Distance learning tips are coming at us from all places. There are SO MANY! As I read more and more of them, I see the constant question of how can STEM instruction be delivered through distance learning? Well… really?
How can we give the best instruction through distance learning period? If we can teach a distracted Kindergarten student anything through distance learning….. we can deliver STEM instruction, too! So here we go… my 9 distance learning tips for STEM instruction. First of all….. get rid of that word… you know…. impossible? Or can’t. Or No. Get rid of all of them. Be who you are, an educator SUPERHERO, the one who let’s nothing stand in your way!
The biggest thing to remember about STEM/STEAM in general is that it promotes the 4 C’s for 21st Century Learning: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication. We can TOTALLY communicate and collaborate through distance learning. There is also no reason we can’t be creative and think critically, as well. When COVID-19 affected schools… teachers immediately started getting creative and thinking critically themselves to deliver instruction at it’s finest!!
Distance Learning Online
Let’s start with distance learning tip for stem instruction #1: Survey the parents and care takers of your students. Find out what you may want to use at home in all your possible STEM/STEAM projects and lessons. Create a survey that asks about these materials and if they have them at home. For instance, glue, tape, paper, index cards, cardboard rolls, bottle caps, pipe cleaners, blocks, Legos, ect. Make sure that you word your survey in a way that doesn’t make them feel like they have to go out and buy it!!! Just simply survey them. Include a section for items they may also have that might be helpful you didn’t think of.
I highly recommend finding out if they have a large tray or an area that a student can work on without worrying about making a mess! Dollar Tree has great ones. This may be an item you purchase for students as fun back to school gift!!!! Example picture is found below!
Another thought: One or two students may have something that others don’t. Those students can collaborate with others and work on a project through virtual communication. When parents know what might be needed, many are willing to help through donations. When you find students that don’t have much of anything…. I KNOW what you will do. You will make care bags just for those students!!!
Tools We Need
This is just a must for STEM/STEAM and project based learning. Of course, documents and virtual platforms can be used to record on, but I firmly believe all students need their own journal to write in just like a scientist or engineer in the field. Ideas, data, sketches, and thoughts can be written down, and then they can practice the skill of inputting data just like experts in the fields of STEM! Distance learning tip for stem instruction #2 is to make sure they all have a STEM journal. I prefer that marble composition notebook!
I created this Google Slides data collection set to do record sky data from home with. So you can see…. it might be a lot easier to record outside in a journal, and then come back to the Google assignment. Check out the Sky Journal Made for Google Slides here.
Distance Learning Resources
Distance learning tip for STEM instruction #3 is to keep your students working through a design process or investigation process. Some examples are design thinking, the engineering design process, and claim, evidence reasoning. When you rely on a process, you always know what your next step will be once one step is complete. TEACH thoroughly the process or investigation you will use to students so it’s not a guessing game for them. You will be able to spend less time talking virtually and more time discussing their ideas!!! This Engineering Design Process document is perfect to add into a Google Slide or complete in a journal at home.
Another favorite thing I like to do when working through a project is to start it out with literature, especially literature that introduces real STEM/STEAM experts to students. Read more about this concept in my blog post on Literature Based STEM Activities.
Extra benefits
So this is my biggest piece of advice for STEM/STEAM instruction in general, not just through distance learning. Distance learning tip #4 for STEM instruction is to use trash! First of all, it teaches conservation and reusing items to protect the environment. Second of all, we make so much of it from the products we use. This could even be your very first STEM/STEAM project….. begin collecting trash at home. What should we collect? How does this help us? How does this help the enviroment?
Distance Learning Science
I can’t wait to try this out, a lot!!! Distance learning tip #5 for STEM instruction comes into play when you, the teacher have access to equipment that your students may not. For instance, lab equipment, robotics, 3D printers, gardens, aquariums, the list could go on and on. Introduce your project, and what you will be using. Next, move through your design processes or investigations as usual, but when it’s time to collect data or build something…. you will be the hands for students. Simply survey them on the next steps or how to collect said data. Do exactly as they tell you! This allows them to make mistakes and collect data from their decisions. You can create cool scientific data reports to send out to students, as well! Let’s not forget if a mistake is made and the teacher is doing it…. it’s a little entertaining.
Using the Home for STEM Distance Learning
Remember all those projects and tasks you may have sent home because it required them to survey family members, or maybe you didn’t have time in class? Distance learning tip #6 for STEM instruction is to create project topics that work for home. For instance, how many foods have you eaten throughout the day that were processed, vegetables, fruits, or meats? Those are always hard to do at school because they have to remember, but at home… they can actively collect data. What about a student or students with pets at home. Can the class observe certain behaviors their pets make? This also allows them to share things they are proud of! What if you have a student that lives on a real livestock farm…. WOW! Really the possibilities are endless! Just think…..HOME!
STEM Career Experts Visit Us!
I actually have a combo tip here for distance learning tip #7 for STEM instruction. First of all, think about your projects and lessons. Do your best to create at least a 2 week calendar ahead of time, but best case… 4 weeks ahead. This will allow students to prepare, but also it gives you time to invite real STEM experts working in the career fields to join your classes virtually. Students love this, and you can really use guests as a way to create HYPE for upcoming lessons. I always learn from guests, too!
Distance Learning Benefits
I’ve mentioned this briefly already, but it’s so important. Collect data! There is so much around a house that can be used for data collection. People behaviors, calling relatives, pets, how many counts of household objects, food ingredients, the sky, weather, and things that move are all just examples to use for data that will match standards in science. Remember if you are collecting number data… use those numbers for teaching math concepts. Distance learning tip for STEM instruction #8 is data, data, data!
Let the Creativity Flow
Distance learning tip for STEM instruction #9 is to allow for creativity! Get your students in on the creativity. Allow them to help you with ideas for this distance learning format! Why not! What if they have creative ideas that you can build on. Listen, if there is one thing I know about our students…. they are online. They know platforms. Be creative, don’t let our situation right now block you from doing ANYTHING! Teachers are the most flexible situational professionals I know! We have no idea what might happen each day even though we have the day completely planned out. We are the best and turning situations around!!! Let’s do this! Distance learning STEM instruction is TOTALLY possible!!
I get it though… this is still a topic that scares us, intimidates us, makes us frustrated, makes us sad, and totally an unknown area without STEM/STEAM added into the mix! Distance learning is something NO educator ever signed up for! Find a group to support you! Join the STEAM University Group! We discuss topics like this and many more related to STEM/STEAM all day long!! Before you go.. make sure you download my FREE STEM/STEAM guide to support teachers just like you!
I have an even better resource for you that is HOT and can’t be found anywhere else! Would you like monthly resources for digital classroom use, explicit how to videos with resources, PD hours, private Facebook group access with monthly LIVE instruction for STEM/STEAM and project based learning that currently will be focusing on the virtual setting for less than what you pay for Netflix or even one resource on Teachers Pay Teachers? Join the STEAMed Up Teacher Club today, and just because you are amazing here is a code for 10% off the membership price! Code: CLUBNOW Check out all the details for the STEAMed Up Teacher Club here!
