In this week’s interview with Chris Woods (dailySTEM), we discuss the importance of contextualizing STEM through everyday connections, leveraging student interests, blurring boundaries between subject areas, the affordances and constraints of the acronym STEM, Chris’ new book Daily STEM: How to Create a STEM Culture in your Classrooms & Communities, continuing to learn by asking questions, and much more.

Click here for this episode’s show notes.

How to Get Started with Computer Science Education

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00:00 Intro

01:19 Chris introducing himself

01:45 How Chris got into STEM education

03:06 Decontextualized learning

04:00 What kind of problems can be solved with STEM?

06:22 Advice for getting started with STEM education

07:42 Making a connection between at-home and at-school learning

10:24 When should someone not learn STEM?

11:52 How to address siloing in STEM

15:51 Where does computer science fit in STEM?

18:19 Challenging educators to think of STEM as a creative field

21:40 If Chris could wave a magic wand...

24:46 Affordances and constraints of STEM, the acronym

28:16 Chris's book

29:41 Something Chris learned writing the book

31:04 Advice for educators who want to write a book

32:28 How Chris iterates on his abilities as an educator

34:47 How Chris prevents burnout

37:18 Advice for improving equity and inclusion

39:57 What Chris wishes there was more research on

42:34 How to connect with Chris

43:06 Outro