Problematizing My ImagineIT Project
Imagine IT Phase 4
Phase 4 of the MSUrban STEM project concerns Dilemmas that might occur during my ImagineIT Project. The “Big Idea” is “Our World of Patterns” this includes patterns of inheritance, forensic patterns, patterns of evidence,
patterns of nature, patterns of numbers, patterns of interaction (world history). As you can see there are many investigative opportunities dealing in patterns. The vastness of the study of patterns is an excellent segway into my first dilemma...
Dilemma 1 - Curriculum
Time - there are so many cliches about time; “time is of the essence”, “all in due time”, “marking time” and I believe you get the idea. After much reflection I view time as my biggest dilemma. The reason I believe this is because in our school inside our network we have a strict Scope and Sequence of curriculum that must be covered throughout the school year. It is the number of skills to be taught within this curriculum that concerns me. I have given this issue of time great consideration and I feel through careful planning I will be able to carve out one class period per week to implement and complete our Patterns Project. The students in my class are excited about the project and I feel it is mathematically and scientifically learning that will be remembered by the students for a long time. No pun intended.
Dilemma 2 - Urban Settings
The time concern leads to my second concern; how do we continue with Real STEM education when teachers are being told to teach to curriculum that is strictly tied to testing? This issue will not play into my project this year however it did get me thinking. When I introduced the idea of the Patterns project to my students they were excited. Initially to give them a sample of things to come I had them complete a “QuickFire”. They loved it. Next I implemented World Of Wonder WOW’s every week. Each week two students present their WOW to the class. The students are so excited they asked can we do the WOW’s more often? My point (issue) is, if we teach only the material covered on a standardized test, how do our students get opportunity to create, play constructively, and truly learn through technology. I know as a teacher I am suppose to be able to make this happen through engaging lessons. The learning I am talking about here are life lessons learned by taking an idea and doing. I realize for many in education I am preaching the choir however I had to say it. We need more time for discovery and doing learning in our school day.
patterns of nature, patterns of numbers, patterns of interaction (world history). As you can see there are many investigative opportunities dealing in patterns. The vastness of the study of patterns is an excellent segway into my first dilemma...
Dilemma 1 - Curriculum
Time - there are so many cliches about time; “time is of the essence”, “all in due time”, “marking time” and I believe you get the idea. After much reflection I view time as my biggest dilemma. The reason I believe this is because in our school inside our network we have a strict Scope and Sequence of curriculum that must be covered throughout the school year. It is the number of skills to be taught within this curriculum that concerns me. I have given this issue of time great consideration and I feel through careful planning I will be able to carve out one class period per week to implement and complete our Patterns Project. The students in my class are excited about the project and I feel it is mathematically and scientifically learning that will be remembered by the students for a long time. No pun intended.
Dilemma 2 - Urban Settings
The time concern leads to my second concern; how do we continue with Real STEM education when teachers are being told to teach to curriculum that is strictly tied to testing? This issue will not play into my project this year however it did get me thinking. When I introduced the idea of the Patterns project to my students they were excited. Initially to give them a sample of things to come I had them complete a “QuickFire”. They loved it. Next I implemented World Of Wonder WOW’s every week. Each week two students present their WOW to the class. The students are so excited they asked can we do the WOW’s more often? My point (issue) is, if we teach only the material covered on a standardized test, how do our students get opportunity to create, play constructively, and truly learn through technology. I know as a teacher I am suppose to be able to make this happen through engaging lessons. The learning I am talking about here are life lessons learned by taking an idea and doing. I realize for many in education I am preaching the choir however I had to say it. We need more time for discovery and doing learning in our school day.