Why is robotics instruction and education the ultimate STEAM? Many progressive educators advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) to be a cornerstone of a robust and engaging 21st Century education. STEAM education encapsulates the skills that organizations and businesses desire: cooperation, communication, critical-thinking, and creativity as well as high citizenship and high character. Additionally, the STEAM construct is interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary, highly desired 21st Century skills. Let us consider how and why robotics instruction and education is the ultimate STEAM.
It has been debated to what degree robotics truly engage students in the hard disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Many educators believe that robotics instruction focuses on “soft skills,” consisting of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical-thinking. …
There has been a significant focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) instruction in primary and secondary educational levels throughout the country and around the world. One key component of a robust STEAM education program has robotics instruction. Developmentally appropriate robotic education can start as early as kindergarten (5–6 years old) and continue through college and beyond.
Over the past few years, robotics and robotic instruction has become mainstream in elementary and middle schools throughout the country and the world. Additionally, robotic tournaments at all educational levels have shown exponential growth and have been a great showcase for schools at all levels. Most all school cannot have championship level athletic programs but can have championship level robotics teams. Many robotics team consist of top tier students and many school use their robotics team for their “enrichment program” of identified intellectually gifted students. …
What is the future of education? There have been countless theories about the future of education since John Dewey. John Dewey (1859–1952), believed that human beings learned through a “hands-on” approach which is identified as the educational philosophy of pragmatism. This educational philosophy believes that students must interact with their environment in order to adapt and learn. Some of the most notable pragmatic philosophers from the 19th Century include Charles Peirce, William James, and John Dewey.
Additionally, there are several other educational philosophies including: Perennialism, Essentialism, Progressivism, and Reconstructionism. These philosophies tend to focus on what we should teach and not how to teach it. Many of these were underlying foundations in development of the state standards that we know today. Finally, instructors have been the “controller” of the knowledge or “sage on the stage” rather than a facilitator of knowledge and learning. …
Robotics and STEAM/STEM what is the connection? Robotics in education has been the “buzz ward” recently in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education. Historically, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics have been taught in “silos,” or independent areas of study and disciplines. This is especially prominent in middle and high school due to departments. While departmentalized education may have been sufficient for a 20th Century Education and a foundation of public education, it is not sufficient a robust 21st Century Education. The ability to conceptually understand how all disciplines work cohesively is a necessary skill for 2020 and beyond. …
Pre-COVID-19 life is much different than life 10 months into the pandemic. School has gone virtual, work life has been completely turned upside down or put on hold for the moment. The moment being the development and distribution of a Coronavirus vaccination. Exercise routines have changed dramatically. People have been forced to rethink or rediscover their home environments to use as fitness centers.
With that being said, one exercise mode — bicycling — has not changed during the pandemic. If anything, the use of a bicycle for either commuting to and from work or for fitness purposes has actually increased. Why? Partly because the decreased presence of traffic on the road due to pandemic conditions. Additionally, some bicycle riders recognize that there is little need to wear a mask while riding a bicycle. Which is actually not technically true. …
How LAUSD board member promoting about Hybrid Schooling, if this platform could end up as a public health disaster.
Hybrid Schooling May Be the Most Dangerous Option of All.
It’s supposed to be the perfect compromise between in-person and online education. It could end up as a public health nightmare.
While on the surface hybrid education/instruction appears to be the best of both worlds. In theory, it allows face-to-face instruction while increase teacher and student interaction and allows students to “reengage” in the school environment.
It allows students to keep social distancing, reduces the amount of students on the campus at any one time while also reducing students engaged in asynchronous instruction. In theory, it is a significant enhancement and improvement over distance learning, but is it in reality? …
It’s time for a change for the LAUSD Board 3 Election in November the 3rd.
California voters, including parents, have deep concerns about distance learning. Kids aren’t getting the right kind of education they deserve.
My deepest concerns in my LAUSD district Board 3 stated facts. I feel frightened about the coming results. Below are important and crucial problems have not been resolved.
- The MOU (Memo of Understanding) between LAUSD and UTLA defined how Distance Learning is be delivered during Synchronous (Live — face-to-face) and Asynchronous Instruction (non-live, independent work). Since March students have been engaged in Distance Learning. The achievement gap, English Learner students, Standard English Learners, Title I, etc, already prevalent in, by many measures, has most certainly increased. …
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