S T E M
I N S I G H T S
F R O M
E V I D E N C E
LEADING A CULTURE OF STEM EDUCATION AT YOUR SCHOOL A PLAN FOR ACTION LUCAS JOHNSON
So, you’ve integrated STEM education into your
meaningful change in your school.
classroom and you’re really seeing the benefits in
Understand the ‘Why?’
your students learning. Engaged students? Tick.
Before you can persuade your school leadership
Disciplinary understandings and interdisciplinary
team and your colleagues about the amazing
connections being constructed? Tick. Students
benefits offered by STEM education, take some
engaged in real world problem solving! Sure are!
time to understand the ‘why?’. Why is this
You’re probably now left wondering why your
important for your students? How can STEM
colleagues
incredible
education and its related pedagogies enrich the
opportunity to engage their students in STEM
learning opportunities in your school? How will
education, in the same way that you have in your
such an approach meet the goals outlined in the
own classroom.
school’s
aren’t
jumping
at
this
Annual
Action
Plan?
Why
is
STEM
When it comes to the introduction of new
education not just another fad that will disappear
innovations into a school environment, an idea
like all the others that have come before it?
alone, no matter how good it is, is not enough to
Answering these questions will help to clarify in
create sustainable change within a school. As
your own mind the true mission behind your
every school is different and what works for one
integration of STEM education and may help you
school
to convince others of its importance as well.
may
consideration
not
work
should
be
in
another
given
to
situation, how
this
Acknowledge the ‘How?’
innovation sits within the unique context of the
Teachers are busy. The timetable is already
school . Creating your own version of what STEM
crowded. No one has time to squeeze in anything
education
new. All these ideas are legitimate barriers to
looks
like
in
your
own
school
is
imperative. If you’re really invested in trying to encourage
innovation and a reality of teaching. In order to support
teachers
to
see
the
benefits
of
a
colleagues across your school to integrate STEM
pedagogical innovation, such as the integration of
education into their curriculum, now might be the
STEM education into their enacted curriculum, it
time to take a step back, assess the landscape and
might be a matter of reframing the challenges of
create a plan for action. Outlined below are a few
the change into opportunities. Consider how you
deas that might support your thinking as you
might
develop your strategy to lead and embed
teachers that STEM education is an approach that
STEM|ED MAGAZINE
be
able
demonstrate
to
your
fellow
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