Transformational STEM Teacher Training

During an engaging two weeks, Dr. Stuart Kohlhagen’s STEM training provided teachers with a hands-on experience with real-world application of the STEM disciplines in their classrooms. When the training concluded, each teacher had constructed photogates, developed their own code, and collected data to measure the acceleration and speed of objects with exactness. The teachers also used other sessions on waves to measure the speed of sound in CO₂ filled pipes, measured the light diffraction using laser, and produced an interactive sine wave model using Excel—creating connections between the physical phenomenon and mathematical concept in real-time.

Teachers’ perceptions of how important coding is to their subject matter and how much digital technology should be integrated into their teaching changed dramatically after attending the workshop. Only 11 percent of teachers said coding is highly related to their subject area prior to attending the workshop; however, approximately 89 percent of those same teachers stated they will be integrating these skills into their curriculum going forward. Teachers were enthusiastic about the interdisciplinary approach to the workshops, stating it allowed them to see the relationships between science, mathematics, and technology more clearly. With momentum from this first successful workshop, the school has decided to expand the more interdisciplinary, hands-on learning into all the STEM subjects—ensuring students do not only understand scientific concepts but also experience them in practice. We are thankful to Dr. Kohlhagen for providing this transformative training and continued support.