VCU STEM

A brief 10-minute video describing the importance of STEM education and its implications. Posted by Chesterfield County Public Schools (ccpsva). 19 Dec 2008

I completely agree with Tristan, it is always awesome to see stuff that we talk about in our coursework being implemented in the field. I feel like sometimes important topics to me are forgotten when we translate them into teaching in the classroom, but this proves me wrong. And makes me feel great about the future of STEM education.

I had never heard of "STEM" until a Chesterifield CPS principal mentioned it. I had to stop her and ask what "STEM" was, which, as a scientist, was very embarrassing. I think it is great that CCPS has embraced the synergistic effect of STEM subjects functioning together. Awesome!

First and foremost, I really like the diagram that this website created for defining tpack, it really helped me to grasp a more through definition of TPACK. Second, a notable excerpt from the article: "Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) attempts to identify the nature of knowledge required by teachers for technology integration in their teaching, while addressing the complex, multifaceted and situated nature of teacher knowledge. At the heart of the TPACK framework, is the complex interplay of three primary forms of knowledge: Content (CK), Pedagogy (PK), and Technology (TK)."

This definitions draws a lot on the history of TPACK with Shulman but breaks it down very nicely at the end of the article. Excerpt: "Doering, Scharber, Miller and Veletsianos (2009) reference a doctoral paper produced by Cox (2008). Through this paper, Cox identifies over 89 definitions of TPACK. Through these definitions, Cox creates an expansive definition of the true nature of TPACK: TPACK is the knowledge of the dynamic, transactional negotiation among technology, pedagogy, and content and how that negotiation impacts student learning in a classroom context. The essential features are (a) the use of appropriate technology (b) in a particular content area (c) as part of a pedagogical strategy (d) within a given educational context (e) to develop students' knowledge of a particular topic or meet an educational objective or student need. (p. 317)"

The article "What is TPACK" most certainly gave me a better grasp on the framework as well. What stood out to me the most was the following statement: "The essential features are (a) the use of appropriate technology (b) in a particular content area (c) as part of a pedagogical strategy (d) within a given educational context (e) to develop students' knowledge of a particular topic or meet an educational objective or student need." I think this statement beautifully ties all the concepts and shows how important it is to connect these concepts. This reminds me of our STEM discussions and how in order for it to be effective all four disciplines had to be integrated, not isolated. I think TPACK is making the same statement loud and clear. We need to develop ideas to connect all three components as oppose to focusing on them individually. I think the "Tpack(age)" can strike some teachers as very inspirational and others with a feeling of change and overwhelming. I am glad to see that more and more districts are starting to introduce and rely on this framework, which will definitely help it become a future trend. However, in some cases it upsets me that some teachers are so close-minded to change. Don't get me wrong-I know that in some instances it may be a huge learning curve but having an open mind to the concept can at least instigate more support for the TPACK framework (which could include funding, proper training, etc.).

Great resource if you have students needing makeup or home-bound. Virtual Chemistry Experiments are a collection of interative web-based chemistry tutorials. The tutorials employ Physlets and Chemistry Applets to simulate experiments or depict molecular and atomic structure. The guiding concept is to involve the read in making observations and acquiring data, and then using this information to draw conclusions and infer chemical principles.

I find these are best as additional to traditional lab experiences or, as I posted earlier, I use these for the students that can't be at school for usual labs. Understanding limitations of their own lab technique and evaluation of errors does not occur with simulations. Similar to difference between multiple choice assessment and free response.

I agree with Anna, virtual experiments wouldn't be my first choice in methodology for lab experiments, but there are somethings that you just, can't do in the classroom. Whether it is from limited resources, limited class time, or simply the experiment is too dangerous for the classroom, virtual experiments are a good alternative. I had a chemistry professor in my undergrad who was making a dvd textbook with lectures and experiments and there was a lot of cool experiments on the dvd that he would have never been able to do during his lectures.

This site provides educational movies for K-3 students. Homework Help, leveled quizzes, games and activities for kids. Exceptional resource for teachers and homeschools. I use this site very often.

After I wrote the comment, I saw the brainpop.com site and was impressed with it none the less.

I like Brainpop for starting conversation in my AP classes.

This is a great site to help students understand relative sizes of things in the universe - it's awesome.

A visual tour of cells, bacteria, viruses and their interaction with one another.

Great video that explains the concepts of TPACK in a more simplistic manner. I think is does a great job of showing how not integrating such a model could harm our current/future learners- learners of the 21st century.

This is a beautiful presentation, and I know it's purpose is not to teach you everything about TPACK, but you also don't want to dishearten learners or veteran teachers with overloading them with what they should be doing. If I told everyone right now that by next Friday you all should be playing golf and be good at it, most of you would look at me and say no way or I cannot. If I said I want to show you how to putt a golf ball one day, then the next day we are going to work on chipping a golf ball... I am slowly building the foundation of playing golf. For TPACK to work with teachers who are not tech savvy, you have to slowly build the foundation. Maybe designate one piece of technology, and for some it might be something as simple as a digital camera, and properly work that into a lesson. If you want all teachers to be successful using the TPACK model, baby steps might be needed for some, just like some of our students need baby steps and others hit the classroom running in full stride.

The video "TPACK Framework" definitely portrays the most important message of TPACK which is successful implementation of TPACK is not an easy process; rather it is a process that will require creativity from teachers. I really like what Stephen stated with his golf analogy and I feel like the video is great for teachers who are new to the framework by explaining TPACK in a very simple format: you need to have knowledge of the content you are teaching, knowledge of how to effectively teach as well as creative ideas of how you will use technology to tie in the content effectively. Through this video, I can see how the subject being taught can be considered as a resistant force to the framework. It is absolutely possible to apply TPACK in every content area however I feel that it is easier or more obvious to apply it in science curriculum as oppose to language arts (I am in no way saying that it is impossible). In order to make TPACK successful introducing teachers to this framework and ensuring them that is okay if they run into a brick wall because this not a 1-2-3 fix and it will require creative solutions.

Thank you for posting this. As an old science teacher, what I am seeing is the Scientific Process being expanded upon in this article. As teachers, teaching students to be thinkers and not regurgitators of facts is very important. I would much rather a student understand the process of "if I do A to B and C happens, but I wanted D to happen, what do I need to adjust to A and B to get the result I want." Rather than spitting out D happens when you do a to B. It is also interesting to see him mentioning at the top that the arts make STEM "sizzle" when you see what is happening at UVA.

It is interesting to see how STEM is being looked at in other places. One thing in the article, that I haven't heard someone else stress, is the importance of empathy. I think that empathy would ensure that the students would maintain interest in a topic. However, the article makes me wonder what curriculum will look like in the future if we make these changes. Certainly, different children in different places will have different interests and will want to learn about different things, which is fine, but will be difficult with the current system of standards. I also think that teaching and learning will be done in different "teams" rather than traditional classes where all subjects are compartmentalized and divided. Another interesting point, in one of the videos, was how the students should do the investigation and research rather than the teacher. I think this is a fundamental part of project based learning.

Do any of these fit our needs? Chart is interesting.

This site provides lessons on a wide array of earth science topics that kids can access at home which includes interactive videos, games, activities and lessons. It also provides great resources for teachers that can help foster creative lessons with the content. The website is a little confusing at first because each link (topic) will redirect you to another website (i.e. National Geographic) but it exposes you to different approaches to teaching the content.

Wow! There is a lot of information on this link directly related to Earth Science. I am currently going through each link and writing down notes to help me with some of my future lectures. Thanks so much for the link that brings it all together so that I don't have to have a search overload for some of these great resources!

It looks like UVA has a rather large K-12 Engineering Outreach. Reading through the material it looks like the only stuff available outside of the adjacent counties is through virtual or their teaching kits. Either way it could be pretty cool. And maybe with enough persistence, you could get an outreach to your school from some of the undergrads at UVA.

There is also the project I worked on at the School of Ed: http://www.maketolearn.org/explore/