In a time when crowded classrooms, diminishing funding, and testing mandates seem to stack the deck against teacher innovation, MIT has stepped in with BLOSSOMS (a cheerful acronym for Blended Learning Science or Math Studies) video lessons to breathe new life into science teaching. With a video library of more than 50 lessons — all of them freely available to teachers — BLOSSOMS brings the presence of a “guest lecturer” into the classroom to supplement the classroom teacher’s lesson. The 50-minute video modules aim to enhance, rather than replace, teaching, putting the teacher in the role of guide. Topics in the Blossoms Video Library include “Using DNA to Identify People,” “Can Earthquakes Be Predicted?” and “Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship.” The library is searchable by content unit (by grade and subject), and by education standards. Learn more about BLOSSOMS here.
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MIT STEM Workshop Demos Free Math and Science Curriculum
Redefining how we teach: MIT BLOSSOMS program shows students how math and science pertain to daily life
Schools from around the country are finding creative, dynamic way to approach STEM education. Intel chose 18 models of innovation and excellence as winners of its “Schools of Distinction” awards competition.
A webinar by teacher Jill Hammonds provides strategies for “deliberate acts of teaching” that help challenge students to develop the ability to think things through.
Many students do not develop a strong conceptual sense of density, despite being able to perform density calculations. Active and cooperative learning can help bring the concept to life.
A chemistry and biology teacher gives a snapshot of what her inquiry-based classrooms look like as a new school year gets rolling.
In this science project, you will design and create a fishing video game that teaches the player about which fish are plentiful enough to catch and which fish are not because their population is declining. Give it a whirl!
Vernier Software Technology and the National Science Teachers Association will award up to seven prizes to innovative K-12 teachers engaged in hands-on, inquiry-based learning.
Does American education increasingly convey knowledge without thought? What would Confucius say?
Jeffrey Wilhelm, Associate Professor of English Education at Boise State University, on inquiry-based learning. To learn more, visit http://www.scholastic.co…