Myra Hudson was doing a fine job teaching science in her fifth-grade classroom at Miller Park Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska. With nearly 15 years of teaching experience, Hudson knew plenty about science, going all the way back to her days as a student in a traditional science lab. In fact, by all accounts, she was an above-average science teacher at the elementary level, where science often is viewed warily by teachers better versed in reading and math. The disruption for Hudson occurred late last school year when she was asked to implement a pilot program of Pitsco elementary science Missions. To say she was skeptical would be an understatement. To say she was eager for the change would be an overstatement. “The science lab I grew up with, there were sinks, Bunsen burners, no carpet, only wood,” said Hudson. “And then I got in here for the training, and I thought, ‘This doesn’t look like a science lab.’” Instead, there were seven four-student workstations with colorful bins of inviting, age-appropriate materials, uniquely laid-out binders with detailed information and assessments set up in “windows” and “intervals,” and a specific role for each member of the Crew: Commander, Information Specialist, Communications Specialist, and Materials Specialist. “Before the professional development, I thought, ‘I don’t see how this is going to tie in to our curriculum.’ I did the Forces Mission by myself because I wanted to see all four roles and how it would work so I could internalize it. It got to the point where it didn’t matter what I thought about it because it’s all about how the kids react to it,” Hudson said. “I thought, ‘Maybe I’m looking at this wrong because of the way I was taught.’ This is a science lab, and they do so much in here.” Read more of the Omaha Public Schools case study here.
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When you hear the word “manufacturing,” what images does it conjure up? If you are like most, you have visions of dirty, unsafe construction floors where people repeat the same function all day long, day after day. If this is what you see, you may need to update your image: manufacturing as cleaner and more high-tech than ever before. And manufacturing is driving the nation’s economy forward. According to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. manufacturing companies added a substantial 29,000 new jobs in January this year alone.
Manufacturing jobs are plentiful, but the face of these jobs is changing. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for candidates with an advanced skill set. These are skills that educators can ensure their students possess before they graduate and join the workforce. Certain skills will ensure students are marketable, and that their skills will allow them to be successful on their first day of a new job. What Employers Want to Share with Educators:
Get employers to compete for your students. In order to connect your classroom with “real world” learning opportunities, you need to have the proper tools in place. Moss has training and certification tools to ensure your students will be successful during their next phase. These tools are appropriate for both technical high schools and colleges. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation with an Education Specialist. Finding the right career fit is a challenge most students face and when asked what they want to do professionally when they graduate, the choices can be overwhelming. As a way to ease the transition for students making strides to their prospective career pathway, CEV Multimedia announces the addition of the Career Cluster Interest Inventory (CCII) tool to its comprehensive iCEV platform. The CCII provides assistance to students from eighth grade to higher education during the critical steps of education and career planning. A student completes the interest inventory within a 15- to 20-minute time period and receives information on a career cluster that best fits the student’s interests and skills. Career clusters, 16 groupings of related occupations developed by the U.S. Department of Education, provide essential knowledge and skills to guide in developing programs of study to bridge secondary and postsecondary curriculum. The clusters also assist in creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options. "This is an important addition to the CTE curriculum offered through iCEV that will assist students and educators alike in studying and exploring various career paths by identifying an interest pattern based on responses of career and activity related questions," said Dusty Moore, iCEV President. "Additionally, schools value survey tools to gain an understanding of the courses they need to offer to meet their students' needs and career aspirations."
Upon completing the inventory and being matched with a cluster, students are guided to post-secondary information and specific occupations. CCII complements the current iCEV career curriculum nicely as it allows a student to complete the interest inventory, identify their top cluster choices, then dive into the curriculum to watch videos, listen to industry experts via career interviews and complete projects to provide a better understanding of the clusters. After completing the study, students take a post-evaluation survey to see how their work impacted their original decisions. "The Career Cluster Interest Inventory enriches what we can offer to iCEV users and better connects them to the best education path leading towards their career choice," Moore said. "Students are able to look for general information on their career interests, as well as seek specific career titles, the credentials needed and college majors." Developed by CEV Multimedia, iCEV offers practical, interactive learning with professional demonstrations to prepare students for postsecondary education and high-skill, high-demand careers. Educators can quickly monitor, track and engage students directly through the platform’s interactive lessons. Through iCEV, students can also enhance their career training with industry-backed certifications. 6 Ways Iowa State University’s Metal 3D Printer is Transforming Manufacturing in Iowa (and Beyond)2/19/2016 Iowa State University recently unveiled its new metal 3D printer, a ProX 300 from 3D Systems, to the world. Since then, many people are learning about the advantages of adopting metal 3D printing as part of the design and manufacturing process.
Iowa State has opened its doors and invited people to learn with them as they navigate this new technology. “We’re doing a lot of this research that no one can do at this point because the technology’s not out there yet,” said Dakota Morgan, a graduate student researcher. 6 Ways ISU’s Metal 3D Printer is Transforming Manufacturing
Learn more about the ProX 300 at Iowa State University: Every survey tells a story. In December 2015, Moss sent a survey to elementary educators and administrators to gain a better understanding of the state of elementary education, and where they thought STEM fit into the equation. While we anticipated some of the findings (66% of survey respondents indicated STEM was a priority for their district), other findings were not as obvious to us when we sent the survey. A sample of the results:
Read More: We examine the need for STEM education for the youngest students, and provide practical, hands-on solutions. Download a FREE copy of our eBook, A Simple Introduction to Elementary STEM to learn more. “We begin to change the world when we stimulate long-term prosperity using technology. There is not a problem that’s large enough that innovation and entrepreneurship can’t solve.” – Naveen Jain This quote wasn’t written specifically about Fab Labs, but it could have been. Entrepreneurship, innovation and technology are all at the heart of any Fabrication Lab. - Interior Concepts Learn more about why Fab Labs are an essential part of STEM education, and how you can implement one in your school. Visit Interior Concepts blog post for inspiration: <Source: Interior Concepts>
"Education has grasped 3D printing in a tremendous way. Teachers around the world are incorporating this technology into their classrooms to inspire students, and to enhance comprehension and learning. Whether students use 3D printing in science, math, arts, or shop classes, the results are the same: they want to learn more; they want to do more. We’ve collected another 10 stories from educators about their incorporation of 3D printing into their classrooms, or learning spaces. By keeping up with technological advancements, they are preparing their students for the future." Afinia has compiled a series of stories about how educators are innovating in the classroom with 3D printing, and we are excited to share it with you! At Moss, we believe 3D printing is a vital component of a well-rounded STEM education, so we love it when we have the chance to share stories of teachers who are using it in the hopes we will be able to inspire others. How do you use 3D printing in your classroom or district? If you have a story to share,you could be featured in the next edition of the eBook! Contact Afinia to share your story with them.
Classroom furniture used to mean student desks with arms on them, arranged any way the teacher wanted on a particular day. (Some days they were in rows, some days in a circle!) We never used to give classroom design much thought or consideration. But, with studies coming out about the importance of the classroom learning environment and the affect it can have on student performance, educators are giving more consideration to furniture design as part of their overall education strategy. The right classroom design complements the right curriculum and enhances the student experience. We’ve done the research for you and developed a list of must-haves for the modern classroom. Classroom Furniture Essentials:
Need ideas? Interior Concepts has put together a Slide Deck of the Top 10 STEM Lab Designs. This presentation includes configuration suggestions and materials appropriate for different room functions. Moss is your one-stop-shop for affordable, reliable, durable classroom furniture. Our Education Specialists can help you customize a furniture solution right for your district.
Did you know the cost of comprehensive welding education can be as little as $250 per student? When schools utilize virtual reality to train students, they can save not only money, but time. Check out this infographic for surprising facts: Virtual reality is a great way to build a student's foundational understanding. Virtual Reality training has been successfully deployed in secondary schools, colleges and industry. Want to learn more? Contact Moss to learn more about this and other virtual reality solutions for your students.
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