM units. To address this, we piloted a new organization protocol: STEM units start at the front of the journal, while PBLs begin at the back. This structure promotes clarity, reduces disorganization, and ensures that students can easily track their progress across both STEM units and PBL projects.