Will... to complete

“There is a force more powerful than steam and electricity: the will.” 

― Fernán Caballero

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!

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STEAMED and Delicious!

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.

Full STEAM ahead...

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 -

FULL STEAM AHEAD

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.