KLEIN's
GUIDE TO
SCIENCE EDUCATION
PHOTO CREDIT: Nadene Klein at Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite National Park
November was a big month for conferences for me. I spoke at the AMLE national conference in Philadelphia. There I shared my "Kids Teaching Kids" PBL project followed by "Differentiating Staff Development." Later in the month, I spoke at the Colorado Science Conference in Denver. I presented a session about "3D Printing in STEM" and once again presented "Kids Teaching Kids."
Not only am I humbled to present my ideas to my colleagues, I'm grateful for the chance to purvey options to enhance/increase/improve science education. More than that, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from my colleagues. I added to my toolbox. In doing so, I keep my energy for teaching up. I get ideas that are fresh and new for me. My students will benefit from these new ideas as they become integrated in my lessons. The teachers at my school benefit because I brought back materials and ideas that I shared with them. November is the perfect month to pay-it-forward. I am grateful that being a teacher also means being a learner. Scientifically Yours, Nadene
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My school is having our annual career day this week. That got me to thinking that my students probably don't realize that some science is used within the tasks and skills of every job. (This is true of all subjects.) They probably think that only scientists need to know science. This means it's time for another project. Each of my students will interview an employed or retired adult about their job by asking 16 questions regarding science skills or knowledge that they potentially could use on the job. They were told it will be more meaningful if they interview someone with the job they hope to have in the future. Questions include "Do you have to follow OSHA rules?" "Is the weather a factor in your job?" "Do you do research for your job?" Students are told that if their interviewee answers yes to any question they need to ask a follow up question such as "How do you use that in your job?" or "Why is that important to your job?" After reporting back to class, we will collaborate to construct a Science Skills By Career Chart to hang in our room. It will look somewhat like this but with only science skills down the left side: Source: Welcome to IT Career Framework at UBC Motivation is a constant necessity in teaching and learning. If students see the purpose to learning something, they will be more motivated to learn it. By seeing more than a dozen skills used in many careers, I hope to motivate students. This connects back to my previous post about real world connections. Take a minute and think about all of the science you use each day at home and on the job. I bet it is more than you realized. Scientifically yours, Nadene We know that making connections from the classroom to the real world is always beneficial. Students may become more motivated when they see how what they are learning is part of their world outside the confines of the classroom.
What can make it better is when the work they are doing directly impacts the real world, for real. It is a truly inspiring and empowering experience for learners. One of my classes researched and won a grant for $30K to install solar tubes in classrooms in our old building. They learned how we can reduce our carbon footprint and improve student health, wellness, and productivity by introducing natural light and eliminated fluorescent light. Another class is reclaiming trash to build a book nook in our school's new outdoor learning space. I have a class that will be using their knowledge of animals to write children's books...and then go read them to elementary school students. A group of students is working on a project to make solar powered light circuits that can be sent to a place without electricity. They'll be working in partnership with a school there to provide them with what they need to complete the construction of the lights that then can be used to light their school and homes. I could keep going on and on...but, you get the point. Finding the real world applications should be second nature in science. Scientifically yours, Nadene P.S. If you'd like to contribute to funding our Solar Light project, use this link to make a donation. |
AuthorNadene Klein, M.Ed. has been an educator for over 25 years. She brings a passion and love for science to the classroom and through this blog to you. Archives
March 2024
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