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John Manon works with STEM students.

Armando Caro, a math teacher at William Penn High School, got goose bumps following a conversation with Vatekeh Corlon, a student attending the Student STEM Summer Academy held at the University of Delaware’s Harker Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Laboratory. During the lesson “Deflecting Hyperbolators,” Corlon exclaimed, “I now have a vision for my future.”

“This is a student who hasn’t taken physics yet. Imagine that inspiration,” said Caro.

This summer, the Student STEM Summer Academy brought together three dozen teachers and nearly 80 students from nine Delaware high schools to promote a deeper understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics – or STEM – curriculum. Hands-on interdisciplinary lessons were aimed at increasing the number of students considering an education or career in a STEM field.

“During the academy, students learn about things that would not necessarily interest them when presented in a traditional way,” said Brandi Anderson, a science teacher at Appoquinimink High School. “But when they collaborate with each other, and see how math and science work in the real world, they get energized.”

Interdisciplinary lessons

Using knowledge they learned at a January workshop, teams of high school teachers devised eight innovative interdisciplinary STEM lessons that they tested on their students at the Harker Lab.  Students were asked to explore biodiversity in local micro-environments, design electromagnetic inductance coils, develop and test models of earthquake resistant structures, and experiment with ways to make a more effective solar powered ceiling light for use in dwellings far from the electrical grid.

“It’s easier to learn and enhance our understanding of the lessons when the activities are hands on,” said Gabby Caballero, a student from Middletown High School. “It’s a good introduction to the topics and gets me excited for the school year.”

Barbra Funk, a science teacher at Christiana High School, was impressed by the students’ interest. “Listening to their conversations gives me hope, because these kids are really great problem solvers and thinkers.”

“I want to be a chemistry teacher and if I could do some research in the building across the path [Colburn Laboratory], it would be the best,” said Colton Cassidy, a student from Appoquinimink High. “I really hope I can go here one day.”

A community of teachers

The academy, funded by a Delaware Mathematics and Science Partnership grant, and coordinated by UD’s John Jungck, director of the Interdisciplinary Science Learning Center, and Jon Manon, associate director of mathematics education within theProfessional Development Center for Educators, is designed to fill the need for more interactive, interdisciplinary learning.

Read the full article on UDaily.