Implementing STEM Activities

Photo: New Mexico GEAR UP - Project EGG activity

STEM programming should suit your program and community needs. GEAR UP programs look very different across the country. Modify activities and content to be applicable to your classroom, standards and community.

Tip #1: Get buy-in from administrators and school staff

  • Champions at the sites are critical - if you don’t have that, no traction will be made.

  • Administrators can help motivate teachers, encourage adding programs into curriculums, and help steer conversations happening within the school. They help remove excuses and perceived barriers to implementation. 

  • Create opportunities for administrator buy-in specifically alongside the teachers. Ask them to reflect on their scores, culture and classroom experiences.

  • A partnership between teachers, school-based GEAR UP staff and STEM coordinators is necessary to achieve buy-in so that we can encourage STEM growth in our schools for all populations.

  • There could be a day that the school needs class time covered or help with filling a gap. Talk with administrators and teachers to find out what they need and create a program to fit that need.

Tip #2: Approach it as a team to build sustainability

  • Anyone and everyone can implement STEM programming! These could be community leads, college professionals, teachers, college students, or even the students themselves. 

  • Have program planning conversations around STEM activities with multiple team members.

  • Work with the actual science teachers. This is the easiest way to get students to participate for extra credit.

  • Make sure your team feels confident implementing activities, but provide support to help them stay engaged.

Each of our schools has a STEM team made up of interested educators and administrators. They identify one big project or idea that they would like to focus on for the year. [Our GEAR UP program] works with them as consultants to support the implementation of that idea and support their local collaboration so it isn’t a single educator approach. Plus, it has buy-in from the administration.

Doug Thompson, Appalachian GEAR UP (NC)

Tip #3: Build a culture of STEM

  • Anytime you talk about GEAR UP, mention STEM. Everyone has a role: teachers can bring in people to math and science classrooms to connect what they are learning to real world applications. GEAR UP site coordinators can include STEM activities in worksite visits and college tours. Grants can host summer camps with STEM opportunities.

  • Make STEM programming known. Make sure that all parents, students, and staff know what it is and how they can be involved. 

  • Students (and staff) need to see/feel how STEM weaves through many aspects of their work. Part of this is training on good teaching practices for students to build confidence, ask questions, explore ideas, and discuss tactics. 

  • Work with all teachers to ensure that they can envision STEM in their classrooms by focusing not on the acronym but what it represents, which is a teaching strategy. Everyone in schools is teaching and raising children, we just need to do so with a vision that aligns to student creativity, voice/choice and real world/authentic experiences. Get kids as active participants in their learning and encourage authentic ownership of STEM experiences to create a longer lasting impact and build a pervasive culture of STEM.

RESOURCES & ARTICLES

Tip #4: Provide professional development on STEM practices

  • Ensure teachers and schools have the resources, training, and information to implement successful STEM programs. Allow opportunities for parents and students to be involved in the planning and implementation process. 

  • Have a content area specialist on call. If someone hits a snag they need an instant out to keep the lesson going. It also helps with continual training.

  • Provide opportunities for leadership and skill development on best practices for diversity and inclusion in STEM education.

  • Join a STEM community to share information and resources.

RESOURCES & ARTICLES

We work with university faculty to provide professional development on relevant STEM topics that integrate student curriculum and have a focus on diversity and inclusion. It has strengthened our ability to engage partners in supporting our teachers and students.

Amber Kelly, Pennsylvania GEAR UP

Tip #5: Utilize external partners to deliver STEM programs

  • Expose students to local opportunities to engage in STEM and work with current students/professionals in the field to give them that early exposure to opportunities that they may not have known existed in their own community. 

  • Partnerships between faculty at the middle and high school and the local colleges and universities, as well as companies is crucial to getting buy-in and activities off the ground. 

  • Access partners to do programming if you aren’t comfortable with it. Bring in guest speakers to math and science classrooms. Create STEM camps during winter, spring, and summer breaks.

    • Work with university partners to develop STEM content and initiatives tailored to student interests.

    • Recruit local “experts” from area businesses who are interested in working with students. 

    • Identify regional STEM programs or centers that can bring activities or activity leaders. 

Resources & articles

Our students participated in a one-day STEM camp in partnership with Gardner-Webb University’s School of Science and School of Education and GEAR UP staff. Students were immersed in five areas of hands-on STEM learning including astronomy, physiology, anatomy, geology, and chemistry.

Laura LaLonde, Iredell-Statesville GEAR UP (NC)

Tip #6: Implement STEM in a variety of ways

Consider using multiple methods to provide STEM activities to as many students as possible, including:

  • Class time (but not just in STEM subjects!)

    • Start by building relationships with STEM teachers and make connections across content areas to do STEM activities together 

    • Find partners who can connect the subject to whatever STEM focus matches (i.e a science communicator for an English class etc.) 

  • Summer programs

    • Summer is a really great place to do focused, longer term projects. 

      • Hint: use our activities as a stepping off point for more in depth work, potentially pairing with other local partners to develop extension activities.

    • Programs implemented in the summer give time for training and media coverage.

    • Implement STEM as part of summer remediation programs that are already being offered at the schools as the kids receive transportation and are heavily encouraged to attend by the schools. 

  • After school clubs

    • Incentivize participation with food and a grade credit.

    • Plan to increase the difficulty and rigor of activities as the year progresses.

  • Weekend workshops

    • Can be recurring events (e.g. monthly) or special events (e.g. annually or semi-annually).

    • Get everyone involved! Include students and families. 

    • Utilize what your local library is doing! Many are offering STEM programs or activities.

  • Stand-alone events

    • Ideas include:

      • Regional STEM fair with professionals showcasing demonstrations.

      • Conference for middle school girls focused on STEM.

      • Family Design Nights where families engage in STEM activities.

      • Student Pitch Competition where business owners serve as judges.

RESOURCES & ARTICLES

We have found that summer camp and school hours are the best, most attended times for our schools. We partner with our teachers to host rover challenges, summer STEM camp, and other robotic challenges throughout the school year. We work around what the teacher is teaching in order to provide help and not just “more work” for them.

Loran Mayes, Eastern Oklahoma GEAR UP