Lana`s Learning Diary by

1.2 STEM careers in the job market _ Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-03 17:01:04 UTC

I believe that there is a lack of STEM skills in poorer so to say parts of Europe cause most of the STEM educated people are going away to better off European and worldwide countries. The reason behind this could be that Croatia doesn`t have an investment friendly environment which projects on STEM related possibilities of finding a work place within our country.

1.3 STEM career guidance in schools_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-03 17:11:38 UTC

The challenge I find most difficult to overcome is constant lack of money and other resources that are neccesary to buy the equipment that teachers and students need to be able to experience "present life technologies" to the fullest. To be truthfull, my school does`t have internet access on daily basis. We have a good career guidance in our school but the information about careers is given only to the finishing classes.

2.1 The Fourth Industrial Revolution_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-03 17:25:14 UTC

I believe that The Fourh Industrial Revolution that is well on it`s way atm will contribute to even grater polarization of the world and that the gap between the rich and the poor will just continue to grow. This will, in my opinion, lead to dissaperence of job position cause most of the work will be done by artificial intelligence. But still, this is reserved for the richer countries atm.

2.3 Jobs of the future_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-06 12:23:48 UTC

Jobs for the future, that is actually quite difficult question for me to answer. I have to control myself not going too much into Sci-Fi area so it got me thinking. Future jobs will be most deff associated with computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and bio-engineering. That being said, I believe that bio-engineering will top them all.

2.4 Current STEM industries and professions_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-06 12:31:29 UTC

Since I live very near Croatia`s capital and I work in a very ruraly oriented region I can possibly speak for both parts. Having lived near the capital I know that all sort of IT specialists are much needed there. My work place region is rich with forrests and many people are working in that compartment so I believe that in that specific area agriculture and biotechnology could be demanded as STEM careers in the very near future.

2.5 STEM career pathwayurs_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-06 12:48:47 UTC

Usually I turn to the Internet since is the fastest way to gather information. There are science oriented monthy issued magazines I like to read for some news as well.

3.1 STEM skills_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-14 08:21:06 UTC

STEM skills are defined as “those skills expected to be held by people with a tertiary-education level degree in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths” meaning Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Biology or Physics are classified as core STEM skills. I kinda agree and disagree with what I just wrote because some people don`t have the tertiary-education level and they use STEM skills every day. Bankers, for example, use maths and CS in their every day jobs.

3.2 STEM skills of the future. In focus: ICT and digital skills_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-14 08:40:18 UTC

I am a Geography teacher in higher secondary school and I use WhiteBoard, computers and let my students use their devices (smartphone, tablets) when the class in oriented in that direction. I don`t let them use their devices every day but on a weekly basis - yes. Lately I am more and more interested in GIS and try to make my own maps which I use in class reguraly.

3.3 Soft skills_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-14 09:01:54 UTC

In my opinion, the most important are collaborative working, self-control and problem-solving skills. I try to incoorporate group work entangled with problem solving as much as I can in my classroom but sometimes it`s a challenge because of big number of students in the class.

3.4 Classroom methodologies to promote STEM skills_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-14 09:06:29 UTC

Project-based learning I use regurarly in my classroom. Inquiry-based learning is a challenge because I work in a poorer part of my country and sometimes Internet access is an issue so it limits me in a way. Our educational system doesn`t support teachers in incorporating such learning styles in their classroom due to concentration on exams/marks and lack of resources.

3.5 STEM skills and STEM careers. Tools for match-matching_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-14 09:18:43 UTC

I never heard of or used any of the match-matching tools but I sure will explore their posibilities asap.

4.1 STEM career activities: how to use them?_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-14 09:57:49 UTC

I usually use in my class the startegy "help students see scientists as real people". Usually my students research about a specific scientist and then they represent it in the way they want to. We use project-oriented method, as an activity tool because my students like it the best.

4.3 STEM career activities: teacher practices_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-14 10:29:06 UTC

Practices I already use:

· Utilize career materials in science texts / journals / articles

· Integrate experiential activities in the classroom

· Share personal experiences

I would like to implement in my classroom:
· Invite guest speakers

· Be a mentor

· Expose students to worksites and outside opportunities

5.1 Gender equality and the gender gap in STEM_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-21 07:41:51 UTC

My female students are not as interested in STEM careers as the boys are. Actually, they are up to a point where some skills that are more associated with men then women start to be the most important. At that point, most of the girls just drift away from STEM. Not all of them but most do. In Croatia women dominte in medicine but not engieering nor ICT. Especially if you are a girly girl plus you`re good in STEM field - you are a threat. That`s just the way it is in Croatia. We are far off but hopefully we`ll do better as a society.

5.2 Gender equality in the the job market and in the classroom_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-21 08:24:58 UTC

I teach mixed classes so there is no gender discrimination. Since I teach in secondary school I noticed that my students work better in mixed groups and they encourage that kind of work.

5.3 Women in STEM_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-21 08:37:11 UTC

Marie Skłodowska-Curie is a great inspiration and I talk about her and her work and success in my classroom.

5.4 Projects about gender equality in STEM_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-21 08:48:18 UTC

Here are some of my favourites:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/gender-and-science/improving-measurement-of-gender-equality-in-stem/stem-and-gender-advancement-saga/

http://www.scientix.eu/web/guest/projects/project-detail?articleId=347957

http://gisproject.org/

6.1 Role of teachers in career counselling_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-21 09:00:16 UTC

In my class I reguraly inform my students about careers and jobs they can do or have if they choose geography, GIS, demogeography etc. This is something I feel passionate about and I try to deliver as much as possible of it into my classes.

6.2 Role models_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-21 09:06:21 UTC

Today I would mention Ivan Đikić who is a worldwide famous biologist, and if you asked me a few months back I would say Lavoslav Ružička - a chemist. Unfortunately, there aren`t many famous geographers but a geologist comes to mind - Andrija Mohorovičić who discovered a change in the speed of quack waves in Earth`s crust.

6.3 STEM professionals_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-22 14:00:17 UTC

I would deffo call wood professionals to talk about what they really do on a daily basis since my school has that kind of vocation. I would encourage them to film one day on work and let students see just what is expected of them to do when they finish school and afterwoods university.

6.4 Bringing parents into career counseling_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-22 14:34:35 UTC

Since I work in a mostly rural part of Croatia where the parents barely have finished elementary school it is not to be expected of them to encourage their kids to STEM careers. There are some exceptions and those are great but in general, it is up to us in schools to do that.

7.1 Business and education collaboration_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-27 12:00:48 UTC

Since I work in Secondary school I can`t tell you enough how worried and demotivated my students are since Croatia doesn`t provide them with much hope. Jobs are nowhere to be found and some, the "dreamer" type, still believe if they will study hard that they will get a job here.

7.2 Connect with the community_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-27 12:09:47 UTC

Well, we do comunicate and involve a few universities and local industry by sending our students do their practical part of education there.

7.3 School-to-work transition_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-27 12:18:01 UTC

Most of companies offer training to students. Before, students used to get payed a fair amount for their work, but things changed and students look differently on those positions. There are and always will be students who want, need or find it useful to be in a training program, but those students usually have big plans for themselves.

7.4 Case study: Internship placement in Portugal_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-27 12:25:40 UTC

The benefit is deffo the experience and the practical knowledge student will get. Plus there is always the feeling of how it feels like to have a job and what should one think about etc. The disadvantage is that in some places programs like these aren`t common.

8.1 What is a career event?_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-29 12:01:50 UTC

In Croatia we have a few fairs where students can talk to other students studying in higher education or/and the employers. Sometimes they are strictly of informative character and other times students have an opportunity to make something and participate in a conquests organized mostly by employers and win prizes or even job opportunities.

8.3 Types of STEM Career Events (II)_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-29 12:12:10 UTC

My students react really great when we go and visit Uni`s at their Open Day events. they do ask a lot of questions and are engaged a lot. As for employers, they do not have that practice and it is a real shame because students really do miss out a lot not being able to ask and see first hand what a certain vocation or company can offer.

8.4 STEM careers fair organization. Strategies for success_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-29 12:16:40 UTC

The most important phase is planning and getting the students ready for the task at hand. It could be a total waste of time for all participants if the students do not play their roll.

8.5 Case study: The Teen Science Café experience in Malta_Lana

lana_derakovicrakas — 2017-04-29 12:23:22 UTC

I think it`s a great idea to organize a Science Cafe. It will give a closer, and mostly fun outlook on science.