How To Stem

During the past few years, groups like the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Center for Education have been placing great emphasis on the significance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. In brief, the US is seen as falling behind the rest of the world in science and technology education. In response, the curricula have been revised in many educational institutions and school districts across the country. It is clear that for STEM to be successful, other community organizations, most particularly libraries, need to be closely involved in the process. Library staff realize the importance of getting involved in STEM education, but many have difficulty finding comprehensive information that will help them plan and successfully implement STEM direction in their organization. This book is designed to meet that need. It is timely and relevant. How to STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education in Libraries is by and for libraries who are involved in contributing efforts into advancing these subjects. It is organized in 9 parts including funding, grant writing, community partnerships, outreach, research, and examples of specific programming activities. Authors are drawn from the professional staffs of educational institutions, libraries, and non-profit organizations such as science museums. The book contains eight parts, each emphasizing a different aspect of how to succeed with STEM. Part 1 emphasizes how hands-on activities that are both fun and educational can be used to further STEM awareness. Parts 2 and 3 contain chapters on the uniting of STEM with Information Literacy. Innovative collection development ideas are discussed in Part 4 and Part 5 focuses on research and publishing. Outreach is the theme of Part 6 and the programs described in these chapters offer an array of ways to connect with students of all ages. The final section of How to STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education in Libraries addresses the funding of these programs. Librarians of all types will be pleased to discover easy-to-implement suggestions for collaborative efforts, many rich and diverse programming ideas, strategies for improving reference services and library instruction to speakers of English as a second language, marketing and promotional tips designed to welcome multicultural patrons into the library, and much more.

Want to know how to implement authentic STEM teaching and learning into your classroom? STEM Lesson Essentials provides all the tools and strategies you'll need to design integrated, interdisciplinary STEM lessons and units that are relevant and exciting to your students. With clear definitions of both STEM and STEM literacy, the authors argue that STEM in itself is not a curriculum, but rather a way of organizing and delivering instruction by weaving the four disciplines together in intentional ways. Rather than adding two new subjects to the curriculum, the engineering and technology practices can instead be blended into existing math and science lessons in ways that engage students and help them master 21st century skills.

From The Author: Has your school added a STEM class, or are you hoping to build more STEM into your school community? Buying a bunch of 3D printers and robot kits is a good start, but what does a sustainable STEM learning culture look like? This book will challenge you to think past the Daily STEM acronym and think about what it means to build a culture of STEM thinking in your school. You'll find plenty of practical tips and examples to make STEM relevant for every kid and infuse it into every classroom and every home in your community. Editorial Reviews: "STEM can seem like such a big challenge for teachers and school leaders alike. We all want students engaged in meaningful, hands-on learning. But where do we begin? Start with Daily STEM. This awesome gift to educators by author Chris Woods is packed full of practical, logical, and easy steps teachers can and should take to bring STEM to life. It's like having Chris right there coaching you, helping you find STEM in everyday life. Daily STEM will have you building a "culture of STEM" in your school or classroom and bringing relevant learning to life." Darrin M Peppard, Ed.D. - Superintendent - Author of Road To Awesome - Renaissance Hall of Fame "Chris' book Daily STEM is exactly what every teacher needs to promote curiosity and hands-on learning in the classroom. He prompts critical thinking and offers experiences that are fun and engaging for students. It is packed full of cool ideas and STEM inspiration-a must read!!!" Jacie Maslyk - Educator - Author - STEM Enthusiast "I absolutely love Daily STEM!! You will never be able to look at the world the same way after you read this gem! Hundreds of ideas will swirl through your head after each page. If you are searching for your teaching style, here it is: curiosity and connections. This is a book you will read more than once. Chris's personal stories will put a smile on your face as you reflect on your own stories. WOW Factor!! Epic!" Dr. Frank Rudnesky - Educator - Author - Speaker - Consultant "Daily STEM is a book I would normally have an aversion to! Teachers either love the idea of STEM, or they run as fast as they can when they hear the term. I used to run! Daily Stem offered me significant insight into so many ways educators can continue to provide STEM instruction/ideas and exploration across content areas and beyond the classroom walls. The Q and A style made Daily Stem an easy read. It also provided opportunity to revisit a question -and the answer- quite readily. "A noisy classroom is a collaborative classroom. A messy classroom is an inventing classroom," sums up best practice and is a powerful reminder as we plan for the new school year!" Dr. Lori Koerner - K-12 Administrator for Curriculum, Instruction & Professional Personnel

How do you create effective STEM classrooms that energize students, help them grow into creative thinkers and collaborators, and prepare them for their futures? This practical book from expert Anne Jolly has all the answers and tools you need to get started or enhance your current program. Based on the author’s popular MiddleWeb blog of the same name, STEM by Design reveals the secrets to successful lessons in which students use science, math, and technology to solve real-world engineering design problems. You’ll learn how to: Select and adapt quality existing STEM lessons that present authentic problems, allow for creative approaches, and engage students in meaningful teamwork; Create your own student-centered STEM lessons based on the Engineering Design Process; Assess students’ understanding of basic STEM concepts, their problem-solving abilities, and their level of engagement with the material; Teach STEM in after-school programs to further build on concepts covered in class; Empower girls to aspire to careers in STEM and break down the barriers of gender bias; Tap into STEM's project-based learning style to attract and engage all students. Throughout this user-friendly book, you’ll find design tools such as checklists, activities, and assessments to aid you in developing or adapting STEM lessons. These tools, as well as additional teacher resources, are also available as free downloads from the book’s website, http://www.stem-by-design.com.

This book provides a platform for international scholars to share evidence for effective practices in integrated STEM education and contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge gained from the diversity of approaches. Many publications on STEM education focus on one or two of the separate STEM disciplines without considering the potential for delivering STEM curriculum as an integrated approach.This publication analyzes the efficacy of an integrated STEM curriculum and instruction, providing evidence to examine and support various integrations. The volume focuses on the problems seen by academics working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and provides valuable, high quality research outcomes and a set of valued practices which have demonstrated their use and viability to improve the quality of integrated STEM education.

Tired of seeing the same careers foisted upon women in TV, movies and magazines? Chemical engineer Stephanie Espy, a graduate of MIT, UC Berkeley and Emory University, tells the stories of 44 inspiring women in STEM to show girls and young women around the world a new set of women heroes to look up to.The statistics for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers are just plain sad. In recent years, fewer than 20% of college graduates in engineering and computer science were women. While stereotypes pervade about women in these fields, the truth is that most girls have never even heard of these careers and are not aware of the wide range of options that exist.In STEM Gems, you and your daughter, niece, neighbor, friend or student will discover: The stories of 44 inspiring women in diverse STEM fields and how they made it; The challenges these incredible women faced in pursuit of their dreams; The tremendous accomplishments these Gems have achieved in their respective STEM fields; Advice on how to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers; Actionable steps girls and young women can take right now to set themselves up for success; What girls and young women can expect in a promising STEM career, and much, much more!Through the powerful stories of the STEM Gems in this book, girls and young women will have their pick of current role models of various ages, ethnicities and job types. And through the eight chapters that outline actionable steps, girls and young women will learn what they can do right now, today, to set themselves up for success and to create their own unique paths. STEM Gems is relatable, encouraging and inspiring, demonstrating the limitless possibilities for the next generation of women.

Root to Stem is a seasonal guide to living a healthy, sustainable lifestyle by putting nature at the heart of our physical and mental wellbeing. The root to stem philosophy means using all of the plant, vegetable or herb, to maximise the health benefits found in the ingredient, whilst also simultaneously reducing your carbon footprint and the amount of food wastage. Set out in four chapters, Root to Stem shares each of the four seasons' celebrations and health challenges, which natural ingredients are available, simple delicious recipes and easy to make herbal remedies, plus steps for how to beautify and support the environment. It will also include tips for foraging, growing a kitchen pharmacy, movement and exercise, and creative ways to reconnect with others and nature. Root to Stem is about discovery, pleasure, traditions, celebration and - ultimately - about how our eating choices can actually help to sustain the natural balance of our world.

STEM, STEAM, Make, Dream explores the ways that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can transform all young people's lives through learning. This includes reimagining our collective relationship to STEM by presenting it as more accepting and accessible than previously acknowledged. Beginning with the ways that STEM has been used to marginalize many children, the book examines the need for the arts - including culture - to serve as an anchor for instruction. It also describes the need for "making" (hands-on creation and tinkering) in establishing relevance in learning. Then, through an experiential approach, the book articulates the value of dreaming of a future that is inclusive of all young people, especially those furthest from opportunity. To help all children claim their STEM identity, the book provides educators, policy makers, and community leaders with tangible ways to honor culture, increase equity, and encourage curiosity. The book demystifies STEM and shows a clear pathway to empowering children with the skills needed to succeed in a science and tech-based world. In addition, it offers educators a roadmap to developing future creators, innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs. This includes providing the tools and knowledge necessary to advocate for sustainable change and address inequity, apathy, and the many other real problems in education. To do so, the book combines real-world stories, observations, and research in a visually-rich package that includes activities, inspiring quotes, and key takeaways. To help ground research and theory, readers will hear from - and be inspired by - practitioners, activists, and artists ranging from renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to founding Wu-Tang Clan member GZA to acclaimed educator Gholdy Muhammad. In profiling these innovators, the book reveals how readers can nurture creativity, spark joy, and promote perseverance in all children.