Project-Based STEAM Learning

Purpose & objective

Due to the challenge of students not meeting ACT STEM benchmarks. This session will teachers to better understand how to implement CT & CS strategies while diminishing the fear that some have of utilizing technology. The sample lesson incorporates tools and knowledge necessary to create learning opportunities that challenge learners to use CT to innovate and solve problems. Attendees will get hands-on with technology and understand how using it in the classroom can challenge learners to use a design process and CT to innovate and solve problems. By experiencing a lesson, educators obtain the necessary knowledge to design their own authentic learning experiences using digital tools and resources to activate a deeper understanding of the current curriculum.

Outline

Intro & Statistics to illustrate the need for PBL - 5 min
Lesson overview - 5 min
Attendees get hands-on with the technology portion of the lesson (device-based activities) - 40 min
Wrap up and explanation of how CT & CS are incorporated into the lesson and how this helps promote deeper learning for students (how it fits ISTE standards) - 10 min

Supporting research

A study from the International Journal of Primary, Elementary, and Early Years Education, illustrates the effectiveness of project-based learning on primary school students. It proved that content knowledge and attitudes towards self-efficacy, task value, group work, and acceptance of peers from diverse ethnic backgrounds improved due to PBL. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03004270903179538)

According to The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2019 report, only about 21% of students taking the ACT met the minimum STEM benchmarks for college entrance. (https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/National-CCCR-2019.pdf)

Applying a real-world context to your lessons helps students realize that the skills they’re learning are not just relevant but vital beyond the classroom. Trevor Muir presents evidence of this approach in his TEDx talk on real-world learning. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ei_HSlUxUQ)

Computational thinking is a fundamental skill for everyone, not just for computer scientists. From reading, writing, and arithmetic, we should add computational thinking to every child’s analytical ability. (https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~15110-s13/Wing06-ct.pdf)