Good evening! I'm Heidi. Teacher of the Deaf from KY. Tonight I'm honored to introduce our guest host @NRSCenter who'll lead our #DeafEd discussion about STEM Instruction in the Deaf Ed Classroom
Harry Wood from the NTID Regional STEM Center, coming to you from Alabama. I'm a STEM trainer, specializing in science and robotics. Looking forward to a great hour! #DeafEd
A1- STEM is an interdisciplinary approach to instruction. STEM is not another subject in isolation. It permeates all subjects and connects them simultaneously. #DeafEd
A1: “#STEM is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that removes the traditional barriers separating the 4 disciplines of S.T.E.M. & integrates them into real-world, rigorous, & relevant learning experiences for SS.” STEM Lesson Essentials #deafed#rmtcdhh
A1 I think STEM is a way of instruction that goes beyond science, math, etc classes but is a culture of encouraging students to develop meaningful questions and then teach the skills needed to help them solve answer those questions #deafed
Only 30 more minutes until the start of the next #DeafEd chat. Are you ready for some learning and sharing? Get ready to talk STEM with @NRSCenter at 7:30pmET/4:30pmPT
A2: Teachers think it is time, but #STEM instruction can actually save time. It can be multisensory so that students truly understand the concepts. #deafed#rmtcdhh
A2- Misconceptions, lack of knowledge/training, Ts feel like need to know everything before starting STEM. Can learn with Ss at the same time. “Buy-in” is a real challenge too - all admin, teachers, support staff, and parents need to be on board. #DeafEd
Q2: I would say a barrier for #DeafEd teachers is focusing so much on teaching reading, writing, and language, that they can't figure out how to also incorporate STEM properly. More education needed.
Q2: I think it's difficult to change from they way we were taught to the way that STEM instruction requires. There are also a lot of things that we simply don't know how to do. Our awesome "Internet of Things" teacher is learning a lot of the stuff along with students #deafed
Awesome. Ts learning along with Ss is a GOOD thing! Many Ts don't want to be vulnerable in that way. Ss like it when you can be real with them. #DeafEd
A2: Also, STEM PD, resources and such that schools/districts provide is all hearing student focused. Then we all have to figure out how to make it deaf-brain friendly. #DeafEd
Q3 - (A) What are some activities teachers often use in the classroom that result in passive learning? (B) How could teachers redesign such activities to promote active learning? #DeafEd
Q2 again: I also think the focus on standardized testing and assessments can get in the way of having a STEM mindset as teachers feel they need to be more focused on teaching the skills required to pass a test or increase a score than letting students problem solve #deafed
A3: I loathe sit and get. Teacher instructs. Students take notes, do a worksheet and take a quiz. STEM must be all about posing a question, maybe a mini lesson, providing resources, and facilitating students researching and learning. #DeafEd
A2: STEM is an investment that requires a growth mindset (both Ss & Ts), prep work for teachers at the onset, and trust in letting students take the lead #DeafEd
A3: (A) Teachers talk too much and lead the learning. (B) Allow the students to take the lead with Project Based Learning. Teachers should be the coaches. #deafed#rmtcdhh
A3 (B) - Pose challenges instead of questions. Give criteria/constraints and set Ss loose. Activities that require critical thinking and problem solving skills. Encourage “out of the box” thinking - this can be enough to be what it takes to solve a problem. #DeafEd
A3: I agree with what's already been said! I think also what used to pass as "real life application" no longer is sufficient. Finding genuine situations where the information is actually applicable to our students life is key #deafed
Q2: Proper STEM education blends not only the elements of STEM, but also reading and writing. When done well, it is hard to tease out the pieces. Thanks for inviting me. I am speaking tonight, so my tweets will be intermittent. #DeafEd
I think it takes time, talent, and finesse to get to that level of STEM instruction. I am so glad that you are able to chime in, even if it is intermittent! #DeafEd
A4 - Same as A3B - provide a REAL problem that students can relate to. Ownership increases learning. Lessons should allow multiple creative approaches and solutions. #DeafEd
Productive struggle is something I foster with my students. I use the term with them all the time, especially with my students who have been given too much help from teachers in the past. Students can only grow when you give them the space and time to do so #DeafEd
A4: #DeafEd teachers often get stuck in the lower levels of Bloom's questioning due to low expectations. Critical thinking only happens when we go higher in Bloom's & push student's thinking. Set high expectations & students will achieve, even if their language is still delayed
A4: patience...it's hard to see Ss struggle but they are not going to get better if we are quick to give the answers. Teach students he to ask questions. Learned helplessness is hard to overcome #deafed
A4: I think this is the most important but most difficult question. Many of our Deaf Ss come to us with little problem solving skills because of lack of language at home, so at school we need to foster thinking in a variety of situations... #deafed
A3: Keep lectures at a minimum and get to the “doing” part of the lesson. Hit those higher level skills on the Bloom’s Taxonomy- analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Have an inquiry-based learning environment that promotes problem-solving and critical thinking tasks. #DeafEd
A2: Finding highly qualified instructors who can teach the content (STEM) as well as understanding how to meet the unique needs of children who are D/deaf and hard of hearing including being fluent in their preferred language and communication mode...that is a challenge. #DeafEd
Start with a phenomena or problem to solve and allow it to drive instruction over the course of several days or even the full unit. Keeps Ss interested and focused on USING knowledge. #DeafEd
I agree Heidi. It’s a change of mindset. I think many of our young DHH teachers are better at understanding and doing this than some@that have been in the business for a long time
A5 - I love the Engineering Design Process. It’s how an engineering mind works towards solving problems. A quick search will find many resources! #DeafEd
Agree with this, especially having students explain their thinking and encouraging the use of math language. Not only higher levels of thinking but also helping to develop their language and expose their peers to language.
A4. I agree with @rmtc_wilmot. As teachers we don’t want to see kids fail. It’s a paradigm shift to understand that failure is what we learn from. But even in society today it’s not ok for kids to fail. #DeafEd
I've been reading @spencerideas blog who applies design thinking to ELAR and other content areas. Would love to see more classrooms that use #designthinking#deafed
Incorporating STEM with ELA reminds me of how I would design units when I had an elementary self-contained classroom. One overriding theme the weaved throughout all content. If I had a self-contained class now, it would be a lot more inquiry based included #DeafEd
I need to check this out. I recently got approval to create an academic enrichment/independent study for 1 of my MS Deaf students who is also gifted. He and I will co-design the class. Tons of design thinking and 9 weeks of Genius Hour. Can't wait! #DeafEd
In reply to
@tcsamaripa, @NRSCenter, @spencerideas
A5: Students tend to be more motivated to learn when they see the relevance of the lesson to their current lives- making the content meaningful is a strategy in and of itself, especially in #DeafEd
This makes me think of how compartmentalized MS/HS is with the time slots and separate content. It leads Ts and Ss to think math doesn't belong in ELA or vice versa ("I'm not a reading/writing teacher!"). #deafed
Yes, thematic units. That was eons ago. If I had a class now, it would be much more engaging and at a deeper level, but still themes weaved throughout. #DeafEd
I think we called it thematic units, right? Which incorporated all subjects under one theme. But STEM to me is deeper learning and more student engagement
A6 - Get buy in - it’s hard to do it if you’re the only one applying it. The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” especially rings true here. #DeafEd
Yes! Definitely love #mathtalks, but also just in general I've stopped telling students if they're right or wrong and asking them to explain to me why they think they're right. Also, many of our students will just say "IDK" or "help!" Which parts do you understand?
This is another challenging. Schools need to build in time for teachers to collaborate more than once a month. But often planning time takes teachers out of the classroom or spending time after school. #deafed
A6: Share stories of individuals who are d/Deaf, HH, and DB who have successful careers or hobbies in the areas of STEM. Positive adult role models are so much needed in #DeafEd.
So lucky in our district -STEM is a priority! All schools and teachers are growing in STEM education. Check out #jcpsbackpack All students must create a digital backpack with evidence of STEM based learning and they have to defend their backpack in 5th,8th & 12th grade. #deafEd
There was research done that looked at the amount of time teachers in U.S. spend teaching & time for planning vs those in countries with better ed systems. Have you seen it? Horrifying!
KipHottman could you share the link please? #DeafEd
We had our first school wide "STEM days" earlier this year. I think it helped other teachers see how STEM activities can be applied to their classroom #deafed
There was research done that looked at the amount of time teachers in U.S. spend teaching & time for planning vs those in countries with better ed systems. Have you seen it? Horrifying!
@KipHottman could you share the link please? #DeafEd
A7 again: we are also going to have the opportunity for anyone interested to visit STEM certified schools in our area.. looking forward to that! #deafed
@Sarah_albuzaid We are having a great chat about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) instruction for deaf students. I hope you find some great answers to translate into Arabic for your colleagues! #DeafEd
Q7 - How might the integration of STEM help remove barriers to learning despite intellectual, cultural, SES, language, racial and/or any other backgrounds? #DeafEd
I saw something about that and I think we try to stuff so many classes for students to fill up their time but it also fills up Teacher time. In TX we now have required instructional MINUTES not days. #deafed
We had our first school wide "STEM days" earlier this year. I think it helped other teachers see how STEM activities can be applied to their classroom #deafed
