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How to Teach STEM to Visual, Auditory, Writing, and Kinesthetic Learners

10/7/2020

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Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability

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Visual Learners

These students learn best by observation. Visual learners prefer images, videos, and graphics to process information.
​
Most Effective Teaching Methods:
  • Demonstrations
  • Graphs
  • Charts
  • YouTube Videos (the SciShow is a great science educational YouTube Channel)
  • Creative Projects​

Reading/Writing Learners

Those students who enjoy reading and writing likely fall into this category; they can analyze and express critical ideas through writing to gain a more thorough understanding. While many activities may inherently cater to this group, they will likely prefer written instructions during activities that are hands-on.
​
Most Effective Teaching Methods:
  • Worksheets
  • Books
  • Scientific Observation Journals (see how you can create one)

Auditory Learners

Listening and sound are the best reinforcement for those auditorily inclined. Those who are auditory learners prefer explanations above all else; a lecture is likely to be most effective here rather than reading off a document. Conversation and combining sounds into activities are critical to their success.
​
Most Effective Teaching Methods:
  • Stories
  • Lectures
  • Podcasts (A comprehensive list of engaging science podcasts for kids)
  • Songs

Kinesthetic Learners

For kinesthetic learners, doing is everything; when given the chance to work hands-on, they will gladly jump at the chance. Using all their senses in conjunction with the information given, this group of people need experimenting and interaction with the physical applications of ideas to gain a better grasp.

​
Most Effective Teaching Methods:
  • Hands-on demonstrations & projects
  • Educational Kits (solar4STEM kits are a great resource)
  • Experiments (the classic “egg-drop challenge” is a great way to teach physics)
​Appeal to all three learning styles with Artfire’s fun role playing experiment:

Lesson Idea: Role-Playing in STEM
​

For this lesson, split your students into groups and ask them to imagine themselves on a new planet. Hand out oobleck (a non-Newtonian fluid) and tell them that the planet is covered with this substance. Get their curiosity going by asking them questions such as the following:
​
  • What are the physical properties of the substance? Why is it interesting?
  • What could the substance be useful for?
  • What problems could it present to future astronauts?

Have them write down their findings and don’t reveal any clues until the end. You might be surprised at some of the fascinating ideas they come up with.
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Choose solar4STEM

If you want to take advantage of these benefits and more, you need a STEM solution fit to your classroom.

You want a STEM kit which reduces the hassle and preparation of experimenting and maximizes student learning and engagement.

You need a  solar4STEM kit . A solar4STEM kit engages students in the education of renewable energy, electricity, and solar power through promoting hands-on experiments in nature, appealing to all types of learners of all ages.
Picture

Resources & Links:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZYTClx2T1of7BRZ86-8fow
https://wizkidsclub.com/s-t-e-m-journal-for-kids/
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/the-best-podcasts-for-kids
https://scienceexplorers.com/teaching-science-to-different-learning-styles/
https://www.solar4stem.com/store.html
https://www.artfire.com/blog/7-stem-lesson-ideas-for-kids-with-different-learning-styles/

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Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability in the Classroom

10/4/2020

1 Comment

 
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Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability

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Topics covered...
  1. 3 Steps to Start a STEM Program At Your School
  2. Prepare Your Students for the 21st Century Job Market
  3. How to Teach Sustainability in the Classroom
  4. How to Teach STEM to Visual, Auditory, Writing, and Kinesthetic Learners
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3 Steps to Start a STEM Program At Your School

Step 1: Identify Purpose & Curriculum
The first step to starting a STEM program at your school is establishing why this STEM program exists and what you’re hoping to achieve with the STEM program. Consider this your mission statement that will guide the future steps you’ll be taking to form this program.

You also need to establish the curriculum that will be taught and emphasized through this STEM program. This will guide your purchasing decisions when it comes to software, STEM kits, conferences, etc. It will also help you form a plan of what your faculty will need to be trained on to lead this program.
Take Note! Use https://www.pltw.org/ to download some STEM curriculum learning standards based on whether your students are in Pre-5, Middle school, High school engineering, High school computer science, or High school biomedical science.
Step 2: Budget & Resources
Next, you need to set a budget for your program. Once the budget is determined you can investigate what resources you can afford. There are plenty of different STEM resources available for all kinds of budgets.

Below are some resource ideas to get you thinking about what resources you can use in your STEM program.
  • Go online
    • CodeAcademy
    • VR – Virtual Reality
  • Go hands-on
    • solar4STEM educational kits
    • 3D Printer
Step 3: Location & Platforms
Club Room - Create a space inside your school for after-school STEM club activities. As your STEM program becomes larger you can start to implement STEM learning in most classrooms.

Go Virtual - Consider creating a virtual space to meet and teach STEM. You could also implement virtual learning experiences. For example, Code Academy is a great virtual resource for students to engage with STEM and learn to code.

Take it Outside - Scale your STEM program by involving the community. For example, engineers at solar4STEM has a program where their engineers tutor students in STEM subjects. Try to involve businesses and parents to in your STEM program. An apprenticeship would be an amazing benefit to your students. Field Trips are also a fun way to take the learning outside the classroom.

→ Read More: 3 Steps to Start a STEM Program At Your School
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Prepare Your Students for the 21st Century Job Market

Jobs of the Future
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies have been and will continue to drastically change the job market. Standard jobs, retail salespeople, that are widely available today may be much scarcer in the future. Education needs to change so students are prepared for the changing job market.

According to the National Academics of Sciences, “The education system will need to adapt to prepare individuals for the changing labor market. At the same time, recent IT advances offer new and potentially more widely accessible ways to access education.”

Some jobs that are expected to grow in the future are:
  • Car Mechanics
  • Computer Science Teachers
  • E-waste Management Coordinators
  • Engineers
  • Stem Cell Researchers
  • See the full list of jobs on the rise in the 21st century job market
Most in Demand Skills
With AI phasing out jobs with repetitive tasks, employers will be looking for skills that AI cannot replicate. These uniquely human skills should be the focus of education, according to a Pew Research report that interviewed 1,408 technologists, scholars, practitioners, strategic thinkers and education leaders.

Soft skills the study identified were in demand:
  • Leadership
  • Design thinking
  • Deliberation
  • Conflict resolution
  • Social and Emotional Intelligence
  • Intercultural Sensitivity

Technical (hard) skills the study identified were in demand:
  • 3D modeling & 3D printing
  • Analyzing data and algorithms
  • Implementing AI and augmented/virtual reality
  • Marketing
  • Public relations
How You Can Prepare Your Students for the Job Market
Prepare your students for the changing job landscape by focusing on STEM, creative, and social skills that AI cannot replicate. You can incorporate the following teaching methods and topics in your classroom to better prepare your students.
  • Project-Based Learning
  • Simulations
  • STEM Education
  • Coding education
  • Apprenticeships and mentoring
Expose Students to New Job Possibilities
The job market is changing rapidly with automation and AI already starting to make some jobs obsolete. At the same time, there has been an influx of new jobs that your students may not know about or view as a possible career path. Make sure students know about all the career options available to them in the following ways:
  • Career Fairs
  • American Teach-In
  • Online Career Self-Assessments and Databases
    • Use CareerOneStop to get your students taking self-assessments that suggest careers that might be a good fit for them. They also offer ways for students to learn about careers, and plan their own career

→ Read More: Prepare Your Students for the 21st Century Job Market
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How to Teach Sustainability in the Classroom

Explain and Teach Sustainability in the Classroom
What is sustainability? Sustainability is avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.

Sustainability can be a pretty complex and abstract subject that is hard for students to grasp. Try to make sustainability something tangible with hands-on or real-world applications.

Below are some ways you can teach sustainability in the classroom:
  • Field trips (ex: a waste management facility)
  • Group projects on how your school or a local business can implement more sustainable practices
  • Have students calculate their carbon footprint
  • Book reports on sustainable articles/books
  • Hands-on solar education kits (solar4STEM kits)

You can also do some engaging and fun sustainability activities in the classroom like sorting items that are recyclable and non-recyclable.

Take Note! Use these Sustainable Education Lesson Plans for grades Pre K – 12  and other resources for educators to incorporate more sustainability in your classroom.
Avoid Doom and Gloom
You can’t talk about sustainability without talking about why it’s important to learn about in the first place, climate change. Talking about climate change can sometimes depress or overwhelm students and make them feel as if the whole sustainability effort, while important, is too little, too late.
Inspire Your Students
Try framing the conversation in a way that makes the students the heroes. This will inspire them to learn more about suitability so they can help prevent climate change in the future when they enter the work force!

It’s also a good idea to include success stories of sustainable initiatives that have truly made a difference.

→ Read More: How to Teach Sustainability in the Classroom
​→ Read More: 3 DIY Educational Sustainability Activities
Picture

How to Teach STEM to Visual, Auditory, Writing, and Kinesthetic Learners

Visual Learners
These students learn best by observation. Visual learners prefer images, videos, and graphics to process information.
Most Effective Teaching Methods:
  • Demonstrations
  • Graphs
  • Charts
  • YouTube Videos (the SciShow is a great science educational YouTube Channel)
  • Creative Projects
Reading/Writing Learners
Those students who enjoy reading and writing likely fall into this category; they can analyze and express critical ideas through writing to gain a more thorough understanding. While many activities may inherently cater to this group, they will likely prefer written instructions during activities that are hands-on.
Most Effective Teaching Methods:
  • Worksheets
  • Books
  • Scientific Observation Journals (see how you can create one)
Auditory Learners
Listening and sound are the best reinforcement for those auditorily inclined. Those who are auditory learners prefer explanations above all else; a lecture is likely to be most effective here rather than reading off a document. Conversation and combining sounds into activities are critical to their success.

Most Effective Teaching Methods:
  • Stories
  • Lectures
  • Podcasts (A comprehensive list of engaging science podcasts for kids)
  • Songs
Kinesthetic Learners
For kinesthetic learners, doing is everything; when given the chance to work hands-on, they will gladly jump at the chance. Using all their senses in conjunction with the information given, this group of people need experimenting and interaction with the physical applications of ideas to gain a better grasp.

Most Effective Teaching Methods:
  • Hands-on demonstrations & projects
  • Educational Kits (solar4STEM kits are a great resource)
  • Experiments (the classic “egg-drop challenge” is a great way to teach physics)
→ Read More: How to Teach STEM to Visual, Auditory, Writing, and Kinesthetic Learners
→ Read More: [Quiz] What is Your Learning Style?
Picture

FREE DOWNLOAD

Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability

Access Now

Choose solar4STEM

If you want to keep your family engaged and experimenting while at home, you should invest in a STEM kit that emphasizes all the positives of learning.

The solar4STEM kit is a tool that reduces the hassle of prep work, provides enough materials for a collaborative and innovative setting, and provides lesson plans that not only outline experiments, but offers exploration and alternatives to learn your way.

​Let us help you bring the wonders of a science classroom into your home! 
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​solar4STEM designs solar powered science kits for students ages 8+. Learn about renewable energy, and electricity hands on with one of solar4STEM's three kits.
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How to Incorporate Sustainability Education in the Classroom

10/4/2020

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Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability

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Explain and Teach Sustainability in the Classroom


​So...What actually is sustainability?
Sustainability is avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.
Sustainability can be a pretty complex and abstract subject that is hard for students to grasp. Try to make sustainability something tangible with hands-on or real-world applications.

Below are some ways you can teach sustainability in the classroom:
  • Field trips (ex: a waste management facility)
  • Group projects on how your school or a local business can implement more sustainable practices
  • Have students calculate their carbon footprint
  • Book reports on sustainable articles/books
  • Hands-on solar education kits (solar4STEM kits)

You can also do some engaging and fun sustainability activities in the classroom like sorting items that are recyclable and non-recyclable.
Take Note! Use these Sustainable Education Lesson Plans for grades Pre K – 12  and other resources for educators to incorporate more sustainability in your classroom.

Avoid Doom and Gloom

You can’t talk about sustainability without talking about why it’s important to learn about in the first place, climate change. Talking about climate change can sometimes depress or overwhelm students and make them feel as if the whole sustainability effort, while important, is too little, too late.
​
When confronted with this valid emotional response, try changing their attitude about the whole situation. This is an important life lesson that students need to learn about resiliency. When we are faced with obstacles we can’t just quit and feel hopeless, but rather we need to rise to the occasion and do everything we can to face our challenges head on.

Inspire Your Students

Try framing the conversation in a way that makes the students the heroes. This will inspire them to learn more about suitability so they can help prevent climate change in the future when they enter the work force!

Explain ways they can help the effort to fight climate change and promote clean sustainable practices when they grow up. Introduce them to STEM career paths where they may be able to make a difference.

It’s also a good idea to include success stories of sustainable initiatives that have truly made a difference.

Inspire sustainability learning with
solar4STEM education kits that teach students how solar energy works. Have them create their own solar powered electrical circuit!
Picture

FREE DOWNLOAD

Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability

Access Now

Choose solar4STEM

solar4STEM kits are tools that reduces the hassle of prep work, provides enough materials for a collaborative and innovative setting, and provides lesson plans that not only outline experiments, but offers exploration and alternatives to learn your way.

​Let us help you bring the wonders of a science classroom into your classroom! ​
Picture

Resources & Links:
https://www.footprintnetwork.org/
https://www.solar4stem.com/store.html
https://www.teachforamerica.org/stories/lesson-plans-for-teaching-sustainability
https://cgs.la.psu.edu/teaching-resources/k-12-resources-1/teaching-sustainability-resources-for-educators
https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/8-sustainability-activities-and-ideas-for-the-classroom/
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-sustainability/

Related Articles

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3 DIY Educational Sustainability Activities
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Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability
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Prepare your students for the 21st century job market

Picture
Home
Contact Us
Store
Blog
solar4STEM designs solar powered science kits for students ages 8+. Learn about renewable energy, and electricity hands on with one of solar4STEM's three kits.
Picture
0 Comments

Preparing Your Students For The 21st Century Job Market

10/4/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture

Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability

Access Now
Picture

Jobs of the Future

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies have been and will continue to drastically change the job market. Standard jobs, retail salespeople, that are widely available today may be much scarcer in the future. Education needs to change so students are prepared for the changing job market.

According to the
National Academics of Sciences, “The education system will need to adapt to prepare individuals for the changing labor market. At the same time, recent IT advances offer new and potentially more widely accessible ways to access education.”
Some jobs that are expected to grow in the future are:
  • Car Mechanics
  • Computer Science Teachers
  • E-waste Management Coordinators
  • Engineers
  • Stem Cell Researchers
  • See the full list of jobs on the rise in the 21st century job market

Most in Demand Skills

With AI phasing out jobs with repetitive tasks, employers will be looking for skills that AI cannot replicate. These uniquely human skills should be the focus of education, according to a Pew Research report that interviewed 1,408 technologists, scholars, practitioners, strategic thinkers and education leaders.
Soft skills the study identified were in demand:
  • Leadership
  • Design thinking
  • Deliberation
  • Conflict resolution
  • Social and Emotional Intelligence
  • Intercultural Sensitivity
Technical (hard) skills the study identified were in demand:
  • 3D modeling & 3D printing
  • Analyzing data and algorithms
  • Implementing AI and augmented/virtual reality
  • Marketing
  • Public relations

How You Can Prepare Your Students for the Job Market

Prepare your students for the changing job landscape by focusing on STEM, creative, and social skills that AI cannot replicate.

You can incorporate the following teaching methods and topics in your classroom to better prepare your students.
  • Project-Based Learning
  • Simulations
  • STEM Education
  • Coding education
  • Apprenticeships and mentoring

Use solar4STEM educational kits to teach students ages 8+ about solar power, electrical circuits, and magnetism. Use these kits to build technical and social skills with group science experiments.

Expose Students to New Job Possibilities

The job market is changing rapidly with automation and AI already starting to make some jobs obsolete. At the same time, there has been an influx of new jobs that your students may not know about or view as a possible career path. Make sure students know about all the career options available to them in the following ways:
  • Career Fairs
  • American Teach-In
  • Online Career Self-Assessments and Databases
    • Use CareerOneStop to get your students taking self-assements that suggest careers that might be a good fit for them. They also offer ways for students to learn about careers, and plan their own career
Picture

FREE DOWNLOAD

Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability

Access Now

Choose solar4STEM

solar4STEM kits are tools that reduces the hassle of prep work, provides enough materials for a collaborative and innovative setting, and provides lesson plans that not only outline experiments, but offers exploration and alternatives to learn your way.

​Let us help you bring the wonders of a science classroom into your classroom! ​
Picture

Resources & Links:
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/05/03/the-future-of-jobs-and-jobs-training/
https://www.debt.org/jobs/21st-century/
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/05/03/the-future-of-jobs-and-jobs-training/
https://www.solar4stem.com/store.html
https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Skills/skills-matcher.aspx
https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Learn/learn-about-careers.aspx
https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Plan/plan-your-career.aspx


Related Articles
Picture
3 Steps to Start a STEM Program at Your School
Picture
Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability
Picture
How to Teach STEM to Visual, Audio, and Kinesthetic Learners

Picture
Home
Contact Us
Store
Blog
​solar4STEM designs solar powered science kits for students ages 8+. Learn about renewable energy, and electricity hands on with one of solar4STEM's three kits.
Picture
0 Comments

How to Start a STEM Program At Your School

10/4/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture

Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability

Access Now
Picture

Step 1: Identify Purpose & Curriculum

The first step to starting a STEM program at your school is establishing why this STEM program exists and what you’re hoping to achieve with the STEM program. Consider this your mission statement that will guide the future steps you’ll be taking to form this program.

​You also need to establish the curriculum that will be taught and emphasized through this STEM program. This will guide your purchasing decisions when it comes to software, STEM kits, conferences, etc. It will also help you form a plan of what your faculty will need to be trained on to lead this program.
Take Note! Use https://www.pltw.org/ to download some STEM curriculum learning standards based on whether your students are in Pre-5, Middle school, High school engineering, High school computer science, or High school biomedical science.

Step 2: Budget & Resources

Next, you need to set a budget for your program. Once the budget is determined you can investigate what resources you can afford. There are plenty of different STEM resources available for all kinds of budgets.

​Below are some resource ideas to get you thinking about what resources you can use in your STEM program.
  • Go online
    • CodeAcademy
    • VR – Virtual Reality
  • Get hands-on
    • solar4STEM educational kits
    • 3D Printer

Step 3: Location & Platforms

Club Room - Create a space inside your school for after-school STEM club activities. As your STEM program becomes larger you can start to implement STEM learning in most classrooms.

Go Virtual - Consider creating a virtual space to meet and teach STEM. You could also implement virtual learning experiences. For example, Code Academy is a great virtual resource for students to engage with STEM and learn to code.

Take it Outside - Scale your STEM program by involving the community. For example, engineers at solar4STEM has a program where their engineers tutor students in STEM subjects. Try to involve businesses and parents to in your STEM program. An apprenticeship would be an amazing benefit to your students. Field Trips are also a fun way to take the learning outside the classroom!

Show Off Your Hard Work!

Give your students the chance to show off their new knowledge and skills with competitions and exhibits.
  • Science Fairs
  • Battle Bots Competitions
  • Rocket Launches
  • And more!

Successful STEM Programs You Can Model Yours After

Check out this LittleBits whitepaper detailing successful STEM programs
More examples of successful STEM program
Picture

FREE DOWNLOAD

Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability

Access Now

Choose solar4STEM

The solar4STEM kit is a tool that reduces the hassle of prep work, provides enough materials for a collaborative and innovative setting, and provides lesson plans that not only outline experiments, but offers exploration and alternatives to learn your way.

​Let us help you bring the wonders of a science classroom into your school! ​
Picture

Resources & Links:
https://www.pltw.org/
https://www.codecademy.com/
https://www.solar4stem.com/store.html
www.eschoolnews.com/files/2018/06/STEMProgramWhitepaper-v2.pdf
https://www.gettingsmart.com/2016/11/ways-to-start-teach-stem-your-school/
https://www.middleweb.com/34280/a-starter-list-for-creating-stem-schools


Related Blogs
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Prepare Your Students for the 21st Century Job Market
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Everything You Need to Know About Teaching STEM & Sustainability
Picture
How to Teach STEM to Visual, Audio, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic Learners

Picture
Home
Contact Us
Store
Blog
solar4STEM designs solar powered science kits for students ages 8+. Learn about renewable energy, and electricity hands on with one of solar4STEM's three kits.
Picture
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Everything You Need to Know About Hands-on Learning

7/9/2020

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Everything You Need To Know About Hands-on Teaching

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boy circuit stem kit electricity solar4STEM smile learning hands-on
We're going to cover...
  1. What is Hands-on Learning?
  2. What are the benefits of Hands-on Learning?
  3. How to Implement Hands-on Learning at Home & in the Classroom
  4. [Quiz] Are you a Hands-on Learner?
  5. How to Accommodate Hands-on Learners
  6. 3 Hands-on Learning Experiments Your Kids will Love

What is Hands on Learning?

Hands-on Learning: (a.k.a. Kinesthetic or tactile learning) is a method of learning where a student uses physical activity to learn.
boy kid learning about chemistry model hands-on

What are the benefits of Hands-on Learning?

Contextualizing learning in terms of the real world.
In classes, STEM classes especially, knowledge may not come naturally without seeing it in action. For example, science classes like physics which study the phenomena of the world around us are extremely difficult without any exposure or observance of the real-world processes. Our education is derived from the observations of the real world; thus, to truly maximize our learning, we must interact with it on a regular basis. Those who embrace the physical parts of education will retain a much greater understanding of the science, mathematics, engineering, and technological concepts which drive our world today.

Keeping all types of students engaged.
Students have a variety of learning styles; among the most popular are visual, aural, and kinesthetic learners. Traditional classroom exercises may be only partially reaching students; a PowerPoint could only appeal to visual learners, a video to visual and aural learners, a boardgame to visual and kinesthetic learners, and so on. A collaborative approach through projects incorporate all types of learners through providing visual, audio, and physical stimuli, as experiments in nature highlight the co-existence of all three.
→ Read More: The Benefits on Hands-on Learning
kid hands counting 1 + 2 = 3 fingers learning hands-on

How to Implement Hands on Learning

at Home

Using toys to promote STEM learning:
Toys are a great way to promote the principles of STEM! Promoting physical activities through adventure, toys reinforce all the key points of STEM, as well as the principles of success in life. These points include critical thinking and discovery through adaptation, collaboration with others, creative invention of new games with toys, as well as a diverse and personal understanding of the world through the process of play.

Modifying DIY experiments:
There are plenty of do-it-yourself experiments on the internet that allow for hands-on interactivity. While you may not have the time or the materials to do all these experiments, why not tailor them to your needs and incorporate some outside of the box thinking? Taking activities from the internet and putting your own spin on it can be an exciting way to form ideas about the world and behavior of phenomenon through offering an element of discovery rather than performing an exercise that is preordained.
→ Read More: How to Implement Hands-on Learning at Home
​→ Read More: Enjoying Social Distancing with STEM Toys and Kits
learning hands-on kid and adult shapes paper floor

in the Classroom

Leveraging DIY resources:
A variety of educational and governmental entities have turned to posting a plethora of do-it-yourself STEM activities in this time of isolation. Many of these experiments can be done with staple goods! Organize an experiment based on one of these DIY activities and have students collaborate and share results! Use the digital platform to have students recording themselves performing the experiment for others to see; apply the different ways each student performs the experiment to have them mix and match, trying to reach the goal in different paths to produce several new, insightful experiences that provide for several classes of learning and discovery!
​
Allow your students to design the experiment:
The pandemic has brought the issue of resources to many families; as a teacher, it is hard to ensure every student has the same opportunities. Posing a problem to your class and giving your students the liberty to design the experiment not only solves this problem but reinforces creative and critical thinking! This is a perfect solution to infuse project-based learning, and the values of teamwork, into your classroom. 
→ Read More: How to Implement Hands-on Learning in Online Classes
→ Read More: Remote Experimenting in Science Classrooms
​→ Read More: How Teachers Can Use STEM Kits For Remote Classes
teacher student kid learning remotely online class

Are you a Hands-on Learner?

Visual Learners
These individuals learn best by observation. Visual learners prefer images, videos, and graphics to process information. In a digital age, visual information has become more prevalent than ever through PowerPoints, data organization through graphs and tables, social media, and so on. Demonstrations also do the trick here.

Auditory Learners
Listening and sound are the best reinforcement for those auditorily inclined. Those who are auditory learners prefer explanations above all else; a lecture is likely to be most effective here rather than reading off a document. Conversation and combining sounds into activities are critical to their success.

Kinesthetic Learners
For kinesthetic learners, doing is everything; when given the chance to work hands-on, they will gladly jump at the chance. Using all their senses in conjunction with the information given, this group of people need experimenting and interaction with the physical applications of ideas to gain a better grasp.

Reading/Writing Learners
Those who enjoy reading and writing likely fall into this category; they can analyze and express critical ideas through writing to gain a more thorough understanding of arguments and concepts. While many activities may inherently cater to this group, they will likely prefer written instructions during activities that are hands-on. 
Read More Here
→ Read More: What's Your Learning Style? [Quiz]
​→ Read More: What's Your Teaching Style? [Quiz]

STEM Tips and Resources for Parents

Two common resources for STEM learning:
  1. Online do-it-yourself resources.
    • There are many sites that specialize in cranking out do-it-yourself resources for STEM experiments. With follow along instructions, they can provide much needed variety in times with nothing to do. However, in a time of isolation, you might not have all the necessary resources to do these experiments; in addition, if you are working from home or occupied with more pressing matters, the time commitment with some of these experiments may not be as appealing to you.
  2. STEM experiment kits.
    1. While STEM experiment kits come at a cost, they save you time and the hassle of assembling resources, experiments, and prep work. Including a variety of materials, STEM kits encourage you and your child to discover beyond the instructions of the experiment. A STEM kit may be just what you need to provide an engaging science experience for the whole family!
→ Read More: STEM Tips and Resources for Parents
boy kid science experiment white coat and goggles science hands-on learning

3 Hands-on DIY solar4STEM Experiments your kids will Love

Materials for Experiments
These materials can be reused for all these experiments:
  • Solar panel (of any size)
  • Digital Multimeter
  • Light source (e.g. desk lamp)
  • Breadboard (or soldering tools)
 
1 – Varying Light Intensities on a Solar Panel
Solar energy works by capturing photons and turning them into electricity; what do you predict will happen when the intensity of light, or the amount of photons, changes? Is there a limit to the efficiency of a solar panel?
  1. Plug the black test lead into the bottom socket of the Digital MultiMeter and the red test lead into the middle socket of the Digital MultiMeter
  2. Move the Dial on the Digital MultiMeter to the 20 in the DCV region. Touch the ends of the black and red test leads to make sure the voltage on the Digital MultiMeter Reads 00.0
  3. Take the black wire of one solar panel and the red wire of the other solar panel and connect them in the same row on the breadboard.
  4. Take the digital multimeter and touch the red test lead to the remaining red wire of the solar panels and the black test lead to the remaining black wire. Read the voltage of the solar panels in series.
  5. Shine a Desk Lamp on the Solar Panel and observe how the voltage changes as you move the lamp closer and further from the Solar Panel.
→ Read More: 3 Hands-on DIY solar4STEM Experiments Your Kids Will Love
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Choose solar4STEM

​If you want to keep your family engaged and experimenting while at home, you should invest in a STEM kit that emphasizes all the positives of learning.

The solar4STEM kit is a tool that reduces the hassle of prep work, provides enough materials for a collaborative and innovative setting, and provides lesson plans that not only outline experiments, but offers exploration and alternatives to learn your way.

​Let us help you bring the wonders of a science classroom into your home! 
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What's Your Teaching Style? [Quiz]

6/24/2020

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man teacher students high school lecture
Not all classroom experiences are created equally; while the content and curriculum across classrooms in the United States, and even the world, may be nearly identical in some subjects, it’s the teacher that has the power to make a real difference in shaping young and innovative minds.

A major part of how students, or others, respond to you as a teacher is your teaching style; do you know your teaching style?

Knowing what type of teacher you are is important to truly harness your strengths toward certain subjects and content and adapting to other styles as needed.

​Teaching styles can be grouped into four categories:
man teacher students high school lecture

Formal Authority

As the formal authority, you have all the power over your classroom.

Teachers who are the formal authority often turn to lectures in delivering information; often, they are the only ones speaking and students are focused on receiving.

Getting out content is the primary focus here.
boy teacher learning how to tell time hands-on learning

Demonstrator/Modeler

The demonstrator/modeler is another type of teacher-centric instruction model for task mastery.

​The teacher’s job is to display how a process or task gets done, often in an experimental setting or a demonstration as an add-on to notes, so that students can master the task or make observations.
man teacher college course showing on computer learning

Facilitator

The facilitator is one of two student-centered teaching types; the teacher creates an exercise in which students will undertake individually or in groups.

It is the responsibility of students to undertake the project; however, the teacher sets many of the parameters and guidelines.

​This rigid type of project-based work is great when focus is needed.
man teacher college course students group project

Delegator

A very similar style of teaching to the facilitator, the delegator’s focus is on student exploration and empowerment.

Unlike the facilitator, the delegator sets little guidelines for a student-based project and merely acts as a consultant or counselor.

​This teaching style fosters creativity and collaboration.
download everything you need to know about hands on learning

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Everything You Need To Know About Hands-on Teaching

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Choose solar4STEM

Looking to improve learning in your classroom? Why not use a solar4STEM science kit?

A solar4STEM science kit appeals to all types of teachers; with thoroughly written instructions for teachers and students, you could design experiments in either a teacher or student centric approach!

​We can help you bolster your teaching method and deliver results in terms of student success!
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Source: http://www.kvccdocs.com/online-certification/content/L-13/lesson.html

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​solar4STEM designs solar powered science kits for students ages 8+. Learn about renewable energy, and electricity hands on with one of solar4STEM's three kits.
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