Since my last posting I have had a burst of steam ...
a burst to get me moving to finish up lots of things that will lead me to success.
The unexpected (or maybe UNWANTED) snow storm on St. Patrick's day led to a day off from school. Of course, I had chosen not to listen to the weather forecast, so I did not bring home school work to complete in case of a day off. So much time to use... What should I do?
I chose to use the time to complete Chapter 5, the final chapter of my Capstone project. Amy promised I would enjoy writing the chapter. I will not go as far as to say I "enjoyed" the writing, but having the opportunity to use an unexpected day off for the completion of the paper certainly took some of the stress off me. After submitting the paper, I now just have some tweeking of the abstract and some editing of my favorite - APA style.
One of the best parts of getting this project done was that I could use it as an example for my FCCLA students who spent last weekend scrambling to get their projects completed for the Spring Leadership Conference. I don't know how they did it, but all projects were completed, made it to conference and they were presented in professional manner. Our students did well, with five students qualifying for National Competition this summer in San Antonio. I am so proud of them, and I know that I will be able to help them edit and tweek their projects for national competition.
They Powered Up with FCCLA so they can SOAR to nationals!
This long drawn out winter has certainly taken its toll of me mentally and physically. Trying to keep focused on school and family has been tough; but with enough tea and steam I am getting through it all.
One of the great issues during the winter is the lack of Vitamin D
- not enough sunshine to keep us up to speed.
So when the sun shines - get outside and enjoy!
I sure did enjoy the past weekend, but as I write this can you believe they are saying more snow...
Give me some tea; steaming with some Lemon Balm or Lemon Grass - sure to keep my spirits up!
If you are looking for some great holistic remedies to help fight this seasonal depression that seems to affect so many of us, check out this blog.
So my FACS to STEAM research and paper are coming along.
I have added additional tabs to my GoogleSite for Skills for Life. By consolidating my curriculum I am beginning to feel quite accomplished... Now does anybody have any hints for getting students to view and practice?
I am pulling together all the data for the two marking periods of students who have done pre and post assessments concerning STEAM education and Family & Consumer Science. I can definitely see how students perceive the class; but it is not so clear that a 48 day class is enough time for students to make the connection as to the relationship of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics within Family & Consumer Science. I think there may need to be some studies that take a longer range course, and maybe follow some of these students as they take more FACS courses through High School.
Another issue might be: We silo other subjects, with the connections not very clear, that when we do connect the content there is resistance. It may be perceived as forced connections. Is this why so many times I hear; "But this isn't math class? Why are we experimenting? But this is cooking, not Science?"
So much to ponder...
I think I will get some STEAMING Tea, put my feet up and...
Since this past weekend ended the Lunar New Year, I celebrated with Chinese.
Steaming is a centuries old method of cooking, that integrates water and heat to cook food to perfection. The use of bamboo to create a steamer is an ingenious way to utilize the plentiful natural resource of bamboo. Ask anyone who has planted a stand of bamboo how quickly it grows and takes over. Technology that still works perfectly today!
How does this possibly relate to my capstone project?
This week I worked diligently to pull the intervention elements of my curriculum into one easy to navigate site. I choose using a Google site as we are becoming a very Google centric school; offering an easy way for my class to share the information. There will be a link to this site on my teacher webpage.
The basics; like the method of cooking demonstrated above, are focused on the elements of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) within the field of Family & Consumer Science. Using some very basic tools, I feel that I can introduce the students to the connection their core subjects have to life. The basic site offers the opportunity to add more content; as it becomes more relevant to the curriculum and the needs of the students.
A benefit of this site; it is very much like the steamer, it can be multi-layered, offering lots of product in one very easy to handle container. As I completed the site, I immediately thought of additional tabs and pages that could be added, increasing the amount of material available to the students.
I must say, I have managed to get out of my fog of the previous week, and am moving forward towards a delicious end product.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Power
I feel quite empowered today... it could be from my singular focus on STEAM and its relationship to everything that I teach.
Today I had the honor of being present at the Board of Director's meeting for Tinius Olsen Testing Machines: my family's business that has been STEAMING along since 1880. A business that has helped shape the consumer manufacturing business in all areas of life; from the strength of concrete, the strength of re-bar, to how thin plastics can get; we even make a machine to test the strength of a stuffed animal's eye? As I participated in the meeting I could not help but note that when I am teaching life skills to my 8th grade class I am helping them learn how to make life choices that have been simultaneously affected by some great engineering ideas that came out of our companies products. So much more is available to them to make wise decisions with than when G-GPop Olsen began the business. The connection to FCS is Strong! Wonder if we can manufacture a machine to test that strength!
Now back to the research paper - I was inspired during the meeting to finish up the few points - formatting the table of contents and writing the abstract. Having the opportunity to share my paper with my cousins, getting their feedback and support, gave me the push I needed to write what I thought would be difficult - an abstract that was concise. It's great to have family support! To paraphrase my cuz - The boardroom table seems to have become the new dining room table - a place of support! The day certainly helped confirm to me the importance a family has on the development of productive citizens, and why Family & Consumer Science continues to be viable in our educational environment. It certainly did not hurt when my cousins overwhelmingly supported my supposition of the connection of FACS to STEM... this is a STEM business, looking at all times for a workforce that can think creatively to solve the problems of tomorrow.
Spent about two hours working on the two. I feel so much more comfortable with the aspects of Word that I was not familiar with. Practice certainly helps as I worked to get it together during the week. Thanks to Karl for helping me with changing the Header, and Carolyn for the pointers on Word..
Revisions may be needed, but I am sure I will manage those.
As we come towards the end of this semester I feel I can finally start checking off all the commitments that I have made.
NJEA presentations - check
FCCLA Fall leadership competition - check
Pre-assessments - check
Post-assessment - 1 down, 2 to go
Writing the paper - almost a check
This week I spent two hours writing my methods and procedures with minimal revisions. I also spent two hours writing my reflection of the needs assessment. I am feeling comfortable with my subject.
All that is left now is to:
1. Finish the Literature review - goal is to have it done prior to Turkey day!
2. Begin Cover page and table of contents. This should be a challenge, isn't this why we hire editors?
I continue to advocate for FCS as a piece of STEM/STEAM education. By taking an administrator to the FCCLA Fall Conference I was able to show her what FCS really encompasses. Her eyes were opened and I think that there can only be positive results, time will tell.
The success the students experienced as they brought home gold medals from competition gives me joy and thanks!
Change takes time, but STEAM, like water can change the geography of our environment.
As I think about moving Full STEAM ahead I am immediately drawn to ships. This may be due to reading my Great-Great Grandmothers' letters from ships while she traveled from the US to Europe, or is it because my cousin is currently volunteering on crew with the world's largest floating book fair currently docked in the UAE.
This led me to the "Ship the Changed the World" the SS Great Britain - the ship that is considered the first great Ocean Liner. Steam power bringing people from one side of the world to the other, making our world a little bit smaller, with just a little less risk, in a little less time. Enjoy a view into the world of getting ready to sail under "Steam Power".
STEAM has been powering the world since the 1800's - harnessing it into the world of Family & Consumer Science has been my goal with this research project. I think of how life has evolved for all us as technology has changed our lives in so many ways using science, engineering, art (design) and mathematics. Without the integration of all of these disciplines, our possibilities of travel, communication, relaxation, creation and economy would be limited. We can learn so much through the study of the integration of these disciplines. Even now, I learn about a ship I had heard of only fleetingly - and I can even play a game -
Where else can I learn how to build a ship? I hope it floats!
RESEARCH PROJECT
This past week was spent with little writing, but lots of ideas and implementation. Last week was a week off of teaching as I attending the NJEA Teacher Convention in Atlantic City. I had the opportunity to present 3 workshops; two in High Tech Hall and the third in a PD classroom. I enjoyed presenting a workshop -
To Market, To Market - a project based learning workshop focused on the creative energy and methods offered through Synectics. Having teachers help students develop their creative skills while "thinking outside the box" is a start towards the entrepreneurial mindset that current Fortune 500 CEO's are looking for.
I continue to work on revising my Literature Review - as I continue to reach out to other FCS professionals, I am coming in contact with others that are also trying to link CTE, FCS to the STEM and STEAM initiatives. Others seem to be focusing on the relationship the teachers have with integrating and incorporating STEM/STEAM initiatives. I seem to be a lone soul looking at it from the students learning.
Before leaving for break I had the opportunity to administer the first post-assessment - FACS to STEAM with my first group of students. I have not yet pulled the analysis, but that should be completed shortly. As I returned to school this week, I have administered the Pre-Assessment for the second marking period students. I continue to gather data, which is being collated and evaluated.
I have spent approximately 4 hours writing the Methods and Procedures. I am concerned that I do not have multiple assessments, but due to the short time period I have with the students, I am concerned that I will be too focused on gathering information while not having ample time for instructional intervention.
So like my ship building experience in the game, I am sure I will be able to build a "ship" (project) that floats.
