Partnership with Elementary School Full STEAM Ahead
This school year, it’s been full STEAM ahead for an innovative partnership between two Heidelberg professors, a ‘Berg student teacher, third-grade classes at Tiffin’s Krout Elementary School and Sentinel Vocational Center.
All would agree that the multi-faceted collaboration has had multiple levels of benefits across the board.
“Anything to get my students more engaged and making connections to real-world ideas while integrating the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math that doesn’t involve ‘busy’ worksheets, I’m in,” said Krout third-grade teacher Jennifer Gressman. Jennifer has worked with 'Berg education professors Dr. Stacey Pistorova and Dr. Lindsey Haubert to incorporate STEAM principles and projects in her classroom.
The third-graders started with the study of wind, created cities and ultimately took on the Chicken Coop Challenge, a favorite among the students. A dozen of them also voluntarily participated in Genius Hour, where they could study, pitch and create projects about which they were passionate
’Berg senior Tori Hossenlopp, who is student teaching with Jennifer this semester, has been amazed by the students’ analytical skills and teamwork through the STEAM project. “I think what has impressed me most is the students’ excitement and their dedication to the different experiences,” Tori said. “The projects present them with an authentic challenge that incorporates specific standards while also requiring them to use real-life problem-solving skills. … I have always believed that students need these experiences in the classroom to develop deep connections with content.”
May 10, 2018
