With more than 52,000 students, Georgia’s Clayton County Public Schools rank among the 100 largest in the country. The richly diverse student population represents 90 different ethnicities and 72 languages, making equitable access to digital STEM programs and products key to preparing students for the future.
A dynamic duo, Trina Reaves and Tameaka McKinney, were recently honored with a Innovative Leader in Technology and Learning Award (opens in a new tab) for Best Implementation of STEM Programs for his work in K-8 classrooms at the district’s 13 schools.
Choosing the Right STEM Programs and Products
The obvious first step to successfully implementing STEM in the classroom is to ensure programs are a better fit for students. A thorough review of areas of the curriculum that need improvement or the unique needs of students is ideal when considering adding a new program.
“When deciding to purchase or recommend a resource for use within our district, we must consider the demographics of our student population, who are English Language Learners,” says McKinney, Coordinator of STEM Education. “Fortunately, there were no challenges in implementing the Discovery Education STEM program. A really cool feature was the translation tool. This feature allowed teachers and students to easily translate videos, in-platform text, and worksheets for assigned homework. This allowed equal access to all students as they successfully participate in this online educational platform.
Once the perfect programs are determined, the same amount of support and planning must go into those charged with sharing those new tools with students.
“Most of the time, there are difficulties in moving from a traditional learning environment to a transformative approach to teaching and learning through STEM education due to a lack of understanding,” says McKinney. “It is imperative to create a culture where the continued professional and personal growth of our educators remains a priority. As we continue to invest in our teachers, our teachers are equipped to plant the seed for our students to become ‘STEM literate’ learners with the skills necessary for 21st century careers.”
Positive STEM learning experiences engage students
A big advantage of incorporating STEM programs into the curriculum is the ability to breathe new life into materials to excite students.
“We see evidence of student engagement across the district when they are engaged in STEM learning,” says Reaves, Director of STEM and Innovation—Division of Teaching and Learning and Strategic Improvement. “Last week, I attended a Climate Justice Summit organized by the science and social studies departments in collaboration with the Captain Planet Foundation. The summit provided opportunities for students to learn about the impact of our actions affecting climate change and what they can do to make a difference. Students then worked in teams to create an action plan to help make a difference in their community in support of climate justice. At the school level, the activities and projects were standards-based but provided students with real-world learning experiences.”
Trina Reaves’ Top Tips for Implementing STEM Programs
- Ensure buy-in from all interested parties. “We strive to engage our teachers and make sure they understand the importance of STEM education for our students and the impact of their work,” she says.
- Make sure teachers are familiar with the program. This can be done through effective professional development and time to collaborate with team members to ensure a common understanding of the program. Therefore, all students receive an impactful experience.
- Follow-up and support for teachers during implementation. It is vital to monitor effective instructional practices so that students get the most out of learning.
Equitable digital solutions empower students
For diverse districts facing socioeconomic challenges or additional obstacles to securing programs for ESL/ELL students, finding digital solutions to seamlessly incorporate STEM into the curriculum for all students is key.
“Finding an engaging and equitable digital solution is essential because it empowers our students to achieve academic success and personal goals,” says McKinney, who seeks solutions that give students the opportunity to engage in diverse tasks without language barriers. By doing so, “teachers are better able to facilitate the learning process, and our students have the opportunity to take ownership of their own learning, either independently or while participating collaboratively.”
McKinney’s top tips for seamlessly integrating STEM into the classroom
- Educational institutions must develop teaching capacity. “Through our district STEM professional development, we work diligently to ensure our teachers understand how to properly plan with intentionality to develop authentic lessons and effectively implement those lessons or units of study,” she says.
- Equip teachers with the knowledge of all that STEM education entails. Understanding the big picture, including integration, problem-based learning, inquiry-based instruction, etc., builds a sense of trust and generates additional engagement. PD can play the role of tying everything together to make sense.
- Solidify alliances with companies, organizations and institutions of higher education. With partnerships that support teaching and learning, students are exposed to various STEM fields that they might not otherwise have been aware of prior to these experiences.
- Create a supportive school culture poised for success. The most impactful tip for seamlessly blending STEM programs into the learning environment is to create a school culture for everyone (ie administrators, teachers, and students) where transparency and vulnerability can exist without judgment. She says, “Throughout our training, we often say, ‘No matter what title you have, it’s okay to say I don’t know or I don’t need support.'”
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