The STEM Space

Show Summary:

Claire and Natasha tackle your questions from The STEM Space Facebook group! Listen as they dive into everything—from seasoned teachers venting about how STEM feels watered down to newer teachers feeling totally overwhelmed or unsure about engineering— and chat through your comments, share their thoughts, and hopefully give you some tips and encouragement along the way!

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

105. Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM

Is Teaching Engineering Bad? - Part 1 and Part 2

145. How to Create an Engineering Lesson

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

Not All STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education

Rate Your STEM Lesson: What Stage is Your STEM Challenge?

Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning

7 Ideas for Teaching Social Studies with STEM

Vivify STEM Lessons

Astronaut Training: 4 Cs of STEM (Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity)

Drag Device

Scope & Sequence - FREE - K-5 or 6-8

Find Your Student Sparks - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library!

Heavy Lift Rocket Challenge

Other STEM Resources

The STEM Space Facebook group

U.S. Department of Education | Gifted education and STEM: A Thematic Review (PDF)

Vivify STEM Recommendations

Need help? Email us at [email protected]

The STEM Space Explorer Library - FREE

Vivify STEM Research & Publications

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY TWITTER

VIVIFY TIKTOK

Show Summary:

From Sphero chariot races to a straw rocket challenge between engineers and educators, Claire and Natasha reflect on the K-12 Educator Institute, a workshop they facilitated as part of the Great Minds In STEM conference. They share ideas and big takeaways for facilitating STEM PD for teachers. Claire also tortures Natasha with questions from her students' “Brain Building Box!”

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

125. Constraints in a STEM Classroom

119. Think Like A Scientist

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education

Pipe Cleaner STEM Challenge

Basics of Sphero Robotics + 3 Awesome Sphero STEM Activities (includes Sphero Chariots)

STEM Family Night Planning Guide

Vivify STEM Lessons

STEM Tower Challenges

STEM Space Lander Challenge - K-5 or 6-8

Lunar Crater STEM Challenge

Bundle: STEM Family Night Planning Guide, STEM Activity Instructions, Posters

Mission to Moon Semester STEM Unit + Moon Colony Project! (includes Roller Coaster Challenge and Moon Planning game)

Mission to Mars Semester STEM Unit + Mars Colony Project! (includes Lander Challenge and Mars Planning game)

Straw Rocket STEM Challenge - K-2 or 3-10

Roller Coaster STEM Challenge - K-5 or 5-8

Brick by Brick: Introduction to Criteria and Constraints - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library!

Other STEM Resources

Great Minds In STEM

Northrop Grumman

NASA Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC)

Quick Tips

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY X

VIVIFY TIKTOK

Show Summary:

Natasha chats with Tara Tony, a high school student passionate about environmental advocacy. Tara serves as a student commissioner on the Energy and Environmental Sustainability Commission (EESC) in Milpitas, California. She shares her experiences from the EESC, where she became inspired to launch EcoInsight, an online platform aimed at raising awareness of biodiversity loss.

Tara also discusses the EcoInnovate Competition, a nationwide challenge for middle and high school students to submit innovative conservation projects. Learn more about this initiative and how to get involved at EcoInnovate. As of posting, current competition deadline is November 15th, 2024.

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

132. The Focus of an Engineering Design Competition

108. A STEM Challenge with Earthquakes ft. Kristina Ohl

66. Eco-House Sustainable STEM with Kristina Ohl

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM

Exploring National Parks with a STEM Challenge!

Ocean STEM Activities

Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project

Design A School Garden STEM Project

Vivify STEM Lessons

Design a Sustainable Eco-House STEM Project (Environmental Science 5E PBL)

Oil Spill STEM Challenge

Ocean Debris Engineering Design STEM Challenge

Design a School Garden: STEM Project Guide

Other STEM Resources

EcoInnovate

Milpitas Energy & Environmental Sustainability Commission

Email us your questions and more!

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY X

VIVIFY TIKTOK

Show Summary:

Natasha sits down for a chat with Dora Palfi and Beatrice Ionascu, co-founders of imagi, a Swedish EdTech startup dedicated to closing the gender gap in tech by sparking a passion for technology in all children through fun and inclusive computer science education.

Dora and Beatrice met while studying at NYU Abu Dhabi and went on to work in various large tech companies. Their experiences, often as the only women in male-dominated tech environments, fueled their desire to create imagi, with the vision of transforming the tech industry and broadening access to computer science education, particularly for underrepresented groups.

imagi's AI-powered Python programming platform equips educators—regardless of their coding background—with the tools to teach a dynamic, engaging curriculum to middle school students, promoting inclusivity across gender and race. After just one hour of coding with imagi, one in three girls and non-binary students report increased interest in coding, and 85% of all students find the experience "fun" after their first lesson. Having reached more than 300,000 students in 140 countries, cultivating a vibrant global community of young coders who have collectively generated over 19 million lines of Python code, imagi is making strides in reshaping the future of tech education globally.

For more details, visit imagi's website.

You can use the Vivify promo code for 15% off a purchase of imagiCharms! Just use vivifystem15 or this link.

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

98. Who is an Engineer?

50. How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM

122. How to Motivate Students

121. The Importance of Clear Communication in Science

114. Strategies for a Teacherpreneur

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM

Motivation: How to Teach Growth Mindset and Failing Forward

Vivify STEM Lessons

Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity (Break down stereotypes!)

Picture a STEM Professional Critical Thinking Worksheet

Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge - Women in STEM History Activity

Starter STEM Activities Engineering Challenges

Other STEM Resources

imagi

weSTEM @ NYUAD

Girls outperform boys at school, yet still shy away from STEM — Download the full study here: Hands Up for Gender Equality: A Major Study into Confidence and Career Intentions of Adolescent Girls and Boys

Give P's a Chance: Projects, Peers, Passion, Play by M Resnick (PDF)

Scratch - Imagine, Program, Share

Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY X

VIVIFY TIKTOK

Show Summary:

Claire reflects on the success of her recent Star Party event. She also shares a Show and Tell activity with her STEM students, which is a great way to practice communication skills. Claire even participates by bringing a surprising object from home—something you use every day, but probably not what you're expecting! Tune in to find out what it is. Meanwhile, Natasha, as always, delves into the broader implications of integrating engineering into the classroom, exploring the challenges of teaching it as a profession versus as a subject.

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

159. A Vision for K-12 Engineering Education

105. Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM

156. Would an Engineer Solve Your Problem?

137. Is Teaching Engineering Bad?

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

Not all STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education

10 Easy STEM Career Classroom Activities

Understanding a Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning

Vivify STEM Lessons

Explore the Universe - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library

Simple Machines Toy Factory STEM Challenge

Think Like a Scientist: Nature of Science 5E Inquiry Unit

STEM Catapult Challenge

STEM Careers BINGO Game: K-5 or 5-12

Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity

Other STEM Resources

Fort Worth Astronomical Society: Star Parties

NASA | Messier 57 (better known as the Ring Nebula)

Space.com | Draconid meteor shower 2024: When, where & how to see it

Space Teams

wikiHow | How Does a Toilet Work? A Step-by-Step Breakdown

Gain access to Vivify’s expanding lesson library when you become a member of The STEM Space!

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY TWITTER

VIVIFY TIKTOK

Show Summary:

Claire is preparing for her first-ever Star Party family event, and Natasha gives her tips on everything from using a sky app to making constellation-themed hot chocolate! We also dive into a new Framework for Engineering Learning that the Vivify team is developing. What are the main learning goals of engineering? What does a year-long STEM program look like? Listen in for our vision for K-12 STEM education.

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

126. Star Parties & Thematic Classroom Attire

156. Would an Engineer Solve Your Problems?

105. Explaining the 3 Stages of STEM

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

Not All STEM is Equal: 3 Stages of STEM Education

Vivify STEM Lessons

Explore the Universe - FREE in The STEM Space Explorer Library

Astronaut Training: 4 C’s of STEM

Heart Rate Ratios and Graphing Activity

STEM Tower Challenges

STEM Choice Boards Bundle: Career, Field Trip, & Space Missions

STEM Careers BINGO Game: K-5 or 5-12

Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity

Weather Balloon Launch: STEM Engineering Project Guide

Mission to Moon or Mission to Mars Semester STEM Unit

Other STEM Resources

SkyView® App - Google Play or Apple

Fort Worth Astronomical Society: Star Parties

Vivify STEM Research & Publications

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY TWITTER

VIVIFY TIKTOK

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

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY X

VIVIFY TIKTOK

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!

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY X

VIVIFY TIKTOK

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.

Subscribe to the Vivify STEM Newsletter!

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY X

VIVIFY TIKTOK

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!

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY TWITTER

VIVIFY TIKTOK