RSU 21 Strategic Goal: Collaborate and partner
with organizations and universities to generate greater awareness and interest
concerning educational and career opportunities in engineering and technology
design.
Update in 2012:
Engineering design skills have expanded to all schools
through the use of robotics. At the early elementary level, students
participate in a Mad Science workshop focused on Scientific Method and Inquiry
where they each build their own working car. Students at this level also receive
instruction utilizing WeDo Robotics Construction sets that introduce students
to STEM, literacy, and social studies through robotics. Grants provided funding
for initial purchase of We-Do kits and plans include purchase of additional
kits for integrated lessons at grade two in the coming year.
At the intermediate elementary level, this integration is
accomplished through curricular based lessons in addition to co-curricular
opportunities and competitions. Each school providing instruction at the
intermediate elementary level have been awarded grants from funding sources
which have included The Perloff Foundation, Time Warner Cable, Education
Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel, and Parent Teacher Organizations.
These grants have supported the purchase of Mindstorm kits, related supplies,
and registrations to regional and state level competitions. Robotics is now
being expanded to include robotics track meets and exhibitions at grade four in
the winter and spring of 2013 in addition to direct mathematics and science
curriculum connections. The Boston Museum of Science presents several lessons
each year to students at this level which align with engineering and technology
design.
At the middle school level, the robotics curriculum continues
to be a key component of the MSK experience and IB units have been developed as
well. Future plans for updating the robotics lab equipment at MSK will enrich
the learning opportunities and make them aligned with the elementary and high
school offerings. In March, all MSK 8th grade students participated
in full day of STEM activities. Girls from MSK attended the University of Maine’s
“Expanding Your Horizons” Conference. The focus of the day was to provide girls
insight in those professions that have typically been undersubscribed by
females. While the girls were at Orono, the boys spent the day creating and constructing
objects that required Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics skills.
Students used the IB Design Cycle to construct and test hot-air balloons,
submarines, boats, rockets, and trebuchets.
At the high school level, robotics has been incorporated
into math, science, and ELA courses, and has grown to include a team and club
with strong support from faculty and community. The University of Maine School of
Engineering presents each year at KES to students interested in engineering,
and the University of New England collaborates with KHS to bring brain research
units to science classes. KHS teachers of science, technology, and math have
visited area businesses to learn about STEM related careers and attended
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate training in STEM-related
subject areas. The Robotics Team enters competitions sponsored by organizations
committed to STEM, and a robotics course, as well as a pre-engineering course
will be offered in the fall of 2013. Each Thursday, mentors visit KHS to talk
about their careers, many of which are STEM related.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
in RSU 21 - plans for 2013
STEM is a key piece in our district strategic plan as
demonstrated in Lead Objective 4 - Elevate
student performance, instructional practice, and career aspirations in the
increasingly important areas of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM).
Action Strategies:
- Provide
teachers with professional development in the content of targeted science and
technology standards to further their understanding about important connections
between science and engineering.
- Collaborate
and partner with organizations and universities to generate greater awareness
and interest concerning educational and career opportunities in engineering and
technology design.
- Examine
the sequence and vision of mathematics and science curriculum with a focus on
grades 6-12. Develop revised, vertically aligned curriculum maps for both
subject areas.
- Undertake
an analysis of the support and intervention resources available K-12 in
mathematics.
- Increase
the integration of engineering design skills into science and mathematics
curriculum and instruction
RSU 21 launched a STEM initiative in 2010 with the
development of an action plan that provided focus on activities and research
that would promote education in these disciplines.
This plan has been revised annually in response to
innovative practices, and achievement and development of goals. Noteworthy has
been the K-12 implementation of robotics in curricular and co-curricular
formats, establishment of two STEM coordinator positions, sustained partnerships
with UNE, UMO and USM to better understand curriculum expectations and career
pathways, examination of math and science curriculum alignment and
instructional practices with respect to the Common Core Math and Next
Generation Science Standards, Expanding Your Horizons/STEM experiences for 8th grade students, Julia
Robinson Math Festival for 5th
grade students, creation of
engineering and robotics courses at KHS, student apprenticeships/partnerships
with local STEM related industries, technology integration district-wide and increased
professional development opportunities, financial support for STEM from EFKA,
Perloff Foundation, Lego Children’s Fund and other sources, the accomplishments
of district robotics teams, and the shared reading of Creating Innovators and
Rewired, which had a profound and positive effect on conversations around the
school community.
One of our core goals is to promote STEM careers for our
graduates by establishing pathways that will allow students to choose STEM
related courses in their high school career. This goal has resulted in the
creation of a STEM certification plan, and Alan Carp, KHS math teacher and STEM
Coordinator, is its architect. This plan has been designed to offer
opportunities for many kinds of students; the key concern being that STEM is a
broad concept that encompasses many types of courses and career choices. Alan
has shared the presentation with KHS teachers and administrators, with the
Superintendent, with the Curriculum Design Team, and with college level faculty.
With each presentation, the plan has been refined and at the November 18 Board
of Directors meeting, the STEM certification plan will be shared with our
entire community.
