Register here. TLC Credit: STEAM

Presenter(s): Kay Ramey, Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology, Darrell Currington, Makerspace Facilitator 

Description: This workshop track will engage students in hands-on learning with makerspace tools and technologies. The goal of the workshop is to increase students’ comfort with and understanding of STEAM (science, technology tools, technologies, arts/design, and math) tools and practices and equip them with pedagogical practices to facilitate transformative STEAM learning experiences in their classrooms. Workshop activities will help students build skills to make them marketable to the increasing number of schools looking for teachers with interdisciplinary STEM, STEAM, and makerspace teaching expertise. The workshop will also engage students in learning about more broadly applicable pedagogical strategies and practices, such as student-centered and interest-driven learning, peer-learning and knowledge sharing, and culturally sustaining pedagogy.

Workshop sessions will cover topics including: 1. Introduction to STEAM Facilitation (Required and must be attended first) 2. STEAM Learning on a Budget: From Paper Prototyping to Simple STEAM Kits 3. Design, Cut, Stick: STEAM learning with Vinyl Cutters and Other Subtractive Manufacturing Tools 4. 3D and Me: STEAM Learning with 3D Modeling Tools and 3D Printers 5. Sparking STEAM Interest: STEAM Learning with Electronics 6. I Can Code: STEAM Learning through Robotics and Coding 7. Fitting STEAM into your Classroom: Disciplinary Integration, Assessment and Standards Alignment (required)

Like all BTLC workshops, this track also requires 10 hours of volunteer work. For this track, students will have the unique opportunity to complete this volunteer work by participating in a mini-practicum, facilitating STEAM learning activities for local youth participating in a STEAM afterschool program. Through this experience, students will have an opportunity to immediately practice and reflect on the tools and skills they are learning in the workshop, as they are learning them. Please bring a laptop to the workshop if possible as you will need it for some of the hands-on and collaborative activities. 

*This workshop is required for participation in the STEAM track and must be attended first. *Please bring a laptop to the workshop if possible as you will need it for some of the hands-on and collaborative activities. 

Learning goals: 1. Students will develop comfort with and understanding of STEAM tools, technologies, and practices. 2. Students will learn and apply pedagogical practices to facilitate transformative STEAM learning experiences in their classrooms. 

“By registering for this event, you agree to be photographed or filmed for promotional purposes. If you have any questions or concerns, please email tlc@uiowa.edu, and we will work with you to make any accommodations.”