21ST CENTURY SKILLS • PBL • UDL
“Howcanwe determinewhat is needed for a civilization to survive?” “Will our communities withstand a natural disaster?” “Howdid the need to construct ancient buildings lead to the discovery of mathematical principles, and how can these principles be used to build temporary
shelter aſter a disaster has occurred?” Tese are questions middle school students are learning to answer, students whose teachers are participating in the STEM MI Champions project. Tese thought provoking, challenging, and engaging questions are the catalyst to a style of teaching and learning called Project Based Learning or PBL. Te hallmark of the PBL approach is to ignite student curiosity, prompt inquiry and promote discourse. Tese essential 21st century skills are the keys to success inside and outside of the classroom.
Twenty teams of middle school teachers and principals have been working and studying together in the STEM MI Champions Project. During the first year, teams created and implemented two project- based learning (PBL) units that focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Tese units challenged students to investigate, inquire and debate real-world issues that are directly connected to the common core state standards. Teams also folded in the Universal Design for Learning framework so that lessons were accessible and resulted in success for all students. |
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Te goal of the STEM MI Champions Project is to give educators the tools and resources they need to design engaging instruction that opens doors to developing 21st Century Skills in STEM for all students. Trough on-going professional development and with the added support of project coaches, these teams are striving to redefine and refine their instructional practice.
First, teams are immersed in learning about good education technology practice when they attend the annual MACUL Conferences during the multi-year project, 2011 to 2013. Tey also receive intense professional development during two summer institutes that focus on PBL, UDL, STEM and 21st Century Skills. In addition, they participate in four to six synchronous and asynchronous on-line workshops throughout the project to deepen their understanding of Universal Design for Learning and designing good instruction.
Central to the project’s success is the cadre of STEM MI Champions coaches. Tese teachers are experts in the field of UDL, PBL or STEM. Coaches work in pairs to provide on-going support to teams and act as facilitators to help teams with their collaborative work. Tey provide teams with strategies and resources related to technology integration, lesson design and PBL implementation.
Te STEM MI Champions Design
Tis project blends the disciplines of STEM, UDL, PBL, technology integration and 21st century skills into a new set of pedagogical constructs. It takes the best of these complimentary ideas and weaves them into a new structure that enables all students to develop a deeper understanding of the curriculum content.
Here’swhat one teacher said following the first summer institute: “We are quite excited at the possibility of this new style of teaching and learning (PBL)
...it’s motivating for students and effective for reaching all types of learners. Many of us also sense that this type of education (which, for all of us, is VERY different than what we are accustomed to) and the focus on 21st century skills are the future of education in this country and we are grateful to get a head start working in that direction.”
Project-Based Learning serves as the overarching framework for STEM MI Champions instructional units. PBL uses authentic
FALL 2012 | MACULJOURNAL
STEM MI CHAMPIONS
By SusanHardin
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