The Compelling Question:
How can STEM integration support and enhance literacy instruction within the classroom?
Abstract
Pose compelling question
In order to begin this journey, I reflected on myself as novice educator. I initially analyzed my strengths and areas of improvements within my classroom, the demographics of my population of students and their literacy instructional needs. I then explored the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program that my school provides to the students. I examined the benefits of STEM and the effect it has on successfully composing strong 21st century lifelong learners. Throughout my analysis, I discovered the positive impact STEM can have on a students learning and I quickly became consumed with curiosity on the effect STEM may have on a student’s literacy instruction. The majority of my schools population derives from impoverished homes and 78% of our students live in Spanish speaking households. This led me to develop my compelling question in order to bridge the gap between my English language learners and assist all my students in gaining strong literacy skills through interactive and engaging hands on STEM projects that interconnect among curriculum content. Therefore, my compelling question is: How can STEM integration enhance and support literacy instruction within the classroom?
Gathering & Analyzing Information
Through my two year adventure in the New Literacies and Global Learning Program, I continually examined the interactive projects I completed, the papers that I composed, and the articles that I have analyzed throughout the diverse courses that I have been a part of in order to receive my masters degree. I gathered all the insightful strategies, educational theories and technological resources to devise innovative, interconnected, cross content work for my students that integrate STEM with a focus on literacy. After utilizing these newly mastered instructional methods, learning theories and tools, I began to uncover the findings that would assist me in answer my compelling question.
Creatively Synthesize Information
Based on my previous experiences of successfully using Weebly to publish my classroom website, I decided to creatively synthesize my information by compiling data to support my compelling question, details on my journey and the insightful findings that I concluded along the way.
Critically Evaluate & Revise
After analyzing gathered information and concluding my findings that ultimately answered my compelling question, I was guided by the New Literacies and Global Learning Creative Synthesis Rubric to ensure the quality of the content that I have constructed on my website. I shared with my peers, co-workers and former Professors as I sought constructive feedback to ensure that I presented my journey in an organized and user friendly manner in order to assist all future viewers and inquiries of my site along with the NLGL program.
Share Public Act
To conclude my graduate course work and share my compelling question and my intriguing findings, I published my website. I presented my website to my co-hort and my professors. Through my published work I was able to express the inspiration and knowledge that the New Literacies and Global Learning program has provided me throughout my journey at North Carolina State University.
Summary of my findings
Throughout my time at North Carolina State University, I have experienced a variety of courses, insightful guidance from my professors, and have developed my craft knowledge as a teacher leader. It is due to my course work in the New Literacies and Global Learning Program that I am able to answer my compelling question and support that STEM integration does in fact enhance and support literacy instruction. In answering my compelling question, I gathered:
- By integrating STEM into our daily classrooms and centering the collaborative activities around a piece of literature, our students developed as comprehensive readers, technological users and 21st century life long learners.
- The TPACK framework is essential to the formation of a collaborative and integrated positive educational environment.
- Globally diverse students are full of inspiration curiosity and learn through the Constructivist Learning Theory.