Blog 18: Third Answer

How best can an organization like FIRST keep students K-12 interested STEM?

Answer 3: One of the best ways FIRST can keep students in K-12 interested in STEM is by working toward promoting better more effective teaching in schools.

1. Students lose interest in Mathematics because of something known as Math Anxiety which in laymans terms is anxiety over not understanding math and in turn deciding to ignore math leading to a further misunderstanding of the subject.  For example, if you had trouble in Mr. Hedman's class and you didn't seek help then and you never learned the topic, you won't be good at physics now which will cause you to be left even further behind.

2. Good classroom teaching fosters lifetime curiosity and pursuit of STEM topics and undergraduate studies and K-12 learning are inexplicably linked to one another. To foster K-12 STEM interest is to create STEM majors in college.

For example: If we had an awesome robotics program at the school, i would be more likely to become an engineer major in college because of what i learned in robotics. 

3. The focus falls on the teachers to provide engaging and smarter lesson plans that foster a yearning in students to learn and to do this we must first educate these amazing teachers in school so that they may one day pass on their passion to their students.

For example: if Isabel continues on the path of becoming a math teacher as her senior project entails, then she will take her passion and bring it to the school she will eventually teach in and inspire kids to be more interested in Math.

Sources: 

Advisory Committee. "New Expectations for Undergraduate Education in STEM." NSF.gov. National Science Foundation, 3 Oct. 1996. Web. 24 Jan. 2014.

Fairweather, James. Linking Evidence and Promising Practices in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Undergraduate Education. N.p.: Michigan State Univeristy, n.d. Print

Committee on STEM Education. "Federal STEM Education 5 Year Plan." Whitehouse.gov. Committee on STEM Education, May 2013. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.

National Science and Technology Council. "COORDINATING FEDERAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION INVESTMENTS: PROGRESS REPORT." Whitehouse.gov. National Science and Technology Council, Feb. 2012. Web. 07 Mar. 2014

National Science and Technology Council. "THE FEDERAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS(STEM) EDUCATION PORTFOLIO." Whitehouse.gov. National Science and Technology Council, Dec. 2011. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.

In conclusion: Better teaching in schools and of teachers as a result of the promotion through FIRST will provide more proactive STEM majors and STEM involvement in the K-12 level. 

Senior Project, the Holiday

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you over the break with your senior project?


Over the break, as part of my senior project the robotics club and i met periodically to work on our robot for our next qualifying tournament. We met on December 29th for 4 hours and worked with the group on fixing our robot for the next tournament. I also had a meeting with them on January 3rd and we did basically the same things and the most recent meeting was January the 5th where we have a working model of our robot that is a large improvement over our previous robot. We have the Qualifying tournament on January the 11th but i will not be able to attend. Our next meeting to completely finish all of our work as well as the qualifying stuff will be on Wednesday January 8th.

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why?  What was the source of what you learned?

There were many important things i learned from our meetings together with the team. In reference to my EQ, What is most important in winning a FIRST Tech Challenge, i usually observe the group and participate when i need to during our robotics meetings. In reality, what im learning in this team with our robotics group, are life skills that may extend beyond just high school and this group. Its us as a team, focusing our efforts and our skills and downfalls to complete a project from start to finish. I also analyzed the winning teams at the first competition we had. I saw robots modeled like a miniature moving tank and other robots that were quick and agile. I looked for what made them great and what made them win. What i saw was cooperation from all parts of the team from the fundraisers to the mechanical assembly kids all the way to the programmers. That was important.

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

I would talk to a mentor or a coach from one of the winning teams. Maybe get their perspective and idea on why they think they won. It would be helpful not only to my senior project but to my team as well.

EQ

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

• Provide a framework for studies
• Take a stance
• Format

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if it meets the rule of 3 criteria.
• Tell why it does or why it doesn't

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss? 

• It follows rule 1, 2, and 3 in the fact that it does allow the individual to do in depth research on the topic to achieve a final answer. It allows the person to choose a point and argue it backing it up with the research

 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?

• The formatting of this question is weird. It doesn't give any clue or stance as to what they're trying to figure out. They're not looking for anything.

 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?

• This follows all three rules. Although it could be a bit more clear on what aspects of hairstyle creation they will be exploring. The formatting of the question is very good.

 d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

• The question seems very single answer. It does not allow for extra research and several good answers.

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.

• What are the most important factors a First Tech Challenge team should consider in order to win a competition? 

Research and Working EQ

1.  What is your working EQ?
What is the most important factor in winning a FIRST tech challenge?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format.  

• One of the most important factors in winning a FIRST tech Challenge is communication with all members and willingness to cooperate and listen.

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 
My most important source that i've used have been my mentor as well as my meetings with my team. The second most important source would have to be the resource site of the competition. They have pushed me to believe that team work is the highest priority in this game.
4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is Joseph Uken who is with the Cal Poly Engineering and Robotics Club. He is also running the robotics club with iPoly and i'm in the club which makes it pertinent to my EQ. My EQ revolves around our group based robotics project and it involves many aspects of engineering and mechanical work.

Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ

So far, you have: completed your summer mentorship, started doing some research, maybe completed the interview and hopefully found a mentor.

Using what you have done so far, answer the following 5 questions (be specific and use examples).

The Pentagon:
(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?

A positive thing that has happened so far as a result of the senior project is that i have come in contact with a team of highly educated individuals who work toward a common goal of building a robot. I have met many people whom i will personally get to know better by the end of this year. I have also gained access to lots of volunteer opportunities as well as opportunities for scholarships through a program with my interviewee.

(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?

My interviewee and the environment that i interviewed her in has really opened my eyes to the world of robotics and team based competition through her organization. It helped me understand robotics more through the process it takes to work in the field and my mentor has also helped me understand what kind of person it requires to work on a project like robotics.

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

Nothing really worked well until recently when i was contacted about a robotics team that i had signed up for. Emailing has been a really important and integral part of working on the senior project. Keeping contacts and schedules and dates are also very important during the project. The main thing that has really worked in the senior project is talking to Purther maintains the senior project and knows it as his own child. It has been fantastic to be able to ask Purther questions about the project anytime after school. All in all, the project has been fair to me so far and has been very helpful.

(4) What hasn't worked so far?

Things that haven't worked so far include emailing the governmental websites, calling forestry services, and contacting people. Emailing has been very spotty sometimes bringing me gold, and other times leaving me staring at my email list for hours on end into the wee hours of the night. There have also been instances where i've had trouble finding research that works with my non-existent EQ so i found the first couple research checks pointless.

(5) Finding Value:

•  What is a potential question you would like to study this year?  (working EQ)

My working EQ could be something like "What is the most important factor in winning a FIRST Tech Challenge?"

•  What do you plan to do for mentorship?  If you haven't found a mentor yet, then discuss where you are currently looking and who you are talking to to find it.  

I have a mentorship set up with the event coordinator of a major robotics competition and many sub-competitions. I also am part of a robotics team that has many mentors and i am also currently enlisted under many engineering majors at Cal Poly. This should help me set up many different moments to learn.