It is about time for the mid school blues; yep it can touch student and teachers alike. When the blues try to creep their way into your classroom try adding good STEM activities into the class time. If you refer back to the STEM Everyday Podcast #6 you can hear how cutting and bundling wood brought real life problem solving into the classroom. Another way to try to get STEM into your classroom is designating time for STEM video learning. There are numerous videos that can inspire students. Try setting aside a designated time, or times, to show TED Talks, Myth Busters, or other videos to your students. Students will learn when they are inspired, so find something that will inspire your students to learn. We have to remember that it is not about the homework, it is about the learning.
A quote from Nikos Kazantzakis says it well — “True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.”
Links to video sites mention in the podcast:
TED talk: The Key to Success? Grit by Angela Lee Duckworth http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit?language=en
What Most Schools Don’t Teach from CODE.org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKIu9yen5nc&noredirect=1
Look Up… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY
Cisco commercial “The internet of everything (Circle Story)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt5VulFqBm4
More Cisco commercials https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFT-9JpKjRTBUHKODoxHdGhV2GlaMBru5
The Fletcher Capstan Table https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ_AwFSWIPU
Making the Fletcher Capstan Table https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVbo7ycpkeI
more video ideas: Mythbusters, Sports Science on ESPN, and an interview with kids about STEM careers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V8EjEzIpkg
You can always reach Chris Woods at:
Twitter:@dailystem
Email: cwoods@clkschools.org
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