Literature,+STEM+&+Design-+STEM

Literature, STEM & Design- STEM Presenter: Bill Wolfson Engineering Lens (cell) 508-380-3747 billw@engineeringlens.org [|www.engineeringlens.org]

This presentation was about a group of people trying to develop curriculum and professional development to help students use the engineering design process to approach science and design topics through analysis of literature. The organization is comprised of retired engineers, teachers, and professors from Olin College, Framingham State and Wheaton. They are currently looking for base funding in order to make this a free resource and self-sustaining. See website: []

Misson: Connecting Literature with Mathematics and Science. Integrating Engineering Design & Thinking Skills.

Presentation notes: Full slide presentation is available at: [] or   [|www.integratingengineering.org/workbook/documents/MassCue_10272010.pdf] Project Status:
 * Still developing curriculum (professors at Olin College, Framingham State, Wheaton, etc. and retired teachers)
 * Creating an interdisciplinary learning environment using engineering design and thinking skills.
 * Using design thinking to engage students in STEM subjects.
 * Be excited about learning.
 * Losing out to other nations in educating student in STEM.
 * Students need to see the relevance – we don’t do this we are “silo” oriented.
 * Elementary teachers comfortable with ELA but not STEM.
 * Use engineering to connect literature to design. – All about the thinking.
 * Goal: Create an environment that is interdisciplinary.
 * Engineering is the acadmic glue, creativity, group work, and it is everywhere -- teachers grasp this concept
 * Basically teach Strand 4 of the frameworks and show us design methodologies.
 * Open source for educators – goal is to be sustainable and give it away. Supplemental learning in state teacher colleges and online website to collaborate on stories. Find an organization like TERC, EDC to help them be sustainable.
 * 3 credit course through Framingham State
 * One-credit on-line course FSU
 * First major implementation in Millis Public Schools (9/2009 to 1/2010), completed second & third group, June, August


 * Framework for design:
 * Must be visual
 * Divergent/Convergent Thinking
 * Summary Process
 * Brain Writing
 * Engineering Lens = Building the connection
 * Problem solving = Designing
 * #1 – Understand the problems – needs of the character
 * #2 – Solving a known problem in the story
 * Dialogue vs. Argument - Use the "Six Hats" approach - popular in corporate world. (Made some using foam brushes with colored felt glued over the end.)
 * Use project-based learning teams.
 * Tying science into the design
 * Embraces 21st century skills
 * Promotes risk-taking and learning from failures
 * Rival is Museum of Science - Engineering is Elementary - write their own books
 * Students have ownership of learning

//(Carol Klatt)//