Transcript STEM at Mountain Island - Charlotte

STEM at Mountain Island
Professional Development
• Teachers took in excess of 1600 hours of STEM
related PD in 2010-11 and over the summer
• Mountain Island was the only school selected
to send a team (on scholarship) to attend a
five day conference in Baltimore sponsored by
the Urban Science Leadership Academy and
the National Science Teachers Association.
Staffing
• We have added a full time Science Facilitator.
Doreen Weese now gives us full time coverage
in the Science Lab and all students rotate
through the lab regularly.
• We have added a full time Technology
Facilitator. Heather Hall now staffs the
Computer Lab full time and students rotate
through the lab regularly.
Summer
• Mountain Island hosted Camp Invention. Take
a look at the website for pics.
• New site (www.mountainislandstem.org) was
launched. We have the capacity to build a
data base of contacts through this site.
Robotics
Exceptional Response,
Increased by Two Teams,
Same Funding Model
Contracted with Cyber Kids for
two US First/Aquabot Teams,
16 Slots, Corporate
Sponsor/US Navy Grant
Began with STEMpalooza
Teams, Time Warner
Connect a Million Minds
Grant, Won Third Place
Foundation for Future Robotics Program
Centered on a Robotics Lab Format that can be
Utilized for In School or Before/After School
Uses. Constant Evaluation and Refinement.
Activities and Opportunities
for All Grades (K-5),
Expandable to 8th
Includes
Aqua Botics
Creates a Series
of “Teams”
Leading to US
First
Board of Expert
Advisors
Materials
Available for
Creative Build
Engineering is Elementary
• Literacy
• STEM
• Writing
Each Unit is based on
a story. Each Story is
told in book form
Written description of
observations and
conclusions
Each Unit has a
problem to solve.
(Inquiry/Engineering)
Can use Smart Boards
to Examine Countries
(Technology)
Each Story is based in
a different country,
told by a different
child
• Social Studies,
Geography,
Language
EIE Units
Unit/Science Topic
Engineering Field
Unit/Science Topic
Engineering Field
Catching the Wind, Designing
Windmills (Wind & Weather)
Mechanical
A Stick in the Mud, Evaluating a
Landscape (Landforms)
Geotechnical
Water, Water Everywhere,
Designing Water Filters (Water)
Environmental
Thinking Inside the Box, Designing
Plant Packages (Plants)
Package
A Sticky Situation, Designing Walls
(Earth Materials)
Materials
The Attraction is Obvious, Designing
Magley Systems (Magnetism)
Transportation
To Get to the Other Side, Designing
Bridges (Balances and Forces)
Civil
Now You’re Cooking, Designing Solar
Ovens (Energy)
Green
Marvelous Machines, Making Work
Easier (Simple Machines)
Industrial
It’s a Long Way Down, Designing
Parachutes (Astronomy)
Aerospace
Sounds Like Fun, Seeing Animal
Sounds (Sound)
Acoustical
Communication
Solid as a Rock, Replicating an
Artifact (Rocks & Minerals)
Materials
The Best of Bugs, Designing Hand
Pollinators (Insects/Plants)
Agricultural
A Slick Solution, Cleaning Up an Oil
Spill (Ecosystems)
Environmental
Just Passing Through, Designing
Model Membranes (Organisms)
Bioengineering
Taking the Plunge, Designing
Submersibles (Sinking and Floating)
Ocean
An Alarming Idea, Designing Alarm
Circuits (Electricity)
Electrical
FUTURE: Light
Optical
A Work in Progress, Improving a
Play Dough Process (Solids &
Liquids)
Chemical
FUTURE: Human Body
Biomedical
Catawba River District
• Created to promote sustainability and green
energy in our community. At the core to
create an identity for our community and to
strengthen and grow the presence of middle
class residents.
• We were not originally included
• There are only four schools targeted for labs.
Mountain Island is targeted for two. (Robotics
and Energy)
• Great potential, long way to go.
Mountain
Island
Science Fair
• Our Date TBA
(Estimate January)
• Proceeding onto
Regional Fair at UNC
First Annual Science Charlotte in February
Fair at Mountain
Island with selected • Possibility of
winners advancing
Proceeding to State
to the Regional
Competition
Science Fair
Intangibles
• We have built strong support within CMS and
are gaining support in the BOE
• We have developed or strengthened
relationships outside the school
• Word is getting out about what we are doing.
We hear it when visiting other schools
• There is a momentum we need to capitalize
on in the first two quarters
Still Work to be Done
• Getting everyone to be fully comfortable with
what STEM is
• Being able to communicate the “what” and
“why” of STEM (elevator speech)
• Bringing our parents fully into STEM
(communication and volunteering)
• Consistent funding sources
• Continue to build awareness in the
community
Next Best Opportunity to Connect
• First ever STEM Night, October 20th
• Dinner will be served (Bravo) at no cost to the
attendees
• Showcase of STEM learning
• Breakout discussion opportunities
• NEED A STRONG TURNOUT
• We will be inviting many supporters from
outside the school as well as some we are
courting
Specific Needs
• Parent volunteers particularly with
engineering talents/background
• Parents with a mastery of Google Sketch Up
software
• Parents to coach teams like Odyssey of the
Mind, Lego Club, etc.