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    • Camaria Robinson
      Participant
        10 February 2024 at 2:22 am
        Post count: 8
        #2489

        My current teaching practice

        1. Visualizing
        2. Problem Finding
        3. Creating Problem Solving
        4. System Improving
        5. Adapting
        6. Improving
      • Laura Watford
        Moderator
          13 February 2024 at 12:58 pm
          Post count: 6
          #2553

          That’s brilliant to hear, those skills will prepare your learners for future careers in some many different fields. A great example of a problem-finding activity was the Pen design activity that Jorden led in Jamaica, getting students to draw and visualise the mechanisms and systems inside the pen, then to take it apart, and then think about the problems with the mechanisms, they love this! I remember taking things apart as a child, there’s so much learning in it isn’t there? then the reimagining of the design/materials, there were some brilliant ideas at the Lead teacher and Master teacher sessions.

          • Elaine Williams
            Participant
              6 March 2024 at 3:37 pm
              Post count: 13
              #2730

              This pen design led to so many responses.  Also, prior learning was involved as persons had experience with so many different types of pens.  One colleague who presented mentioned how to use acrylic to make the pen and that she still had one that was made years before.  Persons looked at different parts of the pen to improve.  It was also based on our areas of expertise as some persons looked at cost factor, environmental factors, artistic design and colours!

              One of the questions in the first part of the course asked about:

              Which Engineering habit of mind involves the ability to persist in the face of challenges and setbacks?

              I was looking at the different parts of the figure and decided that it would be in the learning habits of mind section and not the engineering habit of mind.  Therefore, I did not agree with the expected answer in the quiz.  However,  on reflection, I am wondering if the “Engineering habit of mind” in the question could have actually meant the entire diagram.  This shows that the different ways of looking at the same question from different perspectives.  STE(A)M integration allows for multiple perspectives, just like the pen activity.

              So as educators, we have to bear this in mind when our students have ideas.  No answer is incorrect but we have to listen, be patient and try to see their point of view.

          • Elaine Williams
            Participant
              6 March 2024 at 4:06 pm
              Post count: 13
              #2731

              A further look at the Engineering habits of mind figure and the engineering design model highlights similar areas (the  second layer of the former).  It is interesting to note the additional outer layer of the learning habits of mind include characteristics needed by the 21st century citizen – collaboration (part of the 4 C’s) , curiosity (necessary for entrepreneurship),  and reflection, resourcefulness and resilience  (necessary parts of problem-solving and critical thinking).  Open-mindedness and ethical considerations makes one think of  equity and inclusion. These are necessary for successful STE(A)M integration.

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