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)

FREE - Editable Budget Sheet for Engineering Design Challenges

Roller Coaster STEM Challenge (K-5 or 6-8)

FREE - Editable Teacher Slides for Engineering Design Challenges

Newspaper STEM Challenges

Other STEM Resources

Don’t Wake the Dragon by Bianca Schulze

FREE - Space Club

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

- Vivify Amazon Storefront

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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

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Show Summary:

In this episode, Natasha is joined by Vivify STEM Education Specialist Lauren Kelly who shares some exciting updates from a recent computer science conference in Fort Worth, Texas. She shares all about how to use AI in the classroom, an inexpensive technology tool called Micro:Bit, and a brief overview of the newly released technology application standards for Texas Teachers. Lauren is a STEM /GT specialist and instructional coach in Crowly ISD with over 12 years of education experience and loves learning the latest in STEM education to support teachers!

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

142. An AI Lesson Gone Awry

111. How AI will Transform Education ft. André Thomas

101. How ChatGPT Will Transform Education

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

Best Free AI Tools for Educators

Hour of Code Resources + Unplugged Coding Activity

Engineering and the 5E Science Model

Vivify STEM Lessons

Intro to Coding STEM Activity

Welcome Tower Design Challenge

Mission to Moon Semester STEM Unit + Moon Colony Project!

Technology Choice Boards

Other STEM Resources

We Teach_CS Summit 2024

Technology Applications TEKS Changes Coming for 2024-25 School Year

Texas Advanced Computing Center - Professional Development

Rice University Office of STEM Engagement

Micro:Bit

MakeCode.org

Magic School AI

Code.org/AI

Quick Tips

THE STEM SPACE SHOWNOTES

THE STEM SPACE FACEBOOK GROUP

VIVIFY INSTAGRAM

VIVIFY FACEBOOK

VIVIFY X

VIVIFY TIKTOK