In Training: Educational Workshop at BAU
Leading an educational workshop with Mr. Amin Hamdan at BAU University in Beirut.
The Beirut Arab University is proud to be hosting the first SIRCAUS-2018 conference which aims at bringing together scientists and students of different research fields sharing common interest, ideas and innovations in the research field.
From Solving Problems to Problem - Solving Model
Mahdi Mansour
School of Education, Lebanese International
University, Beirut, Lebanon.
STEM-PBL is both challenging and motivating. It requires
students to think critically and analytically. Among many
other 21st century skills; skills like collaboration,
creativity, critical thinking, peer communication, problemsolving, and self-directed learning are part of any STEMPBL, and will be needed for students to be effective. The
essence of an "effective STEM education” is to transform
“novice” attitudes and problem solving approaches into
“expert”. "learning" memorization of facts and problem
solving recipes are useful only to pass exam but not to
solve problems. Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) Project-Based Learning (PBL)
integrates engineering design principles with Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Content. The
infusion of design principles enhances real world
applicability and helps prepare students for postsecondary education, with an emphasis on making
connections to what STEM professionals actually do in
their jobs. Participants in this workshop will bring their
compartmentalized knowledge of science, technology,
and mathematics to bear on solving meaningful realworld problems. Through well designed activities,
Participants will apply STEM PBL strategies and build on
“engineering design” as the cornerstone and as the
foundation on which problems can in solved. the
workshops go deeper than just providing examples of
projects. It will discuss the process, and empower the
participants with project-based learning techniques.
Synopsis:
From Solving Problems to Problem - Solving Model
Introduction: STEM education is the process of being
scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technological
entrepreneurs. Students in high-level STEM work are
actively solving problems, taking ownership of their
learning, and applying content in real-world contexts[i].
That’s because high-level STEM education is projectbased learning; they literally complement each other in
the classroom. When working through the PBL, students
become more prepared for the real world by working in
teams to solve an authentic technological workplace
problem where multiple solutions are possible[ii]. In this
workshop, participants will know how to develop PBL in
their classrooms, facilitate and act as consultant as
student’s balance technology, budget and time
constraints to devise and test a solution. Participants will
also apply the “engineering design process” to come up
with solution to a problem, to make connections, design,
build, test, evaluate and modify designs to achieve
solutions. This process allows students to be actively
engaging in critical and creative thinking.
Strategy: The workshop is designed to immerse the
participants in progressive activities to help them
understand how STEM education and PBL lead to better
results in the classrooms. Instructions will be
personalized to give every participant an opportunity to
test, develop their own ideas, enroll in group
argumentations, read and write genres, plan, design and
test simple solutions to specific assign problems through
PBL.
Description of the session:
I- Ice breaking Activity I: “Let us be the circuits”
(10 min.)
- This is to Use the elementary knowledge of
resistivity and conductivity, to establish a
solution in testing drinkable water upon
studying its electrochemistry.
- Participants will use a ready-made lamp to
show how conductivity varies from one
system to another.
- Activity was designed to start from simple
steps (using multi-meters to measure
resistivity) to higher order skills (using Arduino
board and excel sheet to study the pollution of
local fresh water)
- Participants will use a ready-made lamp to
show how conductivity varies from one
system to another.
- Designed to be accomplished by Groups of
three/four.
II- Activity II: “Visualizing the invisible” (20 min.)
- This objective of this activity is to immerse
participants in STEM through the
“Engineering Process”.
- Different Materials and equipment will be
given to each group to determine distinct
properties of air.
- Groups will present their findings.
- JIGSAW, when completed, will give a
comprehensive conclusion about air and its
properties.
- Participant will use the knowledge now to plan
for a spacecraft to travel from point A (Earth)
to point B (Moon) using the “Engineering
Process”
- Designed to be accomplished by Groups of
three/four.
III- Activity III: “Why we don’t think about
building a cooper” (15 min.)
- The main objective of this activity is to Use the
Problem-Solving Model while as a part of
STEM Projects.
- Groups will be able to come up the best
cooper design by changing variables and
structures.
- The designed flying coopers must be revised
and enhanced so that it helps in designing
flying robots to understand the “Swarming
behavior” of some organisms.
- Participants will watch a video about how
robots programed to behave as natural folks
while traveling, eating, living…etc.
- Designed to be accomplished by Groups of
two/three.
Conclusion: A major consideration when planning
projects is catering for the learning needs of all students.
Students learn best by making connections, designing,
building, testing, evaluating and modifying designs until
the project outcomes are achieved. Throughout STEM
and PBL process students are actively engaging in critical
and creative thinking. They engage in active problem
solving by gathering data to inform planning, when they
conduct investigations, designing or through the
development of prototypes and solutions. They leverage
digital technologies throughout the project in
communicating findings, solving problems, and assisting
with the collation and analysis of data.
STEM education is the process of being scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technological entrepreneurs. Students in high-level STEM work are actively solving problems, taking ownership of their learning, and applying content in real-world contexts. That’s because high-level STEM education is project based learning; they literally complement each other in the classroom. When working through the PBL, students become more prepared for the real world by working in teams to solve an authentic technological workplace problem where multiple solutions are possible. In this workshop, participants will know how to develop PBL in their classrooms, facilitate and act as consultant as student’s balance technology, budget and time constraints to devise and test a solution. Participants will also apply the “engineering design process” to come up with solution to a problem, to make connections, design, build, test, evaluate and modify designs to achieve solutions. This process allows students to be actively engaging in critical and creative thinking.
The workshop is designed to immerse the participants in progressive activities to help them understand how STEM education and PBL lead to better results in the classrooms. Instructions will be personalized to give every participant an opportunity to test, develop their own ideas, enroll in group argumentations, read and write genres, plan, design and test simple solutions to specific assign problems through PBL.
A major consideration when planning projects is catering for the learning needs of all students. Students learn best by making connections, designing, building, testing, evaluating and modifying designs until the project outcomes are achieved. Throughout STEM and PBL process students are actively engaging in critical and creative thinking. They engage in active problem solving by gathering data to inform planning, when they conduct investigations, designing or through the development of prototypes and solutions. They leverage digital technologies throughout the project in communicating findings, solving problems, and assisting with the collation and analysis of data.
