MSTEM Parent Informational Night

1. MSTEM Parent Informational Night Whitman Middle School Monday, March 5, 2012 6:00 – 7:00 PM ENGAGE    THINKCOLLABORATEINNOVATE    CREATE

2. Wauwatosa School District Long Range Plan The Wauwatosa School District will transform the learning environment in order to ensure access to curriculum and personalized learning for all students, resulting in individuals who embrace 21st Century skills and who are lifelong learners. ENGAGE    THINKCOLLABORATEINNOVATE    CREATE

3. Wauwatosa School District Middle School STEM MSTEM Vision Statement - At Wauwatosa STEM Middle School students will apply (LITERACY) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in contexts which will connect school, community, careers and the global economy. ENGAGE    THINKCOLLABORATEINNOVATE    CREATE

4. Current STEM Participation Programs/Curriculum Elementary School • 72 Students Middle School • 233 Students High School • 152 Students Extended Learning Elementary School • 43 Students (3 schools) Middle School • 86 (Robotics & DI) High School • 32 (East & West)

5. Parent Survey Interest • K-6 families across the district • 294 responses, 40% from LFMS and WMS • Highest responses from 4th, 5th and 6th grades 80% of respondents said the would consider enrolling their child, next year in a multi-aged middle school STEM focused program for 6th and 7th graders • Trend remains the same when looking at 5th and 6th grade family responses, 85% and 77% respectively • Favorable responses came from both middle schools, LFMS (73%) and WMS (76%)

6. What is STEM? • Project-Based Instruction • Brings relevancy to interconnections between subject areas • Utilizes scientific inquiry to support learning of math concepts • Focus on problem solving and solutions • Science • Technology • STEM • Math • Engineering

7. What is Project Based Learning? (PBL) Project Based Learning is a process. It’s a different way to learn material and content.

8. What is Project Based Learning? (PBL) Students in rigorous, meaningful and effective Project Based learning: • Ask questions and define problems • Develop and use models • Plan and carry out investigations • Analyze and interpret data • Use mathematical and computational thinking • Construct explanations and design solutions • Defend and justify theories based on evidence • Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

9. What is Project Based Learning? (PBL) Knowledge Building Connect Data Investigate Test Solution • Communication • Develop hypothesis • & theories • Develop explanations • Develop Theories • and Models • Imagine • Reason • Create • Calculate • Predict

10. What is Project Based Learning? (PBL) Students will learn about the process of erosion Guiding Question: How can erosion affect people? Project: Develop a model (or presentation) that demonstrates the effects of soil erosion in some part of the world

11. What is Project Based Learning? (PBL) Project: Develop a model (or presentation) that demonstrates the effects of soil erosion in some part of the world • Science Standard 2: Understands Earth’s composition and structure SC6.2.1 Knows how landforms are changed through a combination of constructive and destructive process • Math Standard 4: Understand, apply and communicate the concepts of measurement M.6.4.2 Estimate and measure the area and perimeter for regular and irregular figures • Social Studies Standard 21: Understand the five themes of geography SS6.2.1.g.1 Identify what influences the climate of an area • ELA Standard 7: Uses active reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts Understand how main idea and detail is organized in various print, media and internet sources (compare/contrast, cause/effect, sequence, explanatory/definition)

12. PBL and Differentiation Project Based Learning is a natural structure for differentiated instruction • Projects provide opportunities to scaffold instruction • Provides “Voice and Choice” • Open-ended Driving Question offers multiple ways for students to come up with solutions • 21st century skill of collaboration (Students support each other) • Teachers have more freedom to monitor, have one-to-one conversations, pull students or teams aside for mini-lessons, or direct students to technology or other resources for support

13. Middle School Science Pathways Wauwatosa Science Benchmarks Next Generation Science Emphasis Physical Science/ Life Science/ Earth & Space Science/ Engineering, Technology, & the Application of Science Regular Science Curriculum STEM Emphasis Project Based Learning MS- STEM STEM/Forestry/Environmental Emphasis Project Based Learning FEC Charter

15. Characteristics of a STEM Student A STEM Student is: • Observant • Persistent • Curious/Self-Starter • A Risk Taker • A Problem Solver • A Questioner

16. What will MSTEM Look Like? • Multi-aged house comprising of 6th and 7th grade students (minimum of 50 students) • Located at both middle schools • Flexible scheduling of day and courses based on instructional needs

17. What will MSTEM Look Like? • Students would meet the District’s standards and align to District’s content area goals. • Students will participate in District level assessments; teachers will develop project based performance assessments as part of teaching methodology

18. MSTEM Daily Schedule

19. Lottery Selection Order of selection: • Students currently enrolled in Wauwatosa STEM • Students who express interest • Application window for student enrollment • March 5-March 23, 2012 • Lottery for MSTEM • March 26, 2012

20. Contact Information • Jason Zurawik , Longfellow Middle School • 414-773-2411 • zurawija@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us • April Greenman , Whitman Middle School • 414-773-2611 • greenmap@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us • www.wauwatosaPLTWClub.info

21. Question & Answers SessionThank you for attending!