MOOC - STEM Is Everywhere! by Maria Alfano

Course "STEM Is Everywhere!"

maria_alfano53 — 2018-11-18 14:03:53 UTC

The course starts on 29 October 2018 and runs for the duration of 5.5 weeks, with a total number of 4 learning moes (one module per week) and an extra grace week at the end of the course for a peer-to-peer activity. dules (one module per week) and an extra grace week at the end of the course for a peer-to-peer activity.
Why STEM?
“In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.”

Module 1: Towards 21st-century STEM education

maria_alfano53 — 2018-11-18 14:37:21 UTC

1.4 Changing the educational paradigm

Every country on earth is in the process of reforming its education system. There are two reasons for this:
- The first is economic – countries are trying to figure out how to prepare children for work when we simply don’t know what work will look like in the future.
- The second is cultural – countries are trying to figure out how to pass on their ‘cultural genes’ while at the same time having to respond to globalisation.

The problem with current processes of educational reform is that we are trying to tackle the future by doing what we did in the past and we are alienating millions of kids in the process, who simply can’t see the point of going to school.
When generation X when to school, we were motivated by a particular story: that if we worked hard and got good grades, we could get to college, get a degree and get a good job. Today’s children do not believe this, and they are right not to: getting a degree means you will probably get a better job, but is no longer guaranteed to get you a decent job!

Module 1: Towards 21st-century STEM education

maria_alfano53 — 2018-11-18 14:41:48 UTC

Timeline of STEM inventions-Italy

Module 2: Real-world problems for STEM subjects

maria_alfano53 — 2018-11-18 15:25:51 UTC

2.2 Connecting STEM activities to real-world problems in different subjects. Biology

Molecular Gastronomy: Alginates

Module 2: Real-world problems for STEM subjects

maria_alfano53 — 2018-11-18 15:33:25 UTC

2.3 Real-world STEM activities to use in your classroom
My activity: Alginates.
< Unusual caviar with mint and coffee >. I used sodium alginate and calcium cloride.

Module 3: Interdisciplinary STEM teaching with real-world problems

maria_alfano53 — 2018-11-18 16:00:43 UTC

3.1 The value of an interdisciplinary approach to STEM.
Science benefits from engineering, and engineering applies science, the two are linked. In fact, the linkages between these topics and the remaining STEM areas (technology and mathematics) are dynamic, highly interconnected, and constantly evolving over time. A simplified view of some of these connections is shown in the concept map.

Module 3: Interdisciplinary STEM teaching with real-world problems

maria_alfano53 — 2018-11-18 16:18:21 UTC

3.2 Implementing real-world problems in your classroom in an interdisciplinary way.
Example: Healthy breakfast

Maria Alfano - Italy

maria_alfano53 — 2018-11-20 18:34:15 UTC

My location

Module 4: Submit your real-world STEM lesson plan!

maria_alfano53 — 2018-11-20 18:36:46 UTC

- Step 1: A lesson plan submission.
The lesson plan will have to include an activity that connects real life to STEM class.
The deadline to submit lesson plan file is Wednesday, 28 November 2018 at 23:59 CET.
- Step 2: Peer Review.
To review the lesson plans, please use the Scientix Rubric, an evaluative method often used in education instead of numerical grading.
The deadline to hand in reviews is Wednesday, 5 December 2018 at 23:59 CET*.

Module 4: Submit your real-world STEM lesson plan!

maria_alfano53 — 2018-12-03 17:29:53 UTC

My lesson plan describes activities to introduce students to microplastics, tiny plastic particles, and their impact on the marine environment. Finally, could be used as a starting point for discussing the consequences that the consumption of certain products can have on our environment.