Participate and share: Poster 
The purpose of this presentation is to highlight an enrichment program designed to give all elementary students a choice in their learning during the school day and an opportunity to explore a topic or project in a more in-depth fashion.
The elementary specialists were feeling the strain of multiple after school clubs and programs. While we all valued these experiences, we wanted to do more for our students but simply did not have enough time after school. Our solution was to find a way to increase the opportunities available to our students during the school day.
We call our program SPEC: Special Project Enrichment Courses. Our students still attend the same specials (Performing Arts, PE, Science through Art, and STEAM Lab) on a rotating basis, however we added an extra day to the rotation. Instead of traveling with their homeroom class, on SPEC days students attend a 9-week course based on their interest.
From the STEAM prospective, the impact of student choice is significant. Students are excited and engaged in the course. They want to be in that class and are ready to face challenging content. As an educator, it brings me joy to spend 9-weeks on LEGO Exploration, Coding and Robotics, and Cardboard Arcade.
In LEGO Exploration, primary students create standards-based builds and use green screen/AR to explain their creations. Older students explore LEGO WeDo 2.0 and Spike Prime to build and code. During the Coding and Robotics SPEC, students learn computational thinking and problem solving using Wonder Workshop, Sphero, Ozobot, Micro:bit, and more. In the Cardboard Arcade SPEC, students work together to create working cardboard arcade games inspired by Caine's Arcade. I look forward to my SPEC days.
We have received very positive feedback from students, parents, and teachers about the SPEC program. Our students have additional opportunities available to them to explore new instruments, robotics, sports, and more without adding an after school commitment. Each SPEC class concludes with a cumulative project that allows us to digitally share our work with the school community and beyond.
This poster presentation will explain step by step how to facilitate a customizable learning experience for your students. The STEAM SPEC courses will be highlighted in detail. Participants will leave with resources and ideas to allow them to replicate the project to meet their academic needs. Participants also will have an opportunity to experience digital products produced by our students during each of the SPEC courses.
As a poster session, the presentation will cycle through the following topics over about 10-15 minutes. I will have visuals and QR codes to link to resources.
1. SPEC Program overview
a) Mini-elective courses for elementary students
b) Taught during the school day
2. Problem/Solution - Why SPEC?
a) Equity of opportunities given limited time
b) Fits four special classes into a five day week
3. Explanation of course scheduling
a) Students and parents rank courses by preference
b) Each student has one SPEC course for each of the four special areas
4. Overview of student scheduling
a) Initially the specials team placed students in courses
b) Also utilized software for class selection
5. Details on courses offered
a) LEGO Exploration - Primary students create standards-based builds and use green screen/AR to explain their creations. Older students explore LEGO WeDo 2.0 and Spike Prime to build and code.
b) Coding and Robotics - Students learn computational thinking and problem solving using Wonder Workshop, Sphero, Ozobot, Micro:bit, and more.
c) Cardboard Arcade - Students work together to create working cardboard arcade games inspired by Caine's Arcade.
6. Slideshow of culminating products.
7. Documentation of collaboration efforts
a) Parent volunteers were utilized for Lego and cardboard arcade courses
b) Classroom teachers are able to co-teach with the specials teacher and can receive a stipend for lost planning time
8. Resources for replicating the project and link to electronic resources
a) A QR Code will link to a folder containing the presentation, photos, videos, and other resource
b) Information post cards will be shared containing presenter content information and resource folder link
The poster area will include samples and bright pictures to engage the audience and encourage conversation.
If this is converted to an interactive presentation, I will elaborate more and share examples from the resource folder throughout sections. I will also add both a back channel and hands on stations for participants to explore the types of activities that students explore in STEAM SPEC classes.
Jessica DeMink-Carthew, Steven Netcoh & Katy Farber (2020) Exploring the Potential for Students to Develop Self-Awareness through Personalized Learning, The Journal of Educational Research, 113:3, 165-176, DOI: 10.1080/00220671.2020.1764467
Bishop, P. A., Downes, J. M., Netcoh, S., Farber, K., DeMink-Carthew, J., Brown, T., & Mark, R. (2020). Teacher roles in personalized learning environments. The Elementary School Journal, 121(2), 311-336.
Candace Walkington & Matthew L. Bernacki (2020) Appraising research on personalized learning: Definitions, theoretical alignment, advancements, and future directions, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 52:3, 235-252, DOI: 10.1080/15391523.2020.1747757
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