EDUC 7771 Exploring STEM Education

The goal of this course is to provide candidates with a broad foundation in STEM education, the STEM student, and the STEM learning environment. Candidates will be immersed in exemplary STEM learning environments, through case studies and in-person participation, to collect and analyze data in an effort to synthesize finding toward development of a STEM mindset. Candidates will understand and describe STEM education as interdisciplinary, collaborative, and a process driven endeavor; create an annotated bibliography on STEM education including economics and careers in STEM, community and global perspective, and technology applications. Field-based experiences will also include job shadowing with STEM businesses or scientists. Each candidate will also complete a personal content knowledge assessment and development plan.

Credits

3

Student Learning Outcomes

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION OUTCOMES (See School of Education Syllabus A – IV)

COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon successful completion of this course, the candidate will be able to:

1. Candidates will be able to articulate a clear definition and understanding of what STEM education is and what it looks like in practice as both interdisciplinary and process driven.
2. Candidates will demonstrate knowledge of the benefits of STEM education for all citizens enabling them to make informed decisions about challenges facing the next generation, for future STEM workforce development and related career opportunities and the skills necessary to be successful in them.
3. Candidates will demonstrate the ability to think critically, evaluate complex data, draw evidence-based conclusions, engage in effective argumentation and communicate effectively in written format (formative).
4. Candidates will demonstrate the dispositions necessary to be effective interdisciplinary STEM educators (i.e., life-long learning, value collaborations, flexible, high tolerance for ambiguity, risk taker, innovative, committed to the profession, self-reflective perseverance) (formative).
5. Candidates will show evidence of an interaction with a STEM related business or externships with STEM professionals to gain perspective of what it is to work in a STEM or STEM related field.
6. Candidates will show evidence of field-based experiences that include observation of classrooms, collaborative planning and interview of teachers in an integrated STEM education environment that is evidenced by reflective documentation (continues in Course II).