Using Defined Learning to Support Teachers with High-Quality PBL Professional Learning

When Angelina Rowden, principal at Sunrise School, says, “Our school is our community” she means both literally and figuratively. The school, which serves students in grades pre-k through 8 is 50 miles south of St. Louis and the only business in […]

How to Teach Project-Based Learning in a Virtual Classroom

When COVID-19 forced us to adjust learning environments, we knew student engagement might hang in the balance. As school leaders, we chose to believe the circumstances presented a huge opportunity to think outside the box, to change instruction for […]

Introduce Middle School Career Exploration via Project-Based Learning

Student engagement has long been the focus of educators and administrators everywhere. We want to connect with our students. We want to make an impact, to prepare students for the future.

When COVID-19 forced us to adjust learning environments, […]

Games to Engage Elementary Students

As we begin classes and a new year, it is a perfect time to plan for the future. As educators, we are constantly encouraging our students to try new activities to develop skills. We need to model that as adults. According to neuroscientists, any […]

North Carolina School District Gives STEM some STEAM

The data speaks for itself in Greene County, North Carolina, but it’s only part of the story. The real story comes from the district’s response to remote learning, and, most importantly, according to district leaders, the feedback the district is […]

Winter STEM Ideas

Stuck inside? During the cold months of winter, it is easy to get bogged down by the weather, gray skies, and cold temperatures. Whether we are at home or in school, we can engage learners in meaningful STEM learning that reflects the winter months.

Top 10 PBL & STEM Education Articles of 2020

We reviewed the major news articles written on project-based learning (PBL) and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in 2020 and found ten that we think are exceptionally inspiring and educational. Topics range from […]

STEM Activities You Can Do at Home This Month

As most of you prepare for the last week of school before the winter break, it is a perfect time to use STEM to keep your students engaged. I will share several of these great activities created by my STEMigo Dacia Penley Jones, known as Dr. […]

Sticking with STEM: Maintaining Hands-On Learning While Virtual

I was recently interviewed on a podcast and was asked how I felt about the changes in education in light of the pandemic. We discussed the fact that a lot has changed; for educators, for students, and for families. The circumstances that we are in […]

Bartlett City Schools Increases Access to STEM Experiences with Defined Learning

“Can I use this exclusively?!” When Katie MCain, the 6-12 instructional supervisor for Bartlett City Schools in Tennessee, heard this from one of her teachers, she knew the district’s plan for STEM and Project-Based Learning (PBL) was going better […]