A class called SECME
A daily lesson in
project based learning
Project Based Learning
There is an ancient Asian saying,
``I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.'’
-Confucius
The Silent Epidemic
by John Bridgeland
March 2006
Nearly half of the respondents said a
major reason that they dropped out of
school was that the classes were not
interesting
 Many of those students had a C
average or better in their classes.
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Science Education
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Sixty-five percent of scientists and science graduate
students said their interest in science began before
middle school,
According to a study in the March 2010 International
Journal of Science Education. Women were more
likely to report that their interest was sparked by
school-related activities,
While most men said trying experiments at home and
reading science fiction inspired them.
Science Curriculum
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STEM education experts want to see more inquiry and problemsolving in science classrooms, especially at the high school
level. The College Board is revising its AP science courses,
beginning with biology, to reduce emphasis on memorizing facts
and promote understanding of the scientific process through
inquiry based laboratories.
In districts where in-school time is consumed with reading and
math, after-school programs that give students opportunities to
experiment can provide a similar boost, says Shirley Malcom,
head of education and human resources programs at the
American Association for the Advancement of Science. “It does
not substitute, but in a pinch, it’s better than nothing,” she says.
What is SECME?
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My SECME Research class is an elective
class using STEM curriculum adapted from
SECME Summer Institute and District handson projects. SECME Inc. is a nonprofit
organization founded in 1975 by engineering
deans from six Southeastern universities to
address the national challenge of equity in
STEM access and education.
Rigor Redefined
The 7 survival skills for Careers, College
and Citizenship:
1 Critical Thinking and Problem-solving
2 Collaboration Across Networks and
Leading by Influence
3 Agility and Adaptability
4 Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
Rigor Redefined: The
Schooling Students Need
5
6
7
Effective Oral and Written
Communication
Accessing and Analyzing Information
Curiosity and Imagination
Frame of Reference Check
Draw nine dots equally distant shown below and join all nine dots,
D with four straight lines without taking the pen from the paper
The Nine Steps of
Project-Based
Learning
Teachers as Classroom Coaches:
How to Motivate Students Across
the Content Areas
by Andi Stix and Frank Hrbek
9 Steps of Project Based
Learning
The teacher-coach sets the stage for
students with real-life samples of the
projects they will be doing.
2. Students take on the role of project
designers, possibly establishing a
forum for display or competition.
3. Students discuss and accumulate the
background information needed for
their designs.
1.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The teacher-coach and students
negotiate the criteria for evaluating
the projects.
Students accumulate the materials
necessary for the project.
Students create their projects.
Students present their projects.
9 steps of project based
learning con’t
8. Students prepare to present their
projects.
9. Students reflect on the process and
evaluate the projects based on the
criteria established in Step 4
The Eight Step Process of
Successful Change
by John Kotter
Set the Stage
1.
2.
Create a Sense of
Urgency
Pull Together a Guiding
Team
Decide What to Do
3.
Develop the Change
Vision and Strategy
Make it Happen
4.
5.
6.
7.
Communicate for Understanding
and Buy In
Empower Others to Act
Produce Short-Term wins
Do not let Up!!!!!
Make It Stick
8.
Create a New Culture
“A rising tide lifts all ships”
Joseph S. Renzulli
The Data
Data from Miami-Dade public
Schools for SECME students
2004-2005
Participating SECME Schools in MiamiDade Public Schools 2004-2005
Forty Elementary Schools
 Twenty seven Middle Schools
 Twenty two Senior High Schools
 One K-8 Center
 Two Alternative Centers
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Percentage of SECME Title 1 Schools in MiamiDade Public School System
District and SECME Performance on the 2005
FCAT SSS Science, by Ethnicity, All Students
Tested, Grade 8
District and SECME Performance on the 2005
FCAT SSS Reading, by Ethnicity, All Students
Tested, Grade 8
District and SECME Performance on the 2005
FCAT SSS Mathematics, by Ethnicity, All
Students Tested, Grade 8
2011 SECME SAT Average vs US
National Average
2011 SECME High School students
intended college major
SECME National Data
SECME 2008 Senior Demographics:
 52% Female
 48% Male
 58% African American
 17% Hispanic
 2% Native American
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SECME Success Stories
56% of SECME juniors and seniors
have participated in SECME for two or
more years
 96% of 2008 SECME Seniors enrolled
in a postsecondary institution
 91% of those in a 4-year institution
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SECME African American Success
Stories
SECME African American seniors
scored an average of 305 points higher
on the SAT (composite score) than the
African American national average
 SAT Math scores for SECME African
American seniors averaged 135 points
higher.
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SECME Hispanic Success Stories
SECME Hispanic seniors scored an
average of 331 points higher on the
SAT (composite score) than the
Hispanic national average
 SAT Math scores for SECME Hispanic
seniors averaged 134 points higher.
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Classroom Projects
& Competitions
National & District SECME
STEM Projects
What does differentiated
Instruction mean?

Differentiated instruction is an
approach to teaching essential
content in ways that address the
varied learning needs of students
with the goal of maximizing the
possibilities of each learner. Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development
Differentiated Instruction?
What My Class
looks like
Teamwork
Engineering
Technology
Mark Eyerman
Blanche Ely High School, Broward County Florida
Team Building Activities
Toxic Waste Dump Activity
• My Job Would be Easy if….
• Short term projects
•
Good to know and
Need to Know
Rubrics
Collaboration
Daily Readings
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Chicken Soup for the College Soul
The Last Lecture
The Tipping Point
Blink & Outliers
Influential texts
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Gung Ho
How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci
The Wright Way
Fish!
Who Moved My Cheese
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
Shackleton’s Way
International Center for Leadership in
Education, inc.
Water Rocket
Rollercoaster Project
Balsawood Bridge
Prosthetic /Bionic Hand
What I look for in a student
A nation can defend its shores
against an invading army,
but not against an idea
whose time has come.
Thank You
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Submitted by
mark.eyerman@browardschools.com
www.browardscience.com
www.secme.org
Special thanks to the data provided by Ms
Ava Rosales of Miami-Dade Public SchoolsCurriculum Support Specialist Office of
Curriculum and Instruction - Science
Education
Sources for Activities
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Balloon car contest at the JPL (NASA)
http://www.balloonhq.com/balloon_car/balloo
n_car.html
Quick Team-Building Activities for Busy
Managers by Brian Cole Miller page 69
“Sweet Stories”
Technical Drawings
Balsa wood Bridge
 Mousetrap Car
 Water Rocket
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Balsa wood Bridge
The bridge drawing is required to
illustrate the actual bridge (competition)
 The drawing must be on 18 inch x 24
inches paper (any type) with a half (0.5)
(1/2) inch border.
 All dimensions are to be included –
length, width and height.

Balsa wood Bridge con’t
The drawing is required to show three
(3) views- top, side and end.
 All parts of the bridge are to be labeled
(roadway, supports, etc.)
 At the bottom right corner of the
drawing, it will have a title block (1.5” x
6” is size.

Title Block
The Title Block 1.5 inches x 6 inches
School Name:
School’s Coordinator’s Name:
Team Name:
Team Member’s Name and Grades:
Date of Competition:
Scale:
Water Rocket Technical
Drawing
Same as the Balsa wood Bridge as far
as size, half- inch border and title box
 Only two views –side and top or bird’s
eye view.
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Mousetrap Car Technical
Drawing
Same as the Balsa wood Bridge, and
the Water Rocket
 Three views are required; frontal or
rear, side and top.
 Again, the title block is required along
with a title block and the half-inch
border.
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Coordinators Practice
Draw from the samples provided in the
session (workshop)
 Today using the Vellum paper from
Office Depot- approximately $13.00 for
ten (10) 18 x 24 inch sheets.
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Questions?