Part of my teaching philosophy is making learning relevant for my students. I came across an article about an interesting specialized STEM high school in the United States. MC2 STEM High School has quickly turned standards around for the district, exceeding state standards in each subject and increasing graduation rates (
Vega, V. (2012). Research-based practices for engaging students in STEM learning. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/stw-college-career-stem-research
as seen below ). This school is also inclusive, instead of selecting students on a competitive basis; they accept students based on a lottery. MC2 STEM also believes that STEM talent is something that can be learned and developed rather than being innate. This school is practicing interdisciplinary project-based learning with real-world applications. “Project-based learning (PBL) has been shown to improve students' understanding of science, as well as their problem-solving and collaboration skills, to a greater extent than traditional methods” (Vega, 2012). By integrating subjects, students are able to further their understanding of both subject manner such as reading comprehension and writing in science. Their projects are completed both inside and outside of the school environment and are made relevant by mirroring tasks and skills necessary in their lives and qualities needed to succeed in the workforce. One project the students complete is the Bridges capstone where “students learn about the mathematical and engineering concepts necessary to construct bridges, as well as the symbolic meaning of bridges in literature, history, and social studies” (Vega, 2012). MC2 STEM holds high standards for their students, challenging them in their learning but they do so in a way that is achievable through support and frequent feedback. Students also receive credit for internships, community service and are frequently working with STEM professionals such as NASA employees and GE employees. Dropout prevention literature states the importants of making learning relevant to students’ lives, making learning engaging and challenging, and providing opportunities for real-world learning such as internships (as cited, Vega, 2012). This article provided some unique perspectives and insights I hope to be able to implement in my own classroom.
Vega, V. (2012). Research-based practices for engaging students in STEM learning. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/stw-college-career-stem-research