Goal Four:
Ensuring that there are properly trained and certified STEAM facilitators, including developing a mindset for making and tinkering among staff, students, visiting experts and volunteers
Is it Specific?
This goal is specific and well-defined. Having administration hire properly trained and certified STEAM facilitators would be advantageous to the overall implementation of the program. Having on-campus professional development to encourage ‘tinkering’ and creating would be valuable for helping the faculty and staff develop and further their understanding of the STEAM/STEM philosophy.
A school could set a goal to have one in-school professional development course and one visiting expert per year. For example, an in-service workday with a Lego activity. For students, having more STEM activities could be achieved by adding more afterschool activities with a STEM focus.
Is it Achievable?
Having properly trained and certified facilitators is achievable. Cost may be a consideration; but as priority is being placed on STEM?STEAM initiatives it would be money well spent.
Is it Relevant?
Properly trained and certified faculty adds relevance to the STEM/STEAM program itself. If funding is available, it could save money in the long run by know that the initiative was set up in a professional and knowledgeable manner by certified or highly trained individuals. Students and parents would recognize added afterschool activist related to STEM and not only be appreciative by acknowledge the relevance to their child’s education.
Is it Time-bound?
If setting up a STEM initiative is a financial burden that cannot be … taken on at a particular time, then small steps and incremental development can still lead to success; albeit more slowly. This goal is time-bound by financial restrictions for some schools but a layout of the program and a model of how it can be implemented with regard to time is doable.
Ensuring that there are properly trained and certified STEAM facilitators, including developing a mindset for making and tinkering among staff, students, visiting experts and volunteers
Is it Specific?
This goal is specific and well-defined. Having administration hire properly trained and certified STEAM facilitators would be advantageous to the overall implementation of the program. Having on-campus professional development to encourage ‘tinkering’ and creating would be valuable for helping the faculty and staff develop and further their understanding of the STEAM/STEM philosophy.
A school could set a goal to have one in-school professional development course and one visiting expert per year. For example, an in-service workday with a Lego activity. For students, having more STEM activities could be achieved by adding more afterschool activities with a STEM focus.
Is it Achievable?
Having properly trained and certified facilitators is achievable. Cost may be a consideration; but as priority is being placed on STEM?STEAM initiatives it would be money well spent.
Is it Relevant?
Properly trained and certified faculty adds relevance to the STEM/STEAM program itself. If funding is available, it could save money in the long run by know that the initiative was set up in a professional and knowledgeable manner by certified or highly trained individuals. Students and parents would recognize added afterschool activist related to STEM and not only be appreciative by acknowledge the relevance to their child’s education.
Is it Time-bound?
If setting up a STEM initiative is a financial burden that cannot be … taken on at a particular time, then small steps and incremental development can still lead to success; albeit more slowly. This goal is time-bound by financial restrictions for some schools but a layout of the program and a model of how it can be implemented with regard to time is doable.
