Teacher Training By Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski

Just back from Texas where I conducted STEM training for elementary teachers at Town Center Elementary. We began the workshop with discussing methods to develop and strengthen critical thinking skills in students. During the full-day science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teacher training workshop teachers were introduced to a wide-array of STEM content and concepts via hands-on-minds-on inquiry-based investigations. Teachers explored: Super absorbing polymers, biomimicry, structure and function, engineering design process, and using toys to explore force, motion, energy concepts. Additionally, teachers were introduced to a wide-array of children’s literature that make connections to STEM concepts. Teachers recorded their notes, drawings, and designs in their professional learning journals. I was really impressed with Town Center Elementary administrators and teachers. It was apparent from the moment I entered the school that the administrators and teachers strive to provide the very best educational experience for every Town Center Elementary student. The school is actively engaged in integrating STEM throughout all grade levels and subject areas including physical education and the arts. Lastly, I was really impressed with the use of professional learning journals by the teachers. Each teacher has a professional learning journal (composition notebook) that they bring to each professional staff development training they attend. Teachers record their notes, etc.. in the journals. This is kept throughout the school year for teachers to use a reference, review etc…During all my teacher training workshops I encourage teachers to record their notes in journals versus bringing loose sheets of paper to record their notes etc… only to be lost or misplaced over time. Kudos to Town Center Elementary and Coppell Independent School District Science Resource specialist for promoting the use of professional learning journals by their teachers.

No matter what hands-on-minds-on inquiry-based teacher training workshop I’m conducting. A fundamental component of the teacher training is introducing teachers to investigations that help the student develop observational skills, as well as developing critical thinking skills. Developing observational skills and critical thinking skills is essential in all science classes. I find that in my STEM teacher training workshops the need for heightened observational skills and critical thinking skills is crucial for the student to fully comprehend STEM education concepts. Recently, I conducted a 3-day STEM teacher training institute for an elementary school that is in its first year of becoming a STEM school. Throughout the 3 days teachers were actively engaged in exploring STEM concepts through hands-on-minds-on inquiry-based investigations. Many of the teachers shared with me that they had never looked at nature and the world the way they learned to during the training. As teachers we often get caught up in the daily rut of covering mass amounts of information within short periods of time that becomes disjointed with little meaning to the student. The first priority in any classroom is to teach observational skills and help the student develop critical thinking skills. But first, teachers may need to take the time to look closely at nature themselves. The following slideshare below is from a recent Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teacher training workshop I conducted.