Knowing and Learning in STEM

Perspectives on STEM Learning

Conceptual Situated Learning Social Models
Change Constructivist &
Modelin
g
Essential Components of a STEM Learning Environment

Learner- Students must Teachers can To create a

Centered recognize their create a learner- learner-centered
Environmen own centered environment,
t misconceptions environment by teachers may
and become creating cognitive consider
dissatisfied with apprenticeships. fostering
it. Doing this will By doing this, communication
allow the student teachers can lead in the classroom.
to be willing to students and By doing this,
change their guide them in the teachers are able
misconceptions right direction, to communicate
or what they but at the end, effectively with
initially thought. the teacher the students,
A good way to do “fades” and the focusing on the
this is through a learning student and their
facilitated environment is thinking by
discussion that completely utilizing skills
leads to concept centered on the such as
conflict. learners. questioning their
thinking and
manage
discourse. In this
environment the
teacher is simply
talking to the
student, making
the student feel
heard.
Knowledge- Creating an To create a A good way to
Centered activity or having knowledge- create a
Environmen a discussion centered knowledge-
t about the environment, a centered
students’ good way to do environment is to

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 Knowing and Learning in STEM

preconceptions is this is by making recognize their

important thinking visible. students’ zone of
because students One good activity proximal
get a chance to for making development. By
explain their thinking visible isdoing that,
thinking process through concept teachers can
and how they mapping as it understand a
came to the allows teachers students’
conclusion in the help students get strengths and
first place. By started with their weaknesses and
doing this, learning, and then can give them
students are able the student can assistance if need
to see different write the rest of be. This is
perspectives and the map to guide knowledge-
either argue that their own thinking centered because
their perspective while providing it is focusing on
is correct, or explanation and how much the
consider that reasoning for it. student knows
there are other and using those
possibilities. results to
encourage their
thinking further.
Assessment- A good way to Using the same In order to get an
Centered implement idea of concept idea of a
Environmen assessments to mapping, teachers students’ zone of
t this perspective can then assess proximal
is to have the where the student development, the
students assess is in terms of how teacher needs to
each other. One much they create an activity
formative understand the or assessment
assessment that concept. If that can help
could work good students seem like them identify the
with conceptual they are not students’ levels.
change is Think- understanding it, A teacher can do
Pair-Share the teacher might this by simply
because, again, consider not giving them a
students are able “fading” too fast short quiz, or
to share their and might spend asking students

University of Florida - School of Teaching and Learning

 Knowing and Learning in STEM

ideas with each an extra lesson to read aloud in

other. They can guiding students the classroom.
self-assess and and their thinking.
the teacher can
monitor the
discussions and
ask questions
that can guide
their thinking
further. Teachers
can use this as an
assessment of
how much the
students are
learning from
each other and if
there is more
applications
needed for the
lesson.
Community It is important For this While I believe it
that the perspective, I also is important that
community keeps think it is the community
an open mind. By important for the continues to still
keeping an open community to have an open
mind, students keep an open mind in this
are more willing mind because perspective, it is
to listen to students can feel also important
perspectives that discouraged that the
are not their knowing that they community can
own, which could have done collaborate.
lead to something wrong. Sometimes
conceptual By keeping an students can
change. open and learn better from
accepting their peers and it
atmosphere in the can help
classroom, reinforce and
students are more refine their

University of Florida - School of Teaching and Learning

 Knowing and Learning in STEM

likely to be more learning.

vocal about their
struggles and
learning
processes.

University of Florida - School of Teaching and Learning