STEM 40303/50303 Introduction to STEM Education
This course provides an introduction to the foundations of STEM education disciplines and the strategies used to deliver integrated STEM education in the elementary and secondary school setting. The nature of STEM education disciplines, STEM pedagogy, teaching strategies, integrated STEM learning, STEM careers, and project-based instruction are addressed.
STEM 40303 – Spring 2025 Course Schedule
STEM Content Standards
- Arkansas Science Standards
- Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL) – The Role of Technology and Engineering in STEM Education
- Arkansas Mathematics Standards
- Additional Arkansas Learning Standards
Course Resources
Engineering-Design-Journal Example
Performance-Based-Assessment-Guide
Final Exam: Thursday, May 8 – 3-5 pm
Week 16
Tuesday, April 29
- Introduction to Paper Engineering PP
- Cardboard Engineering MakeDO – Design Challenge (in-class)
Thursday, May 1
- Paper Engineering Project Presentations
- Introduction to Automata Presentation
- Preparation for the Final Project – Final Exam: Thursday, May 8 – 3-5 pm
Week 15
Tuesday, April 22
- Electricity Project Presentations
- Introduction to Paper Engineering PP
- Basic Pop-Ups (in class challenge)
Thursday, April 24
- Basic Pop-Ups continued (in class challenge)
- Paper Engineering Project
Week 14
Tuesday, April 15
- Electricity Curriculum Project Development
Thursday, April 17
- Complete Electricity Curriculum Project – You will present your teaching models and ideas for your curriculum project on Tuesday. Final Electricity Curriculum Project will be due on April 23 (noon)
Week 13
Tuesday, April 8
- Creating an electrical circuit with 2-LEDs and a switch (in-class challenge)
Thursday, April 10
- The Electricity Project PP
- Major Assignment – Electricity Curriculum Project
Week 12
Tuesday, April 1
- Introduction to Electricity – Building electrical circuits to demonstrate transfer of energy.
- Challenge (in-class) – Paper Circuits – Drawing a Circuit Quick Challenge
- Challenge (in-class) – The Simplest Electric Motor
Thursday, April 3
- We will not meet for class, as I will be presenting at the International Technology and Engineering Educator’s Conference.
- Read about our Major Assignment – Electricity Curriculum Project
- Reading Assignment: Chapter 1: Basic Concepts of Electricity – http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/index.html
- Read about the following concepts –
- Static Electricity
- Conductors, Insulators, and Electron Flow
- What are Electrical Circuits?
- Voltage and Current
- Resistance
- Voltage and Current in a Practical Circuit
- Complete a reading reflection that identifies the key vocabulary and definitions from each part of Chapter 1 that you can use later as your science content in the Electricity Curriculum Project
- Be ready with your project idea for class next Tuesday.
- Read about the following concepts –
Week 11 – Spring Break
Week 10
Tuesday, March 18
- Technical-Procedural Problem Solving PP PP
- Challenge (in-class) – Lego back-to-back Challenge
Thursday, March 20
- Challenge (in-class) – Teacher Geek
Week 9
Tuesday, March 11
- Construction Blocks Curriculum Project Presentations and further development
- Construction Block Challenge (in-class)
Thursday, March 13
- Computational Thinking – Construction Block Extension Challenges PP
- Code & Go Robot Mice Challenges (in-class)
- Challenge (in-class) – HexBug Challenge – Part 1
- Introduction to Technical Procedural Problem Solving – Pocket Solar System Activity
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Writing a Technical/Procedural STEM Problem (summarize the reading, include top 3 take-aways, and describe how you will apply this in your future classroom)
Week 8
Tuesday, March 4
- Using Blocks and Construction Toys for Teaching STEM
- Keva Design Challenges (in class)
- KEVA Educator Guide Lesson Plans
Thursday, March 6
- Using Blocks and Construction Toys for Teaching STEM
- Team Fort Enclosure Design Challenge (in-class)
- Construction Block Ideation Guide (Due on Tuesday – March 11)
Week 7
Tuesday, February 25
- Literature-Based Curriculum Peer Review
- Literature-based Curriculum Peer Review – PowerPoint from today with feedback from previous submissions
Thursday, February 27
- Using Blocks and Construction Toys for Teaching STEM
- Introduction to Keva Planks
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Using Block Play and Blocks As a Tool for Learning and Reading Reflection Response Directions
Week 6
Tuesday, February 18
- Literature-Based Curriculum Project Development and Ideation
- Peer-review on February 25
- Resources for project development –
- Homework for Thursday – complete teacher guide and begin developing your simplified student guide and engineering design journal
Thursday, February 20
- Literature-Based Curriculum Project Development and Ideation
Week 5
Tuesday, February 11
- The Literature-based STEM Curriculum – Writing a STEM Design Brief
- The Hot Dog Carrier -2nd Grade Example
- Major Assignment –Major Assignment – Literature-Based Curriculum
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Integrating Literacy and Engineering Instruction for Young Learners
- Engineering Design Challenge Part 1 (in-class)
- Dog Treat Slinger Design Challenge – Teacher and Student Guide
- Dogzilla – Intentional Content Integration
Thursday, February 13
- Literature-based Design Challenge Development
- Exploring Potential Tools and Materials
- STEL standards and benchmarks
- Reading Assignment – Developing Big Ideas and Essential Questions
- Engineering Design Challenge Part 2 (in-class)
Week 4
Tuesday, February 4
- Engineering Design Loop/Process Poster Presentations
- The Quick Challenge
- Character Cards (Story Grammar)
Thursday, February 6
- Literature-Based STEM Curriculum
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Writing a STEM Design Brief and Major Assignment – Literature-Based Curriculum
Week 3
Tuesday, January 28
- Complete the Space Frame Challenge
- Reading Review – Enhancing the Technology and Engineering in Elementary Classrooms: Safer Tool Usage
- The Design Process PP
- Major Assignment – The Engineering Design Loop/Process
- Weekly Reading Assignment – A Framework for STEM Problem-Solving
Thursday, January 30
- Challenge (in-class) – Engineering Design Challenge – A Bridge to Nowhere
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Connecting Compassion Empathy’s Role in STEM and Literacy Integration and Reading Reflection
Week 2
Tuesday, January 21
• Measuring: Measuring: Materials, Tools, and Processes
• Challenge (in-class) – Space Frame Building Challenge
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy and STEM Education article and Reading Reflection.
Thursday, January 23
• Reading Review – The STEL
• Weekly Reading Assignment – Enhancing the Technology and Engineering in Elementary Classrooms: Safer Tool Usage and Reading Reflection
Week 1
Tuesday, January 14
- Syllabus and Schedule Review
- Introduction to STEM Education PP
- Challenge (in-class) – Earth Ball Introductions
- Challenge (at-home) – YouTube Introduction Assignment – Due Friday.
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Introduction and Background and History of the STEM Movement in The Overlooked STEM Imperatives and Reading Reflection
- We will discuss expectations for this in class. Due before class on Thursday.
Thursday, January 16
- Reading Review
- Challenge (in-class) – Engineering Design Challenge – Teacher Trophy Challenge
- Weekly Reading Assignment – Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy and STEM Education article and Reading Reflection.