David Lee EdTech

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTU2Ic7nECU When we talk about STEM education, we often focus on content knowledge or technical skills. But there is another crucial aspect that often determines a student's long-term success: STEM Identity . What is STEM identity? It is a person’s ability to “see themselves as the kind of people who could be legitimate participants in STEM through their interest, abilities, race, gender, and culture” (Hughes et al., 2013, p. 2). It goes beyond just getting an 'A' in math class; it is the ability to “imagine themselves fitting into this community of practice” (Carlone & Johnson, 2007). Defining STEM Identity Synthesizing the research, we can define STEM Identity as the self-perception of individuals as authentic participants in STEM, integrating their interests, abilities, and cultural background, and envisioning themselves as knowledgeable, active learners and contributors. What the Research Says So, how do we build this? Several stu...

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvPdPaxiAVA To truly understand STEM practices, we must look beyond individual skills and view them through an integrated lens. This is the heart of "Situated STEM Learning" —the idea that understanding how to apply knowledge is just as important as the knowledge itself. But how do we visualize this integration? 1. The Pulley System Kelley and Knowles (2016) propose a "block and tackle" pulley framework. Imagine Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math as four separate pulleys. Together, they lift a heavy "load"—which is Situated STEM Learning (authentic, real-world problem solving). The "rope" connecting them represents the community of educators and students collaborating to make this lift happen. It reminds us that successful STEM requires a community working in harmony. 2. The Orchestra Another way to view this is through the metaphor of a grand orchestra. The Conductor: The student or professional wor...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoZxs7BBlm0 This video shows the process I use (and mindset) to design project-based (PBL) learning experiences that are optimal for design thinking integration. Thank you so much for checking out this video. If you are interested in learning more please check the link below to receive free resources that can help you start on your journey of equipping your students with design thinking. Learn more about these experiences here: lpbeta.org/book Timestamp 0:35 Start with the Standards 1:81 Develop a Real World Context/Task 2:35 Develop a Learning Narrative 4:00 Develop a Learning Plan 4:56 Integrate Assessments You can watch these videos to learn more about the city plan project. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYyk4fLjIwR956i1EZWlFUIK8pc1G-HOr DT Unit Project Videos Designing Products and Services for Marketplace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypOJ2yfRi1s Designing Festival Floats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAlA-x-m0vQ ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFgvEVcPmRY Learn more about Design Thinking in education here: lpbeta.org/book  

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq_wpzOxuXk What does it actually look like to apply STEM practices in an integrated way? The best way to picture this is to see it in action within the workflow of a professional. Let’s look at architects and how they apply specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes to design a structure. Phase 1: Collaboration & Definition The journey begins with collaboration. Architects ask insightful questions to understand the client’s vision and the site’s potential (Asking Questions; TEP-7 Communication). They don’t just look at the land; they analyze how systems—energy, water, structure—interact with the environment (TEP-1 Systems Thinking). Armed with this data, they define the problem and set clear goals. Phase 2: Modeling & Innovation Next, the team uses creativity to imagine innovative solutions (TEP-2 Creativity). They use sophisticated tools like Building Information Modeling (BIM) to create a “digital playground” where they can test layouts...

  https://youtu.be/1n6MjH2db1Q To learn more about design thinking in education, check out my book "Design Thinking in the Classroom."