Making Meaning from STEM Learning
Watch the activity overview video. This video shows staff facilitating the activity featured in the skill video.
As you watch the skill video below, think about these questions:
- What does staff say here that gets youth reflecting? (0:46; 0:56; 1:09)
- How did she use what they reflected upon to help them with their “provocation” or challenge in the activity?(1:23, 1:32)
- What does staff say here that helps youth reflect and process? (1:40 – 2:26) How do the youth respond? What do they do and say that shows they are reflecting and processing?
- “Plussing” or giving someone a “plus one” is a great strategy to help youth reflect and positively critique their work. How does staff use plussing and how do the youth respond? (2:28 – End)
Now that you’ve watched the video, reflect on what you saw and post your responses.
- One youth in this video hesitantly says, “it would add more gravity to it (her design).” What do you think she means? What could you ask her to get her to explain her thinking more deeply?
- How did the youth respond to others comments when they were giving constructive feedback, or “plussing?” What can you do as staff to make sure that it’s a positive, reflective moment?
Explore Engineering Practices
Education Item
Where Are You Stuck?
Notice how the facilitator nudges learners to find their own solutions as they create the algorithms that control their agents in the virtual world.
Video
Education Item
Building Relationships for STEM Learning
Watch as Jennifer uses strategies to support and encourage youth when working on an engineering design challenge. Listen as Jennifer shares an important element to group management involving building relationships around STEM learning based on mutual respect and support.
Video
Education Item
Connecting Real-World Skills to Career Roles
Dagen connects the skills youth use with the career role they selected during the challenge.