Submitted by Kathy Burns
Nassau County School Board
Vice-Chair
August 28, 2015 7:01 p.m.
Acronyms are frequently developed to identify the latest buzz words for initiatives in which educational institutions are engaged. As a result, it might be helpful to accompany discussions about trends in education with explanations of the acronyms currently in vogue. ACE, RACE, TLKES and STEM have emerged over the past few years to describe the most recent initiatives and programs. A brief discussion of Nassau County’s objectives and efforts to strengthen our STEM (Science, Technology, and Engineering and Math) programs may help “demystify” the STEM acronym.
Children are naturally curious with an innate desire to become independent. Certainly parents can remember their toddler’s early and frequent assertion that “me do it myself!” As early learners, our children were continually engaged in a “trial and error” lifestyle, they did not learn to walk without falling, but those frequent tumbles did not prevent them from trying yet again. Effective educators recognize that learning isn’t just about remembering the right answer; learning occurs when students analyze their mistakes and correct their errors.
The STEM initiative narrows the focus of academic learning in the identified areas to increase student engagement, interest and success. STEM programs actively engage students in the learning process. Students conducting a laboratory experiment that simulates a scientific process will acquire a deeper understanding of the principles involved than will students whose only exposure consists of reading about an experiment conducted by someone else. The excitement that accompanies a student’s personal “discovery” is what makes learning relevant, and – believe it or not – “fun!”
In the Nassau County School District opportunities for STEM learning continue to increase. While our schools offer a variety of STEM projects and programs, a recent example took place this summer. A STEM camp at West Nassau High School introduced students to the science of robotics, enhanced computer programming skills and promoted friendly competition amongst the participants. As Nassau County continues to promote STEM for all ages, we look forward to our initial involvement in the FIRST Lego League and continue to research opportunities to expand sustainable and systemic opportunities for students throughout our district.
Recently, the Nassau County School District partnered with Clay County School District and the University of Florida College of Education and Liberal Sciences to write a grant totaling $475,000. This grant project is designed to: provide support and training for teachers, actively engage students with scientific phenomena, inspire students to include claims, evidence, and reasoning in science conversations, and intentionally deepen student understanding of core science concepts and engage in science and engineering practices.
STEM alone is not enough. STEM skills must be supported in equal parts by a continued emphasis on communications skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) to ensure that students are college and career ready upon graduation. A balanced and effective curriculum for all students at all grade levels must provide our youth with the ability to compete effectively with their peers throughout the nation and the world.
It is critical that we continue to explore and create STEM opportunities for our students. It is equally important that we identify collaborative partnerships to ensure SUCCESS for all students throughout Nassau County.
As a matter of interest the Friends of Fernandina Aviation group has been invited into all four Nassau County middle schools for the last two years where we delivered over 45 interactive and informative classroom presentations to students. Our program, STEM in the Classroom through Aviation, lasts about 45 minutes and is geared primarily toward 6th grade students. We begin with a brief introduction of the presenters and their qualifications and aviation career experiences. This is followed by an explanation of the historical development of aviation and how it affects us in our everyday lives. Next, our speakers talk about basic aerodynamics, showing students how airplanes fly while using simple interactive demonstrations based upon mathematics, physics and scientific principles.
Students learn about the tools that a pilot uses to plan a flight and set a course, and then navigate the aircraft from the point of departure to the destination. They also learn about a pilot’s requirement to interpret aviation weather and the aviation community’s method of communications which is aimed at keeping aviation safe for everyone. Interspersed at various points in the presentation are references to specific aviation-related careers. Students are encouraged to participate and ask questions of the presenters who are more than willing to share their own personal career paths and experiences.