- Year 2019
- NSF Award #1660540
- Registration Current Noyce Scholar
- First Name Samantha
- Last Name Knudson
- Discipline Biology
- Institution Marquette University
Abstract
The purpose of this poster is to present the STEM teaching rationale I developed while completing clinical-based field experiences in the Noyce Scholar program. My STEM teaching rationale provides an overview of the current state of STEM education within an urban high school science classroom in the Midwest. The rationale includes a description of the high school science classroom, my approach as a STEM teacher, and the actions I would need to take to successfully implement this kind of STEM teaching and learning in my own classroom. The clinical-based field experience I taught in included a wide range of students. Most classrooms contained around 30 students, some of which were English Language Learners, special education students, or economically disadvantaged. Classes were typically taught in a traditional manner of teacher directed instruction. The goal of most lessons focused on completion of tasks with students following a set sequence of steps. My approach as a STEM teacher is to support students in understanding and making sense of the scientific concepts that they are learning. To support this kind of learning I structured lessons to support student exploration in inquiry-based activities. Lessons engaged students in hands-on activities that allowed them to make sense of a real-world science phenomenon. To implement this kind of STEM teaching and learning in my science classroom I will incorporate key practices that promote student sense-making. For example, I will use assessments to determine if students have made sense of a real-world science phenomenon. I will also use assessments to drive the instructional decisions that I will make for students, keeping in mind that the goal for students is developing understanding through a hands-on, engaging approach. My STEM teaching rationale has positioned me to successfully implement these strategies for teaching and learning in my own classroom. Completion of the Noyce Scholar program has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to successfully allow all students in my classroom a deep understanding of science concepts.
