The STEM Challenge Field Guide - PD and Resources

STEM Challenges are brain-busting work disguised as fun -- when you do them right! In this 6-hour professional development, you'll learn everything you need to know to confidently implement rigorous & standards-based STEM Challenges.

Plus, you'll get additional resources to use in your classroom!

You’ll get:

• Four STEM Challenge Towers resources:
  • Card Towers (print & paperless versions)
  • Apples Aloft (print & paperless versions)
  • Snowman Stretch (print & paperless versions)
  • Valentine's Day Towers of Love (print & paperless versions)
  • STEM Ideals Character Education Posters and Resources
    

• Printable Course Guide, with facilitator dos & don’ts and sample questions to facilitate discussions (See video preview above)
  
• Universal STEM Challenge Templates for lesson planning, student reflection, and rubrics (all editable)
  
• A certificate for 6 hours of professional development. You’ll need to check with your district to see if they will accept these hours. 
  • 1 hour: Secrets to Successful STEM Challenges Webinar
  • 3 hours: Additional instructional video content (described below)
  • 2 hours: Independent work/assignments

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Inside the course, you'll learn:

• What to do – and not to do -- at every step of the STEM Challenge cycle including:
  • How to plan rigorous, cross-curricular STEM Challenges for any age group
  • Exactly what to ask during and after the build phase to develop your students’ scientific reasoning and analysis
  • How to select appropriate assessments that enhance, rather than undermine, your goals and objectives.
  • How to extend your challenges within and beyond the 4 strands of STEM
  • How to avoid common mistakes that derail the benefits of STEM Challenges

• You’ll get practical tips for:
  • Materials selection, organization, and distribution
  • How to break up a STEM Challenge over several shorter class periods
  • Different ways to approach multiple iterations

• Troubleshooting for:
  • Epic fail
  • Look-alike designs
  • How to handle student disagreements over copying design & choosing ideas
  • Dealing with skeptical principals

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PD Credits & Clock Hours

• Washington State STEM Clock Hours
  • This course is eligible for 6 STEM Clock Hours in WA state. Course must be completed by Sept. 15, 2022.
    
• Texas CPE Clock Hours
  • This course is eligible for 6 CPE Clock Hours in TX. (No deadline.)
• An instant certificate for 6 PD hours is provided for all course participants outside of WA and TX.

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Still Have Questions?

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