STEM Educator Pod

Wanting to improve your STEM program, but not sure where to start? Use this STEM Program Rubric!

Today's episode explains key components of what makes an effective STEM program, how to use celebrate what you've achieved so far and how to use this rubric to set goals for you as a teacher.

All links to the resources discussed in the episode are below:

STEM Program Rubric

Ep #9 Effective Assessment Methods in Primary STEM Education

FREE Downloadable Assessment Tracker

Ep #4 How To Set Up A No-Prep 'Working Wall' in Your Primary STEM Classroom

Show your support by following the podcast, visiting the  ⁠STEM Educator Hub website⁠, joining the Facebook Group or emailing Kate directly at [email protected]

Teachers are prone to overcomplicating! We are often trying to teach new and exciting things every lesson, however research suggests that students actually need repetition. 

Today’s episode is all about multiple exposures and how you can structure STEM units to not only provide students with better quality learning opportunities…but reduce your planning as a teacher as well!

All links to the resources discussed in the episode are below:

Ep #3 Navigating Design Thinking in Primary Education 

HIITS Document - Multiple Exposures (pg 20)

Structuring Cycles in STEM Units Diagram

Show your support by following the podcast, visiting the  ⁠STEM Educator Hub website⁠, joining the Facebook Group or emailing Kate directly at [email protected]

Lego has become such an important tool in my STEM classroom and is used with students all the way from Prep to Year 6! Today's episode covers strategies for selecting lego equipment, explicit instruction of lego techniques and ideas for lego units of work.

All links to the resources discussed in the episode are below:

Lego Skill Progression

Lego Terminology Downloadable Poster

STEM Educator Hub Facebook Group

Zoos Victoria STEM Projects

Be sure to click follow on the podcast to ensure you don’t miss any of the weekly episodes! More strategies and resources available at ⁠STEM Educator Hub website⁠.

Stop Motion has become a favourite in my STEM classroom! And it ticks all the boxes for me as a teacher...simple, versatile, low cost and super engaging!

Today's episode explores how to get started with Stop Motion and some key tips on how to make it a fun and successful experience.

All links to the resources discussed in the episode are below:

Stikbot App

Lights, Camera, STEM: Stop Motion Fun in the Primary Classroom (Blog Post)

Be sure to click follow on the podcast to ensure you don’t miss any of the weekly episodes! More strategies and resources available at ⁠STEM Educator Hub website⁠ or you can join the Facebook Group here!

Data, data, data! When I first started as a STEM Specialist teacher this was something that was missing in my program. I was very reliant on ‘gut feel’ in my assessments of student understanding and was unsure of how to implement a consistent assessment approach. A few years down the track and I’ve now got some tried and tested assessment methods to share with you all!

This episode explores some how to implement STEM assessment strategies that are not only purposeful for students, but also manageable for you as the teacher in a STEM classroom.

All links to the resources discussed in the episode are below:

FREE Assessment Tracker Template

STEM Pillars Explained

Be sure to click follow on the podcast to ensure you don’t miss any of the weekly episodes! More strategies and resources available at ⁠STEM Educator Hub website⁠ or you can join the Facebook Group here!

In primary education there is a crucial partnership between classroom teachers and digital technology specialists. This episode explores the vast opportunities that arise when these two roles collaborate, paving the way for amazing learning experiences enriched by the effective use of digital tools.

Building Digi Tech Partnerships Blog Post

Be sure to click follow on the podcast to ensure you don’t miss any of the weekly episodes! More strategies and resources available at ⁠STEM Educator Hub website⁠ or you can email me directly at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

Stuck staring at a blank planner and no ideas are coming to mind? I’ve been there and it’s frustrating! We want to create amazing STEM units for our students, but sometimes thinking of an idea that is not only engaging, but covers curriculum links is challenging.

This episode is all about how to use the 4C’s strategy for generating exciting ideas for primary STEM units. Whilst I use life cycles as an example in this episode, this process can be replicated for any topic. So let’s get planning!

All links to the resources discussed in the episode are below

4C’s Unit Idea Generation Strategy

Vote for your favourite life cycle unit idea here.

Be sure to click follow on the podcast to ensure you don’t miss any of the weekly episodes! More strategies and resources available at ⁠STEM Educator Hub website⁠ or you can email me directly at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

I was very hesitant about using Minecraft Education as it is one of those digital tools that can easily dip into 'gaming' territory, however it has been one of the most purposeful, authentic tools used for prototyping in my STEM classroom.

Today's episode includes six tips for leveraging Minecraft Education in the primary STEM classroom. Psssst...one of them is a complete F-6 scope and sequence!!

All links to the resources discussed in the episode today are below:

Classroom Mode Download

FREE Downloadable Minecraft Education F-6 Scope and Sequence

Student Plot Download

Blog Post: Leveraging Minecraft for STEM Learning in Primary School

Be sure to click follow on the podcast to ensure you don’t miss any of the weekly episodes! More strategies and resources available at STEM Educator Hub website or you can email me directly at [email protected].

Sometimes the curriculum can seem like an endless blackhole of content! Ensuring we ‘get through it all’ sometimes results in a lack of depth to student learning and a large workload for us teachers.

That’s why I created the Integrated Pillars Approach. A 15 minute planning process that helps to simplify the STEM curriculum and strike a balance between breadth and depth of content. Today’s episode explore what this approach is and how it can be used both in the classroom and STEM specialist setting.

All links to the resources discussed in the episode are below:

Integrated Pillars Approach Diagram and FREE Template

Streamlining Your STEM Curriculum For Success (Blog Post)

The STEM Pillars

Primary Years Design Thinking (PYDT) Process and FREE Template

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Anyone else hate spending hours printing, cutting and laminating displays only for them to sit on the wall collecting dust for the year? Enter...the Working Wall! 

Today’s episode explores an interactive classroom display perfect for showcasing student's STEM learning journey. And great news...it requires no preparation! 

You can also access the STEM Educator Hub blog post that explores the transformative power of 'Working Walls' in a STEM Classroom here.

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