https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c What challenges did you and your students face during STEAM Enrichment classes last year? What aspects went well? Share two positives and two negatives. en-us 2018-01-04 17:13:58 UTC 2026-03-17 12:26:45 UTC hello@padlet.com koutler https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/218798604 Happy New Year, FSA! 

If you were a STEAM teacher last year, share two positive aspects of the experience as well as two negative aspects of the experience. 

If you were not a STEAM teacher last year, share two recommendations or suggestions for improvement. ]]> 2018-01-04 17:28:14 UTC https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/218798604 cstiffler https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219003015 Positive
1. I enjoyed being able to interact with students I normally don't have the opportunity to.
2. Students were able to pursue projects based on their own interests.
Negative
1. Some students were not motivated.
2. There were no real checkpoints to hold students accountable for making and keeping a schedule. Despite having months, it seems that most of the work was done in the final week.]]> 2018-01-05 18:07:58 UTC https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219003015 https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004235 Positive:
1. I enjoyed getting to help students with interesting projects that were outside my usual curriculum
2. I liked that the project challenges students to think of practical ways to apply their knowledge and learning instead of just taking a test to get a grade.
Negative
1. Students didn't seem to take it seriously and I often caught them playing games on their computers during STEAM time.
2. It was a little too "free form;" the students (and teachers!) needed more specific checkpoints and goals to ensure student productivity. (pretty much everything Stiffler said!!)]]> 2018-01-05 18:12:46 UTC https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004235 spruett https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004333 positives: having a mixture of different grade levels in an informal setting; interacting with a greater variety of students
negatives: students were not always on task, seemed to waste time unless I was hounding them (not all students); some of the students weren't interested...only doing it because they "had to"

I repeatedly heard students comment that it was like having to do another Science Fair project...and they wanted it to be optional

]]> 2018-01-05 18:13:08 UTC https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004333 https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004382 Positives: 1) I loved the students I had and their project ideas
2) Students were very flexible in changing their goals and projects as challenges and obstacles came up

Negatives: 1) Even though I tried to give my students pointed advice for completing projects and reaching out to local experts, my advice was rarely taken
Negatives: I felt like I did not have ample time to prepare for STEAM and by the end of the day I did not have as much energy to dedicate to the students as I would have liked]]> 2018-01-05 18:13:19 UTC https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004382 asanders24 https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004509 Positives:  
1. I really enjoyed having students that were excited about their teammates and the topic they had chosen.  They were eager for feedback from me and guidance and receptive to any criticism.
2. Working with the same small group of students gave me a chance to get to really know them and develop a relationship.  I felt that it was valuable to be able to help them with personal issues inside and outside of the school setting.  

Negatives:
1.  I feel that the time period was often too long for some groups because they would enter the classroom, discuss progress, reassign tasks amongst themselves and then sometimes just use the rest of the time as "free time."
2. Students sometimes needed to be directed excessively. I feel like this assignment may be a little too advanced for 6th graders who are still "feeling out" the new freedoms and responsibilities of being a middle school student.]]> 2018-01-05 18:13:52 UTC https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004509 https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004554 Positive
1. I got to discuss great ideas with students and how would they apply these ideas into their projects! I was impressed by their critical thinking skills.
2. Displaying all projects perfectly at the end of the semester gave really great, eye-opening ideas to students!
Negative
1. We need some check points in order to make sure work is done throughout the semester not only last couple days.
2. Peer evaluation. We need some kind of evaluation or anything similar to make sure that students share the responsibility on getting project, display biard, etc done.]]> 2018-01-05 18:14:07 UTC https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219004554 https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219005134 Positives
I really enjoyed working on steam projects with students - two of three groups I had were able to finish their projects with meaningful components they added such as running an actual sign language club after they learned(self taught) sign language to 1st graders or inviting guest speaker on air quality topic. One of my groups had lots of research done but wasn't able to complete their projects as they planned. 

Negatives: 
High School students in particular were harder to motivate due to their academic load of AP classes. 

More structured instruction for teachers is needed.]]> 2018-01-05 18:16:54 UTC https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219005134 https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219032101 It was an excellent experience to help students to solving problems.
Negative: there was no work route and there was no specialized advice.]]> 2018-01-05 20:12:03 UTC https://padlet.com/koutler/23t0op5rey6c/wish/219032101