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 week was an interesting one. I realized on Friday morning that I was a week ahead of myself, but never really completed my submission of the intervention. Thanks Julie for being there for my one and only melt down this semester! I think the stress of the project, getting to know new students, and having a husband at home recuperating from surgery pushed me to the point where STEAM was literally coming out my ears. My goal to work entirely on the Capstone project for the weekend was derailed again when daughter #2 appeared on my door step with dog and suitcase in hand. Time for family!
I have completed my intervention, in fact I've been using it for the first two marking periods, and continue to use it this marking period. When I look at the intervention, I realize that the tweeking I did to the curriculum has made the course more manageable for both my students and myself. I am pleased with the Google site and the students this marking period seem pleased to have a place to go for additional help with their projects. I can say that so far (2 days into the toy project) that the creativity and enthusiasm for creating is very high. During class they are going to the site and reviewing videos as needed; which is freeing up time for the entire class to move at their own pace, without being burdened by in class demonstrations that they do not need. The test will be if they have gone onto the site during the snow day. Lots of projects went home over the weekend so Tuesday will be telling.
I think having this extra day to shovel snow and reflect on the journey I am taking is helping get me back on track. So I will STEAM ahead, work on the numbers and get to my destination on time!
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.
As I was driving to school one morning last fall I had to stop and photograph the moon with the early morning fog. I remembered this sight as I feel I am in a fog with the end of this capstone project. Although the fog seemed to overwhelm me this past weekend, there is the glimmer of clearing in a light blue sky.
I will try to remember this as I gather all of the tools that I am using as intervention in the teaching of Family & Consumer Science from the perspective of STEAM.
Last week saw me try to organize the variety of projects that my students have experienced this school year. The biggest frustration came as I committed such a rookie mistake as not SAVING the document after spending hours organizing as well as attaching documents incorrectly. I guess I really took too much down time during the break! The silver lining is that after re-writing, I can claim a better understanding of what I am really accomplishing in my classroom. The next goal is to finish creating the Google Site for a depository of the project assignments, tutorials, videos and informational text that can easily be accessed by my students.
I must say I was slightly depressed after the end of this past marking period. It seemed so disjointed with the holidays and snow disturbances, that I am not sure if the students truly gained as much as they could. My goal is with my new group of students to focus on the positives, searching for the one or two students who truly find the connections of all things STEAM into the world of Family & Consumer Science.
On January 31 millions of people around the world will be celebrating the Lunar New Year - the year of the Horse. Since my new year on January 1 started out like a blur, I think I will take a "do over" and begin the new year this weekend.
My first start of the New Year began with a resolution to limit my "sarcasm" - needless to say it was a true, unmitigated failure! Maybe it lasted 24 hours! Sad, but True :(
So my new, New Years Resolution is to complete this Capstone project with a positive attitude, believing that my students truly get the intersections of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics within the curriculum of Family and Consumer Science.
It has been a difficult marking period, with many breaks in learning as snow days, half days and holidays have broken up any real flow. A few more days, and a formative evaluation will show me if my students truly grasped the concepts. I must say their sewing projects were well designed; most figured out the relationship of engineering, planning and the process. So tomorrow we begin the evaluation - I know they will show their understanding (this is not sarcasm!) Thursday we will create our New Years meal - Fried Rice; a blending of Asian - American Cuisine.
So speaking of Fried Rice - FCCLA is selling Seasoned Rice Packets to benefit Share Our Strength:No Child Hungry campaign. $5 donation and you to can make Fried Rice with my "famous" recipe. I deliver to my followers as Southern Regional and South Jersey.
This is a shameless plug! Happy New Year - The Year of the Horse!
Let the work begin... or at least continue.
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.
This week seems to be moving quickly without my full participation. It seems that since our week off for the convention I have been moving in one speed ... slow and somewhat stumped. The work just keeps on coming; marking period ends, grades need to be entered, DC trip needs to be chaperoned, and next thing you know it is FCCLA Fall Leadership Conference and Competition. So in the middle of coming back from DC completely congested and feeling very much sub-par I need to motivate 30 some students to complete a variety of competition projects. Banners, Lamps, Child Care Projects, Cupcakes and Display units and dresses are all needed to be completed and perfected.
It is exciting to see the enthusiasm these students have, and they don't seem too concerned that they will need to be at school by 6 AM on a Monday Morning. When I get frustrated I remind myself that this is why we do the job. Watching them work as teams to create within the guidelines given shows how they understand the concept of engineering. Tonight they gave me the list of resources needed to make the cupcake display - PVC pipe, Electric Drill, Duct Tape, L-brackets, foam board - They have the idea and the plan; hopefully it will work when it comes together! I have a huge smile on my face because I see the connection directly to my STEAM initiative within a FCS curriculum.
As for my project; I wish I was moving as quickly. The four hours of writing Chapter four seemed to go smoothly. I still get all confused with the APA guidelines and I am grateful for Amy's gentle nudging on the comments. I certainly hope I finally get it under control by the time the paper is completed. It really does not surprise me that I have difficulty with the guidelines - I never was one to follow the rules!
I am trying to wrap my head around the Methods and Procedure Plan (chapter 3). As I outline it I am concerned it is too large to be completed in a 45 day cycle. I need to focus on the use of technology and am going to be working hard to create methods of flipped learning experiences that will enable students to be hands-on in a project based environment. Hopefully my ideas can transfer onto paper. This may become the one time I need an extension.
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.
This week saw the paper coming together. After completing the Literature Review, I spent several hours working on the learner context and the Goals and Objectives. Just like in IDD, I seem to have a problem recognizing the differences of the goals and objectives. Hopefully after the re-write I have it down.
The result of the pre-assessment measured how students recognized the relationship between FCS and STEAM education. The assessment showed that students understood the relationship between FCS and mathematics, but that they had a harder time identifying how science and engineering related to FCS.
This week was certainly one steeped in coffee consumption. On top of all the elements of the paper coming together, the marking period ended, SGO post assessments were given and I needed to administer the first of the post assessments for the capstone project. Just keep the coffee coming, I can get through all this work.
As to the hours I have spent - I have lost track. So much of what I am doing for my capstone are related to the workshops I am presenting, I just keep working. I even seem to find new literature to review ... It seems that there is even a study that has linked to The process of creating crafts to the increase of patent awards. This study has just been published through the University of Michigan. A Young Picasso or Beethoven could be the next Edison. I am sure there is a way I can use this in my paper - it confirms what I have always believed.
Currently being brought before the House of Representatives is a bill that would add Art to STEM education for STEAM, There needs to be more signatures, so if you are so inclined, help those of us who really see the interdisciplinary links between STEM and the Arts get it focused in our educational goals. STEM to STEAM Petition
So now I think I need a cup of coffee... maybe I'll get a chance to relax with one this week as I put together my NJEA convention presentations.
Week six finds me quoting one of my favorite childrens' book over and over. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... I KNOW I CAN!
I had concerns Monday evening as I went to class. I had not completed the literature review, even though eleven pages were written. I seemed as though it just got longer and longer. I was concerned that there was too much being stated. Luckily Amy kept me calm, and after a few more hours (4) I had the paper competed and submitted, making it just before due time.
After completion I did take a day off from the project, I needed to regroup so I did so by creating - pulling out some knitting projects.
This week I worked on Learner/Context Analysis. This was so much easier for me to complete as I believe I do truly know my students. As I move forward analyzing the needs assessment, I will also be administering my post assessment for the first group of students as the marking period is ending. This cycle has moved so quickly. I am looking forward to seeing if my students truly will be able to make the connections to STEAM/STEM concepts in Family and Consumer Science.
RESEARCH: I have spent about 10 hours searching the library databases - particularly Education Research Complete for any research that pertains to Family & Consumer Science and its connection to STEM educational initiatives. The good news is there are a few articles written, but none seem to have research as to the level of student learning. I follow the leads that I can find. I have searched into each separate discipline of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the connections to FCS also. The good news is that most that is found is based upon the educational strategy of Project Based Learning. I have the articles, have scanned the articles, and now am in the process of organizing, editing, and analyzing them as to the needs of my paper. Writing will happen sometime... I hope.
Saturday Morning I spent on an American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences webinar concerning FCS and STEM - the relationship they have. The good news is the presenters are like minded with me, so they have opened up as a resource. They do not have the hard facts as to the student needs - so they were interested in the ideas I have. I have been linked with them on LinkedUP for awhile now, and hope to have a sounding board from my industry as the project comes along.
NEEDS ASSESSMENTS: I spent all day Sunday evaluating the results of the Needs Assessments my classes took the first week of school. Of course, I forgot to create separate surveys for each class - so the results sorted as a whole. After an hour of trying to configure results through GoogleForms, I decided to do it the old fashioned way. It took a day, but I got the results. The results did not surprise me at all.
Additional Research: Since I have become so fond of MOOC's, I found one I could not turn down through EdX - Science and Cooking by Harvard.
This one allows me to work at my own pace, doing what I want, when I want. How fun to learn scientific principles by Harvard professors. Should be interesting as I see how they translate the preparation of food.
This week was spent with quite a few hours at the laptop.
I needed to clean up my files so that I can be sure to submit things in a proper manner.
Research articles to review - sorted in a folder.
Submitted assignments - sorted in a folder.
Bookmarks - created!
Now that the files are organized I feel that I can proceed ... obviously with caution, as I don't want to get scalded!
My research this week focused on each of the disciplines that are represented by the acronym STE(A)M education. This consisted of approximately 6 hours of searching. Depending upon the association publication - there are a variety of methods which STE(A)M education can be implemented. Science and Math seem to be the driving force; as those elements become the language of implementation into the fields of Technology and Engineering. Arts become important as the Visual Literacy of the product becomes the driving force to the acceptance.
Much of the research is focused on teacher attitude and instructional strategies. I have yet to find collaborating evidence that "learning" has improved from student results.
I had the opportunity to Skype with my international learning partner from Down Under . Jay Deagan, a doctoral candidate in Home Economics education. She helped me identify some resources that could be helpful in my research, and spent quite a bit of time just brainstorming ways to get Home Ec (Australia) and FCS (US) into the view of the mainstream public. Her suggestion: Publish, Publish, Publish.
* Thanks Amy for pushing me to find the global connections as year or so ago!
I did come across the National Academies Press which has quite a few resources that can guide me on the way to the integration of STE(A)M disciplines into FCS. It was interesting that when I went to search on Friday evening that the site was not active due to the Gov't shut-down - just wondering... are there little people doing the search? Seems to be up and running this morning.
My Needs Assessments have been completed, and now I am compiling the results. From my observational checklist I found the AHA moment of the week.
As a student was deciding what to make in the way of a sewn toy - I had shown a video of lots of different completed projects, as well as some sewn items currently on sale through Etsy. He saw a plate of stuffed fruit models - he decided that he would make a watermelon slice. He had no pattern so he created one - using his observational
skills, he determined the basic shape (half circle) with a oval base. He realized by figuring the circumference of the circle he could determine the length of the oval that would become the rind of the watermelon. Currently a work in progress - but I was thrilled that he realized a reason to use those geometric equations he had to learn in math.
The Goal!
I continue my review of my chosen research article. After reading it through about 6 times, I am beginning to get the feel of the research and its usefulness for my paper and project. There is certainly quite a bit of reading to do - I really do need to find a way to stream line it as I believe I may be running out of that precious resource of time!
