Creating a STEMS^2 Curricular Unit (#5)

What is a STEMS^2 Unit, what does it look like, how does it engage the students, what will the outcomes be, and why is all this important?

Questions, questions, questions...

Here's my breakdown...

1.  Start with the ends in mind.  What do I want my students to experience through this unit?  How can this experience fundamentally change them for the better?  How do these experiences support their academic, social, personal, and cultural growth?

A good STEMS^2 unit has several predetermined ends in mind.  Even though careful thought and planning go into determining these ends, one should not assume these will be the only ends or the most meaningful for each student.  I also believe a good curricular unit allows for adaptation, evolution, and adjustments based on student input and feedback.

2.  Create a holistic experience. How can this unit combine and interconnect ideas, materials, and people with meaning and purpose?  How will this unit develop further exploration and expansion in the individuals involved?  How will this experience support and respect those involved and inspire others to become involved?

 An effective STEMS^2 unit weaves and melds together multiple academic concepts with cultural experiences.  It connects individuals with themselves while supporting a group dynamic.  This unit should blend multiple learning spaces, materials, people, and resources.  While the concepts can be content-specific, the overarching connections should be evident and planned.  Integration and collaboration are keys when developing and experiencing STEMS^2.  These integrated experiences and collaborative efforts don't need to be specific to any one area (academics, social interactions, cultural components, ethics, civics, etc.).  

3.  A'o is a foundation.  How will this unit allow for every individual involved to teach and learn?  Why is this belief vital to supporting a STEMS^2 unit?

One of the tenants of our STEMS experiences has been our personal involvement in teaching each other.  This crucial concept lends itself to any meaningful, group-oriented, perspective-changing learning experience for students of any age.  I feel this has been a concept I have stressed to my students (K-2) since day one of this year.  It is a term I often refer to, remind them of, and challenge them to live up to in each class.

4.  Respect our Hawaiian (host) culture and all other cultures present.  How can we demonstrate respect to the Hawaiian culture through our actions and words?  How do we integrate any culture into our learning experiences with respect and dignity?    

A STEMS^2 unit strives to share and celebrate the many positive aspects of the Hawaiian culture through meaningful actions and thought-out words.  I will never be, nor do I want to be a Hawaiian.  I most certainly want to continue my learning and evolution in how to respect and share in Hawaiian cultural experiences.  I want to share my understandings and continue asking people of the Hawaiian culture how I can best spread the aloha (in the truest meaning of the word).  I want to provide spaces and places within my curriculum so any culture can be celebrated, learned, and respected.  I want to celebrate difference while recognizing similarities across all cultures.

5.  A STEMS^2 unit is based in sound academic practices, research-based strategies, and uses meaningful data to drive the instructional adjustments.  How can I use meaningful data (observational notes, student feedback, etc.) to drive and adjust my instruction to support greater meaning through this unit?  Why are best practices vital to the student experience?

Teaching is not just a "throw it on the wall and see what sticks" venture.  Teaching is an art, a craft which needs continuous monitoring and adjustment.  Teachers need to KNOW how important the power of change is if it is based in meaningful and effective reasoning.  Change for the sake of change can be fruitless.  Change because we know there is a better way can bear a lifetime of fruit.  Evolving and adapting should be required in a profession of ever-evolving and adaptable students who live in a constantly-evolving environment.

Through these 5 elements, there are many more components and ideas.  Through everything we do in STEMS, there is Love.  There is Compassion.  There is the Individual and the Collective.

Mahalo!