Two engineers turned educators discuss resources, tips, and current events within the scope of STEM education.
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Show Summary:
In this episode, Natasha and Claire discuss a new framework for teaching STEM. Hear about resources for intentional and authentic learning experiences in STEM and advice on what to focus on when you are short on time.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
150. Screw the Standards! Or Should We? ft. Dr. Pedersen
74. Rate My STEM Lesson
136. Cool Lessons on Heat Transfer
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Rate Your STEM Lesson: What Stage is Your STEM Challenge?
Vivify STEM Lessons
Roller Coaster STEM Challenge - K-5 or 5-8
Drag Device STEM Challenge
Space Lander STEM Challenge - K-5 or 5-8
Heat Shield Challenge
Other STEM Resources
Vivify Research & Publications - includes parts of Dr. Natasha’s dissertation: Pre-College Engineering: Perspectives of Engineering Faculty as well as Learning Goals in Middle School Engineering: A Systematic Review and Comparison with NGSS and ASEE Frameworks
Quick Tips
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
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Show Summary:
In this episode, Claire speaks with Ike Theriot, a NASA EVA Flight Controller and Astronaut Instructor, who highlights the power of curiosity and the importance of following your passions in the space industry. He shares personal experiences in working for NASA and training astronauts, showing how a love for exploration shaped his career. Tune in to discover how pursuing your interests can open unexpected doors in science, technology, and beyond.
Ike currently serves as an EVA Flight Controller and Astronaut Instructor in the Flight Operations Directorate at Johnson Space Center. He supports real-time ISS EVA operations by planning EVA’s, training astronauts to perform those EVA’s, and supporting execution from Mission Control as a flight controller. Ike also develops and trains Artemis EVA operational concepts for navigation, timeline management, and suit and tool use for lunar surface operations.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
153. Don’t Tell Your Kid to be an Engineer
73. Does STEM Track?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Astronaut Training and the 4 C's of STEM
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward
Vivify STEM Lessons
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM
Intro to Coding: STEM Activity
Musical Instrument STEM Challenge
STEM Creativity Tools: 5 Activities to Boost Brainstorming Power
Mission to Moon Middle School STEM Curriculum Unit
Other STEM Resources
NASA | Meet the Teams Leading Moonwalking Test Mission (ft. Ike Theriot)
NASA | Artemis
NASA | STEM Resources and Opportunities
Email us your questions and more!
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Show Summary:
Natasha and Claire discuss the importance of teaching engineering in the context of real-world engineering challenges. They work to define what constitutes a true engineering problem and highlight the significance of providing students with authentic engineering experiences that mimic the complexities and challenges of the real world.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
87. How is STEM More Than a Problem?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education
Rate Your STEM Lesson: What Stage is Your STEM Challenge?
Vivify STEM Lessons
Ocean Debris Engineering Design STEM Challenge
Design a School Garden: STEM Project Guide
STEM Space Lander Challenge | K-5 or 5-8
Space Capsule Heat Shield 5E Engineering Challenge (MS-PS3-3)
Other STEM Resources
MIT AeroAstro
MIT Residential Scholars FAQ
List of “Engineering Problems”
Strawberry DNA Experiment
Taco Party
News Article: Normal Fire Department Uses Tacos To Educate On Weather Lingo (And Go Viral)
The “Poop” Rule: Instead of asking "Does it spark joy?" try this.
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Show Summary:
What is your greatest challenge as a STEM educator? In this episode, Claire and Natasha respond to concerns from K-12 STEM teachers who posted their challenges in The STEM Space Facebook group. We tackle everything from getting kids to accept math is part of science, overcoming learned helplessness, and juggling hundreds of students a week. Listen in for this rapid-fire session!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
135. What Should Students Learn? (“pontificate” episode)
122. How to Motivate Students
146. Is It Squishy? How to Build Engineering Intuition
73. Does STEM Track?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward (includes photos of Claire’s tower failure)
Football STEM Challenge!
Vivify STEM Lessons
Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (breaking stereotypes)
Newspaper STEM Challenges
Heart Rate Ratios & Graphing Activity
Math and Sports Activity Bundle: Ratios and Proportions
Brain Safety STEM Challenge: Design a Football Helmet
FREE Scope & Sequence - Elementary School | Middle School
FREE Interview Questions for STEM Professionals
Other STEM Resources
The STEM Space Facebook Group
“Pontificate” clip | Vivify TikTok
“If I Built a Car” by Chris Van Dusen | Amazon Affiliate link
Wildlife Discovery Trunks (Texas Only, but you can check with your state’s wildlife association)
Gain access to Vivify’s expanding lesson library when you become a member of The STEM Space!
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Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire and Natasha answer a question from a listener: “For those of you who teach multiple grades in a day, how do you organize all your stuff that goes with each class?” Claire, a K-8 STEM teacher, gives us all her tips and tricks for managing the STEM supply chaos!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
121. The Importance of Clear Communication in Science
44. How Do You Manage Your STEM Classroom?
125. Constraints in a STEM Classroom
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Tips for Managing a STEM Classroom
Top 10 Back to School STEM Tools!
Vivify STEM Lessons
Back to School STEM: 6 Icebreaker Teamwork Activities (includes pipeline challenge)
Editable Budget Sheet for Engineering Design Challenges (FREE in our TPT store or in our STEM Explorer Library)
Roller Coaster STEM Challenge (K-5 or 6-8)
Editable Teacher Slides for Engineering Design Challenges (FREE in our TPT store or in our STEM Explorer Library)
Newspaper STEM Challenges
Other STEM Resources
Don’t Wake the Dragon by Bianca Schulze
Space Club - FREE!
Communities in Schools - San Antonio (CISSA)
Facebook: The STEM Space
Claire’s STEM Organization finds:
- Shelf brackets
- Plastic bins
- STEM composition notebook
- More plastic bins
- Makerspace bins
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
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Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Claire navigates the whirlwind of back-to-school season, sharing favorite moments from her K-8 STEM classroom, including a fun bar graph icebreaker that got her students engaged. Natasha reflects on her daughter's transition to 1st grade and how she loves to find math in everyday life. Together, they discuss how STEM classrooms can bring subjects like math and science to life, inspiring a love for learning. Many define STEM as preparing students for in-demand jobs, but we value the importance of nurturing students’ passions, using real-world connections in the STEM classroom to help them better understand the world around them, rather than focusing solely on job skills.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
127. Why You Should Teach About STEM Careers
144. Another Year of Smashing STEM
122. How to Motivate Students
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities (includes Sparks!)
How to Teach STEM Through A Story
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Careers BINGO Game for K-5 or 6-8
Technology Choice Board Bundle
Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM (Back to School STEM Activities)
Alphabet STEM - Introduce PreK-1 to STEM!
Other STEM Resources
Vivify TikTok: Claire’s STEM Classroom Tour (ft. the Nature Wall)
Quick Tips
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Show Summary:
In this episode of The STEM Space, Natasha recounts a dramatic story from her trip to Greece, while Claire hopes she's finally learned a valuable lesson. We also discuss gearing up for the back-to-school season including some unique finds from Claire’s Amazon wish list for her STEM classroom!
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
98. Who is an Engineer?
116. Back to School Icebreakers
90. We Launched a Weather Balloon
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM
Must Haves for a STEM Lab
Get Your STEM Classroom Ready for Back to School!
Vivify STEM Lessons
Back to School STEM: 6 Icebreaker Teamwork Activities
Desk Name Tags / Desk Name Plates STEM Activity for Back to School
Growth Mindset Back to School Rocket About Me Activity
FREE! STEM Scope & Sequence - K-5 or 6-8
Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide
Other STEM Resources
Traditional Magiritsa recipe
- Claire’s Finds! (Can also be found in Vivify’s Amazon Storefront)
- Cutting mat
- Knife pen
- Water bottle holder
- Hardware storage organizer
- Space band-aids
- Non-stick silicone mat for hot glue guns
- Hot glue gun finger protectors
- Raingutter Regatta inflatable raceway
- One-way mirror window film
Vivify’s TikTok | Claire’s Classroom Moon DIY
Vivify’s TikTok | Weather Balloon Launch
Sphero Global Challenge
Email us your questions and more!
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Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha continue their discussions with Dr. Rachelle Pedersen on best practices in STEM education. Hear how she gets students to discover engineering design criteria and other ways you can engage your students in developing engineering skills. Accept the challenge with us to highlight the skills and stories of real engineers with our free interview questions and tune in to find out what we are doing with it!
Dr. Rachelle Pedersen is an Assistant Professor of STEM Education at Texas Tech University.
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Show Summary:
Claire and Natasha have another chat with Dr. Rachelle Pedersen on how STEM teachers should incorporate the engineering standards in NGSS and beyond. Gain insight from the perspective of three engineers with research-backed education philosophies on what your students need to know about engineering in K-12. The answer may surprise you! Tune in to hear strategies and ideas for providing engineering experiences and building intuition with your students.
Dr. Rachelle Pedersen is an Assistant Professor of STEM Education at Texas Tech University.
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
149. Moving Beyond Design Challenges ft. Dr. Pedersen
137. Is Teaching Engineering Bad?
98. Who is an Engineer?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning
Vivify STEM Lessons
FREE STEM Scope & Sequence for K-5 or 6-8
Space Lander STEM Challenge (K-5 or 6-8)
Drag Device STEM Challenge
Ancient Greece Simple Machines STEM Challenge
Space Capsule Heat Shield Challenge
Other STEM Resources
Teaching Texas | Podcast on Spotify
YouTube | Vivify STEM - STEM Career Chats
Powell's Books | The World's Largest Independent Bookstore
Book: "How Things Work" by Michael Dahl seems to actually be out of print! :(
Book: How Nearly Everything Was Invented (Amazon affiliate link)
Equipped for Life: Gendered Technical Training and Consumerism in Home Economics, 1920-1980
About Lillian Gilbreth
HowStuffWorks NOW | Podcast on Spotify
Become a member of The STEM Space!
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
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Show Summary:
Natasha is joined by her former classmate Dr. Rachelle Pedersen, an engineer turned educator who is an Assistant Professor of STEM Education at Texas Tech University. Natasha and Rachelle reflect on their time at the American Society of Engineering Education Conference, including how to move beyond repetitive engineering design challenges. Rachelle and Natasha are also founding board members of the Cosmic Leap Foundation which is now offering Space Club curriculum and training for FREE to any K-8 educator.
Learn more at https://www.stemspaceclub.com/
Links from the Show:
Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes
133. Conferences You Should Attend in 2024
98. Who is an Engineer?
Vivify STEM Blog Posts
Top 10 STEM Space Activities
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process: Which is used in STEM learning?
The Importance of Failure
Engineering in the Science Classroom
Intro to Science & Engineering: STEM Critical Thinking Challenges
Vivify STEM Lessons
STEM Space Lander Challenge
Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge
Mission to Moon (K-5 or 6-8) or Mission to Mars (K-5 or 6-8) STEM Curriculum
Other STEM Resources
2024 ASEE Annual Conference
LEGO® Bank Activity
Texas Tech STEM Specialization
THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES
THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP
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