It has been months in the planning and regardless of every attempt to stay within the time constraints, STEM teaching and learning so big and amazing, it's hard to cover every thing in 90 minutes. Dr. Roehrig, Dr. Brown, Dr. Paulsen, Ms Weiselmann and myself shared our perspectives, interests, findings and models that each of us have explored in the world of STEM teaching and learning.
The audience were polite and interested, even thought the room was full and the humidity was high. The presenter remote started to become slippery in my hand and I thought I was going to drop it while switching slides. Since Japan is just beginning to figure out how they envision STEM, the faculty of education were strategic to invite professors and researchers from the schools of technology, engineering, mathematics and sciences. This way faculty members form across the university could hear firsthand how our team from Minnesota were working hard to bring the ideas of collaboration and integration across content areas. My favorite moment came when an engineering professors shared with us his research into paper model "walking" animals that can be used to help teach engineering to elementary students. Dr. Matsunaga shared an origami horse that children can easily fold and then demonstrates that the design allows the paper horse to "walk" down a slope. The children can investigate the angles of the feet, the slope of the ramp and the friction of the materials that all influence the success or failure of the horse to walk down hill!
I Think Dr. Kumano's strategic invitations to our lecture has won over at least one engineering professor. The big challenge will be if science and math faculty will be able to collaborate to create STEM curriculum for Japanese K-12 teachers.
The audience were polite and interested, even thought the room was full and the humidity was high. The presenter remote started to become slippery in my hand and I thought I was going to drop it while switching slides. Since Japan is just beginning to figure out how they envision STEM, the faculty of education were strategic to invite professors and researchers from the schools of technology, engineering, mathematics and sciences. This way faculty members form across the university could hear firsthand how our team from Minnesota were working hard to bring the ideas of collaboration and integration across content areas. My favorite moment came when an engineering professors shared with us his research into paper model "walking" animals that can be used to help teach engineering to elementary students. Dr. Matsunaga shared an origami horse that children can easily fold and then demonstrates that the design allows the paper horse to "walk" down a slope. The children can investigate the angles of the feet, the slope of the ramp and the friction of the materials that all influence the success or failure of the horse to walk down hill!
I Think Dr. Kumano's strategic invitations to our lecture has won over at least one engineering professor. The big challenge will be if science and math faculty will be able to collaborate to create STEM curriculum for Japanese K-12 teachers.