Science+2009

__**STEM Conference - Science Groups 2009**__
__Morning Session:__ Questions for consideration
 * Rick Oliver's talk
 * If nano is the wave of the future - how do we prepare the students for working with techniques in understanding and estimation?
 * How do we approach the future without jumping too quickly on a buzzword?


 * What SKILLS do we need to develop in students? How do we get them there?
 * Estimation/Number sense
 * Critical thinking
 * To be critical evaluators of easy sources of answers (calculators, google, wiki, etc)
 * Problem solving
 * Getting students past the idea that there is always just one easy to find right answer ("They don't like the grey")
 * They need to be lifelong learners (if they are learning their whole lives, can we reduce quantity to focus on quality) (we need to model lifelong learning)


 * How do we develop these skills?
 * Intentionality of what we ask them to do. Sometimes we need to walk them through steps to get them where we needs. We can't always assume background knowledge)
 * Contextualized content - they need to know where the information is coming from
 * open ended projects force students to inquire and figure it out
 * Basic skills to build to complex skills
 * If they feel a connection, they will be more interested
 * Thinking is alot of work!
 * Asking students to //explain// their answers
 * Reflection journals/comments/survey.
 * Error analysis of data
 * Editing allows students to learn from their mistakes.
 * Encourage risk taking


 * In college/research what skills do THEY want to see in students?
 * Awareness
 * problem solving (critical thinking)


 * Some programs/techniques/lessons that we use already
 * robotic program (lego system) - open ended format forces them to think and problem solve (critical thinking, sequential thinking)
 * Collaboration in labs/reports/wikipages - science is collaborative - how do we make it more so?Not letting collaboration end when the experiment is done
 * our enthusiasm for connections


 * How are we constrained by PSAT, SAT, ACT?


 * Challenges of Learning styles - As students learn about their learning styles, do they become stuck in rut?
 * We need to help them learn to compensate in other learning styles - use their strengths, developing their weaknesses
 * Students may not have the freedom of learning styles out in the "real world", are we preparing them for that

What will the ideal 21st century classroom look like for us? For our students?

 * ==ie: Do we have textbooks? What kind of connections are we making in (and out) of the classroom)? What do labs look like?==
 * Group #1
 * integrating technology into the classroom
 * need proactive tech support, more likely to use technology if we know it is supported
 * collaboration with guest lecturers - video conferencing
 * make the world "flat-er" - global resources and networking
 * microscale labs (quicker, allows for more time for analysis, use of fewer resources)
 * use of simulations in tandem with "wet labs"
 * graphing via computer (where is that taught - at what level?)
 * comp based textbooks
 * more cross-disc with math
 * what "old school stuff" do we still need?
 * Group #2
 * It's not just about what we need to do more of, but also what do we do less of? Depth vs. breadth
 * Need to break down the walls (in students head) between disciplines
 * Assertive writing styles and technical writing should be taught earlier (more interdisciplinary w/english teachers)
 * students need to really learn it/experience it to produce it
 * there may be some skills that are normally restricted to upper levels there may be some things that can be brought down and established in middle school (ie dimensional analysis)
 * Group #3
 * Topics were similar to other groups
 * more student directed learning


 * How do WE adapt to the 21st century classroom?


 * What is does the ideal 21st century student look like?
 * intellectually curious
 * willing to rise to the challenge
 * excited
 * work ethic
 * self-motivated instead of externally motivated
 * attention span to concentrate and focus
 * acceptance that sometimes it is hard work
 * humility
 * patience
 * critical thinking
 * willingness to take risks (doesn't always have to get the right answer)
 * Resist peer pressure (societal pressure)
 * Being able to recognize and appreciate differences
 * Ability to communicate effectively and work in a group
 * Adaptability
 * thinking outside the box
 * Resourcefulness
 * Independence


 * Who do WE create this student?
 * build relevance - they won't be curious unless we foster that curiosity
 * Do we build curriculum that values things like critical thinking? if we don't, we won't be able to create these students?

Friday Morning - reporting ideas/topics back from the Jigsaw groups

 * Ideas for integration - students trained as a "tech team" to help with tech issues in classroom
 * Crossovers between courses like statitstics and AP Bio classes
 * Why not have a Dean of STEM in courses (like a Dean of Humanities)
 * eliminate AP's, free up time to develop more meaningful courses (how do you do it though? What is the effect on our own admissions process? The college application process)
 * STEM integration in our schools would engage more of the faculty in curriculum discussions rather than primarily administrators (but also include college counselors)
 * Create a STEM department group pulling individuals from the other departments rather than combining the everyone in the whole departments.
 * We need to be willing to ask for help to be willing to try new things in curriculum and technology.

So where do we go from here?

 * Return to our schools and share with our departments/department heads
 * Ask for a STEM department
 * Work with tech departments to set up an interactive forum to share ideas and to share them when you have them
 * Having the support to use technology will make us much more likely to try and to use technology

Returner conversations: What are we hoping to get out of this Think Tank differently than the past Think Tanks?
 * Concerns about how to integrate math/science more thoroughly. Are we still struggling in ways to engage faculty and make it happen. What are the strategies?
 * How can you integrate and support but at the same time cover the basics needed for the next level?
 * What are the standards for those basics? Do our standards need to change?
 * How do we get those basic skills in place, without losing a students love of learning (not squash them with repetition)
 * Blending programs - one method isn't enough.
 * Are we teaching the same old ways? What will be the quantum leap of education along with everything else?
 * What does teaching look like now compared to what it will look like? Can we envision the ideal future classroom?
 * Brainstorm the ideal classroom
 * If we can't project what will be happen in future years, can we incorporated changes fast enough? Education lags behind technology changes? How do we avoid/compensate for that lag?
 * How do we reach constituencies in our classrooms?
 * Request: learning techniques for incorporating technology
 * The students need to understand WHY subjects are relevant to the changes that will come from the future?
 * Move to interdisciplinary/experiential learning: how do we do that?
 * what are public schools doing in STEM? How do they compare? Who are our competitors?
 * resources, course offerings, populations, accountability of standardized testing,
 * Should there be, or should we develop, common standards among private schools?
 * How can we be prepared to anticipate changes? And adapt to changes? And how do we institutionally prepare to continue these conversations with departments in our schools?