GIS Approach - the key to introduce college level learning in a middle school
UPDATE: (May 14, 2019) -
SHOUT OUT! to our STEAM 8th grade scholars:
Ruquia
Presley
Brandon
Harold
They WON -- Gold Medal in the 1st Annual MNPS STEAM Expo at TSU
Beyond proud our students and everyone who supported this incredible project!!!
Believe it or not... there is another acronym to use!
This time... a technological powerhouse thought process and visual learning tool like GIS = Geospatial Information System, was the unifying factor these past weeks.
Why is this important? Because there is no need to wait for high school or be in college to expose middle schoolers to enriching experiences. These instances to challenge the way a student learns will carry over as time passes and with meaningful mentoring each of these students should have a promising future.
Above all, with the leadership of Victoria Franklin, the students - in one week - grasped and understood GIS basic principles. This is huge!!!
The GOAL:
Prepare the students for MNPS STEM Expo at TSU.
Which learning tools were used:
1. Community Partnership/Mentors: Jeff Hunter - Sr. Program Mgr, NPCA, Ryan Valdez, Ph.D. - Director Conservation Science at National Parks Conservation Association, Janey Smith Camp, Ph.D. VIEE, Vanderbilt University and Victoria Franklin, M.S. - Geospatial Information System Analyst.
2. Research Process: Go beyond a Google search with Wikipedia sources.
3. Team Building: These four students had never worked together. They were so different and at the end, all realized they have a lot in common and their differences unite them. Everyone's contribution has value.
4. Social Emotional Learning: Real life experiences, learning to understand and respect similarities and differences as individuals. Positive exchanges that build a relationship as classmates were real. Learning to work and communicate with the community partners. Realization they can speak in public - building self-esteem!
5. Equity and Diversity: extremely important because opportunity was given to students with diverse backgrounds - not on purpose, it just happened that way. Representative of what the city of Nashville is all about.
6. STEM: the MacDaddy of the learning processes. It is so thorough and complete. It provides opportunity for real life learning. It creates opportunity for future learning. It builds on strengths and challenges what is difficult, promoting the future and its possibilities.
NOTES:
- Victoria Franklin spent more than 5 days of leading our students to excellence. Volunteer time. Commitment. Understanding it is her time to give back to a community that needs her knowledge and experience.
- Two years ago Janey taught me how to use GIS at a workshop and work with story maps, downloading images using the system. This experience, motivated me to instill this curiosity in my students. Most importantly, I got access to GIS because of her! Thanks!!!
- Ryan Valdez was always available and provided key resources.
- Jeff Hunter scrutinized the minds of our students to lead this research and find ways to keep animals safe. Your presence at the MNPS Stem Expo at TSU reaffirmed we benefit form your leadership.
- Huge thanks to Ceteka Gooch, MNPS Learning Technology Specialist - you kept us connected, always ready to trouble shoot!
The common denominator to make this happen?
Parental support... Yes, parents willing to drop off and pick up on a weekend, bring food, patiently wait (with younger siblings proud of their brother). Committed parents who want their children to succeed do this!
Videos:
Read the POST: Visit to Stones River National Battlefield
One more time... I am one fulfilled educator. My initiative to instill in my students the values of hard work and responsibility... combined with discovering new passions, reached a new height.
* I must point out... and recognize... this blog and all the others have been organized, thought out, put together by Yadira V. Calderon, M.A. International Relations and Diplomacy. BTW, she's my sister and all her efforts make the Calderon STEM family stronger.
