The “E” in STEM: Engineering and Design for K-2

STEM, the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, has become an important topic in education circles. Many believe that educating our students in these areas will be crucial to both their future and the future of our country. When many think of STEM classes and activities they tend to think primarily of middle and high school courses. However, STEM education is vital to elementary learning as well. According to an article on WeAreTeachers, STEM: It’s Elementary, studies on STEM education have shown “that kids who experience STEM early through hands-on learning are the ones who will be best equipped to develop a strong understanding of STEM concepts as they get older.” This article provides four ways for teachers to get started with STEM in the elementary classroom:

• #1: Change Your Lens - Look at lessons and activities you’re already teaching and see how they can incorporate STEM principles.
• #2: Enlist a Village of STEM Educators - Work together. Collaboration with fellow teachers can ease the transition.
• #3: Integrate STEM Across the Curriculum - One of the goals of STEM education is that it is not taught separately, but is weaved throughout the all subjects.
• #4:  Give Kids More than Just Access to Technology - Students need to understand that technology is more than just a place to gather information, but can be an important tool for creating and designing.

Pepper has recently released a new course, Engineering Design - K-2, that will help early elementary teachers as they incorporate new standards in Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science (ETS) as a disciplinary core idea. This course focuses on the topic of Engineering Design as students ask questions, make observations, and gather information. Participants will work to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. Course activities are divided into five features:

1. Big Question
2. Exploring the Evidence
3. Constructing Explanations
4. Comparing Explanations to Scientific Knowledge
5. Communicating and Justifying Explanations

Find out more about this course by viewing the Course Detail.

Your Pepper learning community can help you effectively implement STEM concepts and ETS standards. Check out our new Engineering Design - K-2 course as well as all our other Pepper Courses and our Resource Library as you learn with the collaborative support from other inspiring educators like you.  

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Brain-Based Learning: Understanding How Students Learn

According to the Glossary of Education Reform, Brain-based learning refers to “teaching methods, lesson designs, and school programs that are based on the latest scientific research about how the brain learns, including such factors as cognitive development—how students learn differently as they age, grow, and mature socially, emotionally, and cognitively.” 

Edutopia’s publication, “Six Tips for Brain-Based Learning” gives educators a place to start understanding brain-based teaching and learning in classrooms. When educators understand how the brain works, they are better prepared to assist students with learning in the classroom. Brain-based learning, which is based on knowledge of neurology, psychology, and technology, promises to help students “with everything from focusing attention to increasing retention.” An educator with an understanding of this information can engage learners and create deeper learning opportunities in the classroom. 

Many teachers know - and are using - brain-based learning even if they don’t realize it. When using activating strategies to stimulate prior knowledge, they are strengthening connections in the brain. Tools such as graphic organizers, songs, and rhymes, which appeal to different learning styles, also fall into the category of brain-based learning.

The “six tips” that Edutopia offers are provided to give teachers a jumping off point for utilizing brain-based learning in the classroom.

• Tip #1 - Create a Safe Climate for Learning - Making a classroom environment warm and inviting allows a child to feel safe and may relieve anxiety. This type climate encourages social and emotional learning. 
• Tip #2 - Encourage a Growth Mind-Set - Many liken the brain to a muscle that gets stronger with use. The act of ongoing learning can build brainpower. A growth mind-set means that knowledge, or IQ, isn’t set at a young age, but can be developed. Understanding this can motivate and encourage students. 
• Tip #3 - Emphasize Feedback - The use of a variety of formative assessments helps to keep student learning on track. Many consider ongoing, consistent feedback to be essential to brain-based learning.
• Tip #4 - Get Bodies and Brains in Gear - ”Exercise boosts brainpower. Cardio activity increases oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain and increases students’ ability to concentrate.”
• Tip #5 - Start Early - Early childhood education gets a student's brain active at a younger age, thus making them more ready to learn by the time they enter kindergarten. 
• Tip #6 - Embrace the Power of Novelty - “Surprise and novelty are the attention-grabbers. In the classroom, this means that changing routines, asking students to consider similarities and differences, field trips, and guest visitors all help to keep learning fresh.”

Brain-based learning isn’t a new concept, but it does help us understand how students learn. If we better understand how students learn, we can teach in a way that will help them gain new knowledge and understanding.
Our wide variety of Pepper course offerings give plenty of opportunity for teachers to apply brain-based learning concepts to their classrooms. Check out our Pepper Courses today!
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Preparing Students for the Future: College and Career Readiness

College and Career Readiness means that all high school students should graduate ready for college, careers, and citizenship. Preparing our students for the future has become a number one priority for the the K-12 and higher education community. Achieve, a nonprofit education reform organization, states, “With the growing complexity of the world and the increasing demands of the 21st-century workforce, there is little question that all students should graduate from high school fully prepared for college AND careers.” However, the challenge of ensuring that all students are “college and career ready” encompasses more than just rigorous academics. More support systems are necessary to help students meet individual goals. Not all students learn the same way and many face academic challenges that require assistance. While mastering language arts and math skills and standards are important, they’re not the only thing needed to ensure success. Students need life skills and problem solving capabilities, as well as the ability to work cooperatively with others.  

The National High School Center, a USDOE grant funded initiative, developed an organizer to guide schools and other educational organizations meet the needs of students. The use of the organizer allows users to develop strategies for designing comprehensive college and career readiness initiatives. The College and Career Development Organizer has three categories:

• Goals and Expectations for College and Career Readiness: What should high school graduates know and be able to do?
• Pathways and Supports for College and Career Preparation: What policies, programs, and structures will help high school graduates meet expectations?
• Outcomes and Measures for College and Career Success: How do we know when high school graduates meet expectations?

According to Achieve, “Simply put, "college and career readiness" is the umbrella under which many education and workforce policies, programs and initiatives thrive. From high-quality early education and strong, foundational standards in elementary school to rigorous career and technical education programs and college completion goals, college and career readiness is the unifying agenda across the P-20 education pipeline.”
Your Pepper learning community can help you effectively implement College and Career Readiness Standards. Pepper provides 24/7 online access to a vibrant and growing series of relevant professional development courses. These courses and resources provide collaborative support from other inspiring educators. Be sure to check out our wide range of courses available to you.