Free Workshop Focuses on STEM Teaching

DRK12 Robotics website

This month, New York University's Tandon School of Engineering is offering a free workshop for local middle school teachers on developing STEM lessons in the life sciences, physical sciences and mathematics. The two-day DRK12 Robotics program will focus on the use of robotics and engineering design practices in hands-on lessons that align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and 5E Instructional Model.

Workshop content has been developed by New York City teachers who worked with NYU Tandon instructors to incorporate robotics into their classrooms, and who are experienced in LEGO EV3 coding and creating three-dimensional NGSS lessons, according to information on the program website. Lessons and activities were created under the National Science Foundation's Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK12) project, a program seeking to "significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers, through research and development of STEM education innovations and approaches."

Goals for the workshop include:

  • "Developing and refining curricula that promote project-based, hands-on, instruction to help students learn, understand, and apply underlying science and math content while doing age-appropriate robotics activities";
  • "Deepening teachers' technical, pedagogical, and content knowledge, contextualized in and reinforced through robotics design experiences";
  • "Fostering teachers' skills and attitudes for integrating robotics-based learning in the required science and math classes";
  • "Enabling teachers to use their students' interest in robotics to engage them to learn the required science and math content"; and
  • "Using robotics as a means to expose teachers to tools, techniques, and models of authentic engineering design."

Participants will also receive ongoing support from a professional learning community of their peers.

The workshop is available in two sessions: July 23-24 and July 30-31. To be eligible, applicants must be a science, math or CTE middle school teacher working in New York City and neighboring areas; previous experience with the LEGO EV3 kits is preferred. For more information, go to the NYU Tandon site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  •  classroom scene with students gathered around a laptop showing a virtual tour interface

    Discovery Education Announces Spring Lineup of Free Virtual Field Trips

    This Spring, Discovery Education is collaborating with partners such as Warner Bros., DC Comics, National Science Foundation, NBA, and more to present a series of free virtual field trips for K-12 students.

  • glowing padlock shape integrated into a network of interconnected neon-blue lines and digital nodes, set against a soft, blurred geometric background

    3 in 4 Administrators Expect a Security Incident to Impact Their School This Year

    In an annual survey from education identity platform Clever, 74% of administrators admitted that they believe a security incident is likely to impact their school system in the coming year. That's up from 71% who said the same last year.

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • pattern of icons for math and reading, including a pi symbol, calculator, and open book

    HMH Launches Personalized Path Solution

    Adaptive learning company HMH has introduced HMH Personalized Path, a K-8 ELA and math product that combines intervention curriculum, adaptive practice, and assessment for students of all achievement levels.