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Developing and equipping teachers to implement STEM education into the core instruction can be a challenge. However, with instructional support, professional development in PBL, and ongoing feedback from administrators, teachers can be masterful at incorporating STEM education with an integrated approach to the core curriculum that elevates learning. Professional development is key to guiding teachers on how to integrate STEM and strategies of how to instruct effectively in the classroom with all students. The curriculum that is built at Edgewood is meaningful and purposeful, so the connections to real-world problems and understanding the objectives of learning are seamless for students. Implementation is done through Project/Problem/Inquiry Based Learning units that are cross-curricular and encourage collaboration among multiple subjects of study simultaneously. Providing a driving question gives students a reason to investigate solutions and fosters intrinsic motivation to take ownership of their own learning while teachers support and facilitate.
Having students work collaboratively in groups is an integral aspect to the culture of Edgewood. Learning does not happen in isolation nor are real-world problems separated by subject matter. Our commitment is to guide students into a nurturing environment that makes them accountable to one another as well as to their learning. This is done by providing many opportunities to work in groups to solve problems and accomplish tasks by giving individual roles and responsibilities that contribute to the greater objective of the group. Students are evaluated both as an individual for their contributions as well as a group for the product and presentation. Technology is a tremendous tool for students to utilize, and teachers leverage technology hardware and software as appropriate to learning objectives and curriculum instruction. The purpose of technology is to transform and encourage innovation in learning.
3.1 STEM Instructional Approach Training
3.1 STEM Instructional Approach Training
All certified staff at Edgewood participated in Project Based Learning training on September 20, October 4, November 8 and December 6, 2021. Abbi Richcreek, who is our STEM Coach and a certified PBL trainer through the Ford Next Generation Learning Program and Jason Fleming, who is our assistant STEM Coach, conducted this training.
Training included the following:
Defining PBL
Defining the Difference Between Projects and PBL
Creating Driving Questions
Measuring High Quality Authentic Student Projects
Creating a Hook (initial engagement for a project)
Defining STEM Vocab
Connecting Employability Skills
When school resumed in January, a STEM Leadership Team was created to identify teachers across the curriculum who would participate in training with Al Summers, (who was a key trainer for the Buck Institute for years) to achieve the following objectives:
Participants will develop one PBL unit to be implemented now or first semester 2022-23
Participants will produce a PBL master plan for the shared folder
Participants will share their PBL unit plan with stakeholders on the afternoon of May 9
These participants trained with Al Summers on March 21, April 18, and May 9, 2021. A final showcase of the cross curricular PBL units that were developed during this training were shared with the certified staff, community leaders and stakeholders and central office staff, including the superintendent and assistant superintendent.
Additional staff are training this summer in PBL 101 and 201 with Al Summers, which involves the creation of inquiry and project based learning units.
Certified Staff Members Sample of Teacher Sign In Documentation
Copy of PBL Traning Log 10.4.21.pdfThis is an attendance log for the PBL training for the 2021-2022 school year.
Picture of Training
Above is an image of a staff training on PBL.
STEM Professional Development on Creative Mindsets
STEM Professional Development on Creative Mindsets
Zimmer Biomet's Director of Innovation, Hallie Brinkerhuff, trained our teachers in developing student's creative mindsets for all of our staff.
3.2 STEM Instructional Approach Implementation
3.2 STEM Instructional Approach Implementation
Edgewood’s departments that implement PBL units include math, history, language arts, science, PE, and Project Lead the Way. Included in the artifacts is a list of teachers actively engaging in PBL units, a curriculum map for 8th grade US History, a unit plan for PLTW, and a picture of a student project. These are just examples of the STEM instructional approach in the context of solving a real-world problem or challenge. At least 77% of the teachers in any given quarter use a STEM instructional approach in the context of solving a real-world challenge.
Teacher List of STEM Integration and Frequency
This list outlines each teacher that implements PBL and how frequently. At least 77% of the teachers in any given quarter use a STEM instructional approach in the context of solving a real-world challenge.
Curriculum Map:
8th Grade US History
8th Grade U.S. History Curriculum MapThis map for 8th Grade History shows STEM/PBL curriculum integration.
Unit Plans:
Medical Detectives
Medical Detectives Unit CalendarAbove is a sample unit plan from one of Edgewood's Project Lead the Way courses.
Sample of Student Product Picture
The student shown above has developed a puzzle cube to collect and analyze data over mean, median, and mode.
3.3 Student Instructional Work Groups
3.3 Student Instructional Work Groups
Students have multiple opportunities to work in groups throughout the day. Students collaborate and work as teams to solve driving questions for science labs, make something edible in cooking classes, participate in robotics creation and competitions, generate National History Day projects and create a plan of action to address real-world problems. Specific roles are defined for each group member and students are given the opportunity to reflect on their own contributions and give feedback to other members of the team for each PBL unit. Similar opportunities are available when working on STEM activities, creating blogs and podcasts, participating in presentations and working as a team in academic and hands-on activities. (art, music, PE, etc.)
Samples of student planning documents, defined student roles/responsibilities and project outcomes are evident in our artifacts. Members implementing students work in groups is found to happen in at least 70% of classrooms at least 3 or more times a week.
Roster of Certified Staff Members Implementing STEM Approach & Frequency of Group Work
Attached is a list of certified staff members and when they are implementing group collaboration. Members implementing students work in groups is found to happen in at least 70% of classrooms at least 3 or more times a week.
Sample of PBL Collaboration Rubric
Collaboration Student Rubric.pdfAbove is a rubric for collaborative STEM groups.
Sample of Group and Individual Accountability Plan for FACS Class
FACS Student Roles 3.3.pdfIncluded is an accountability sheet for both the whole group and the individual for a PBL project.
Sample of Individual Student Roles and Responsibilities in FACS Class
FACS Work Groups with Scoring FeedbackThis is a breakdown of the work schedule for individual students.
Sample of Student Input on Roles and Responsibilities
Above is an email correspondence between a student and teacher regarding feedback on the PBL process.
Sample of Student Planning Document
Project Team Work Plan NHD.pdfFeatured above is a breakdown of required work and individual roles.
Sample of Group Assignment Process
STEM Manufacturing Lesson 3.3.pdfAttached is a design plan for a PBL product that all 8th graders completed.
3.4 Technology in Instruction
3.4 Technology in Instruction
Warsaw Community Schools is a 1:1 district, selecting iPad Airs as the instructional tool to be used by students in grades K - 12. Students use their iPads each day and each period to collect data, complete school assignments, design, create, and communicate with teachers, peers, and community partners. Teachers may elect to use Google Classroom or Canvas. All assignments are available electronically and the school issued devices are used for in person, asynchronous and synchronous instruction during the school year.
Programs/Devices used in some of our KEY STEM classes include:
App Inventor: App Creator - Samsung Galaxy Tablet
Inventor: Design & Modeling
Vex Programming Robotics - Automation & Robotics
Choreograph for NAO (Humanoid Robot)
Corel Draw: Laser Engraver - Desktops/Laptops
Geogebra: Data Analysis for Design and Modeling - Desktops
Garage Band: Music and Podcast Creation - iPads
Gizmo: Science - iPads
Swivel: Asynchronous Instruction - iPads
Sample of Student Product
Sample of Technology Used in the Classroom
Students are utilizing their ipad while using the electronic scale weighing an object.
3.5 STEM Integration
3.5 STEM Integration
After participating in PBL training during the 2021-22 school year at least 75% of our Edgewood staff used a STEM instructional approach. Each teacher has been asked to continue to build their PBL units, to share them and to continue to embed real-world problem solving in their curriculum.
Over 50% of the Edgewood staff will be implementing planned STEM learning opportunities each quarter in the 2022-23 school year. STEM Leadership Team is working to implement one PBL unit each semester. A majority of staff members have fully embraced STEM and use PBL units to teach a majority of their power standards. The STEM Pillar team will be coaching and working with each department on the implementation of STEM curriculum.
Several Project/Inquiry based projects have been created and are being implemented to combine cross curricular academic standards with the integration of STEM. Samples of these projects are included as artifacts.
7th Grade Science Curriculum Map
7th Grade Science-Technology-Engineering Curriculum Map.docxAttached above is a curriculum map for 7th grade Science.
App Creators Unit Framework
App Creators Unit LessonsThis is a unit plan regarding app creation for Project Lead the Way.
App Creators Unit Outline
App Creators Unit OutlineAbove is a unit outline for PLTW.
Computer Science for Innovators & Makers Unit Calendar
CSIM Instructional CalendarLinked above is a course syllabus for Innovators and Makers class.
Integrated PBL Master Plan: Math 7
Copy of Noel's 7th Grade PBL Master Plan.docxThis is a 7th grade math class design project for a PBL unit.
Sample of PBL Student Work: Classroom Design
Classroom Design Project.pptxThis is a student group sample of a PBL product.
Sample of PBL Student Work: Orthosis Brace
This is a student group sample of a PBL product.
Sample of PBL Student Work: Backpack Tag
This is a student group sample of a PBL product that involved cross curricular collaborative between PLTW & ELA instructors.
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