Building a K-12 STEM Lab: A Step-by-Step Guide for School Leaders and Tech Coaches

by Deborah Nagler, Martha Osei-Yaw

Overview

Gain insights and clear guidelines for developing the robust partnerships and processes you need to build a successful STEM lab in your school.

Few resources are available for district and school leaders looking to establish successful STEM labs. Frequently, efforts do not gain traction because they lack a systemic approach and the support of a broad spectrum of stakeholders within the school community. Unlike other books, Building a K-12 STEM Lab addresses this challenge from the perspective of the leader, identifying opportunities for capacity building and ensuring equal access and equity for all students.

This book will:

• Address key issues in building a STEM Lab, including budgetary constraints, space limitations, technology design and resources, and inclusivity.
• Provide step-by-step guidelines designed to meet the diverse needs of a wide range of educational environments.
• Include vignettes describing the experiences of a variety of schools – public, private, rural, urban – at different levels – elementary, middle school, and high school – that have successfully established STEM labs in their schools.

The comprehensive and flexible approach outlined in this book will help school and district leaders develop productive community partnerships in support of STEM education within the STEM lab and throughout the school.

Audience: K-12 school and district leaders, tech coaches

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781564847003
Publisher:	International Society for Technology in Education
Publication date:	11/21/2018
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Deborah Nagler is an adjunct professor of Educational Technology at New Jersey City University. She holds an MS in Education Media Design & Technology from Full Sail Universityand an EdD in Educational Technology Leadership from New Jersey City University, where her research focused on women's participation in makerspaces. She is an Instructional Designer, a highly experienced trainer, and an explorer of new media and technology, promoting entrepreneurship and invention coupled with positive values. Dr. Martha Osei-Yaw serves as the principal of Alexander D. Sullivan Elementary School, a bilingual STEM model school. Osei-Yaw is also an adjunct professor at New Jersey City Universitywhereby she introduces future educators to innovative ways of integrating technology into the curriculum. Osei-Yaw’s professional aspiration is to encourage girls and underrepresented students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

1 Idea + Passion + Opportunity 1

Top Down or Bottom Up: Does It Matter? 2

STEM Leadership as a Mindset 2

The Formula for Success 4

Chapter 1 Recap 8

2 Preparing a Strong Foundation 9

Developing a Vision 10

Enrolling Stakeholders 11

Planning Your Work and Working Your Plan 14

Measuring Success 19

It's About Time 20

Chapter 2 Recap 20

3 Building a Budget 21

Budget Basics 22

Budget Considerations 23

Design Considerations 24

Building Resources for Your STEM Lab 31

Chapter 3 Recap 32

4 It Takes a Village 33

Partnerships and the STEM Lab 34

Finding Partners 35

Trying Partnerships On for Size 40

Parents as Partners 41

Chapter 4 Recap 47

5 PD that Fits to A T (As in Technology) 49

The Teacher's Role 50

Unpacking Tpack 52

ISTE Standards and Your PD Toolkit 53

PD Possibilities for Schools of All Types and Sizes 55

Chapter 5 Recap 64

6 At the Intersection of Stem Lab and Curriculum 65

Standards, Interdisciplinary Curriculum, and the STEM Lab 66

Bringing STEM Lab Activity into the Curriculum 69

Additional STEM Lab Challenges 71

Finding the Right STEM Lab Projects 78

Chapter 6 Recap 78

7 Ready, Set … Now Implement 73

Ensuring All the Pieces Are in Place 80

STEM Lab Administration 101 83

Chapter 7 Recap 94

8 Impact and Expectation 95

STEM Integration within the School: Before and After 96

Student Assessment 97

Cultivating a STEM Climate 98

Student Voice and Choice 102

Chapter 8 Recap 104

Final Thoughts 105

Appendix A ISTE Standards for Education Leaders 109

Appendix B Resources 113

References 119

Index 125