Seeds of STEM is a research project funded by the US Department of Education (Institute of Education Sciences) which focuses on the development and testing of a problem solving (early engineering) curriculum for Pre-K classrooms.
We will conduct a round table discussion session that engages participants in learning about the project, listen to Head Start teachers experience with problem solving activities, review the developed units, and discuss/provide feedback on the content and pedagogy for teaching young children how to follow the engineering design process in order to solve any kind of problem.
The session will share with participants the first couple of Seeds of STEM units, designed to teach problem solving skills to young children. Participants will experience a component of each unit, discuss it with colleagues, and provide feedback and suggestions. Educators will enhance their understanding of the process of problem solving (engineering design process) and how it can be taught at the pre-K classroom. Researchers will learn about the iterative process of the curriculum development.
This session is intended for Pre-K educators, administrators, para-professionals, policy makers, and researchers who study the early learning of STEM.