What types of resources are available through the MIT 'Full STEAM Ahead' program?

The program offers curated MIT resources like Scratch and MIT App Inventor for programming, videos from Blossoms, and information from the Edgerton Center and Education Arcade. It also includes links to MIT's higher education resources like OpenCourseWare and MITx, and weekly packages with thematic activities for K-12 students.

How have the 'Full STEAM Ahead' weekly packages been received?

The initiative has seen significant global reach, with approximately 28,000 visitors from 140 countries. Feedback from parents and educators indicates the modules are useful and adaptable, with examples of students building invention notebooks and exploring science topics like space food.

What are the main challenges and areas for improvement for the 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative?

Key areas for improvement include developing a more active community forum, enhancing feedback mechanisms to better understand resource usage, and addressing localization and translation needs. Ensuring access for users in regions with technological limitations (like China) or poor internet connectivity is also a priority.

What is planned for the future of the 'Full STEAM Ahead' program?

MIT is planning a summer pilot program for middle school students in the Greater Boston Area, focusing on academics, project-based learning, and giving students agency. This program will involve MIT students as tutors and project leaders, and aims to address learning gaps and re-engage students who may be struggling with remote learning.

How will the summer pilot program be structured?

The pilot program is planned for four hours of daily contact, Monday through Thursday, with a different schedule on Fridays. Mornings will include fun activities (like cooking, Minecraft, pottery) and academic tutoring in math and science, while afternoons will focus on hands-on module work, discussions, and connecting with MIT students.

What are the key considerations for the 'Full STEAM Ahead' summer program, particularly regarding academics and resources?

The program aims to integrate academic learning, especially in math, with project-based activities, making learning more applied and contextual. There's a focus on providing material kits at cost, with free options available for those who cannot afford them, while also addressing technology needs through partnerships with community schools.

What are the participants' thoughts on supporting remote learners and their families?

During the breakout sessions, participants emphasized the importance of addressing students' social-emotional needs and making them feel present through live sessions. Culturally conscious approaches that engage families and incorporate their learning experiences and childhood memories were also highlighted as crucial.

Key Moments

pK-12 Network Webinar: Full STEAM Ahead: Supporting K-12 learning during the pandemic

MIT OpenCourseWare

Education4 min read47 min video

May 27, 2020|121 views|2

K-12 K-12 learning covid-19 online learning STEAM education K-12 STEM resources

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Key Moments

TL;DR

MIT's Full STEAM Ahead offers K-12 online learning resources for pandemic challenges.

Key Insights

Full STEAM Ahead is a rapid response initiative providing curated and created resources for online K-12 learning, extending to higher education and workforce.

The platform offers weekly packages with themed activities, adaptable for different age groups and suitable for both digital and non-digital environments.

MIT utilizes its expertise in STEAM and distance learning to create accessible, hands-on-inspired resources, supported by a collaborative editorial board.

The initiative has reached a global audience, indicating a strong need for such resources during the pandemic.

Future plans include improving community forums, gathering more user feedback, and localizing content for broader accessibility.

A summer pilot program for middle school students is designed to address academic gaps, promote project-based learning, and foster student agency, leveraging MIT students as tutors and mentors.

INITIATIVE OVERVIEW AND MISSION

The "Full STEAM Ahead" initiative was launched by MIT Open Learning as a rapid response to the challenges of K-12 learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its core mission is to create and share high-quality resources that facilitate both digital and non-digital teaching and learning activities. The platform aims to provide STEAM activities reflecting MIT's approach to hands-on learning, foster conversation around their use, and inspire a diverse group of global learners, educators, and parents facing distance learning challenges. This collaborative effort involves various MIT departments and individuals, extending support beyond K-12 to higher education and workforce learners.

RESOURCE CURATION AND CONTENT TYPES

Full STEAM Ahead features a dedicated resource section that curates existing MIT materials, such as Scratch, MIT App Inventor, the Edgerton Center, and Blossoms videos. These are organized for easy access, providing links to platforms and tools that foster computational thinking, hands-on experimentation, and critical thinking. The site also includes a teaching and learning section with resources like webinars on transitioning to online learning and a gaming area managed by the Education Arcade, which offers curated lists of educational games with descriptions and insights into their pedagogical value.

WEEKLY THEMED PACKAGES FOR K-12

A key component of Full STEAM Ahead is its weekly packages designed for K-12 audiences. These packages are themed around specific topics and include a set of coordinated activities intended to be easily digestible for parents, learners, and educators. Each week's package is developed to be adaptable for home use, whether online or through printable materials. The packages aim to keep students engaged and active, offering a range of activities that span across different age groups, from younger learners to high school students, often incorporating elements of AI, ethics, app development, and robotics.

BROADER REACH AND GLOBAL IMPACT

The "Full STEAM Ahead" platform has demonstrated significant reach, attracting approximately 28,000 visitors from 140 countries. This wide engagement highlights the global demand for accessible and effective online learning resources during the pandemic. Feedback from parents and educators indicates that the modules are useful and adaptable, with examples of students creating their own invention notebooks and exploring topics like space food. The initiative's success underscores the need for resources that can be implemented flexibly, accommodating various levels of technological access.

IMPROVEMENT AREAS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Recognizing the rapid development of the platform, the team identified several areas for improvement, including enhancing community engagement through more active forums and better feedback mechanisms to understand how materials are used and where they can be refined. Localization and translation are also crucial to ensure accessibility for non-English speakers and users in regions with limited internet access. The initiative is committed to addressing these challenges to make the resources more inclusive and effective for a wider audience globally.

SUMMER PILOT PROGRAM DESIGN

MIT is planning a summer pilot program for middle school students, aiming to reach up to 400 learners over two three-week sessions. This program will focus on addressing academic gaps, particularly in math, and emphasize project-based learning, student agency, and connections to personal interests. It will integrate STEM activities, tutoring, and activities inspired by games and popular culture. The pilot will leverage MIT students as tutors and project leaders, with considerations for material kits offered at cost or for free, ensuring accessibility and deep engagement for participants.

EVALUATION AND ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

Evaluating the summer pilot program will involve assessing academic understanding, fluency with various technologies like Scratch and micro:bit, and the development of key skills such as iteration and creative problem-solving. There is also a focus on addressing technological barriers, with plans to partner with local schools and community organizations to provide necessary equipment like laptops. The program aims to be a remote experience for both students and MIT mentors, providing valuable insights for future iterations and remote learning strategies.

ENGAGING FAMILIES AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

Discussions within the Full STEAM Ahead community highlight the importance of addressing the social-emotional needs of students in remote learning environments, emphasizing the need to foster a sense of connection and belonging. Culturally conscious approaches that engage entire families in the learning experience are also crucial. MIT is exploring resources for social-emotional learning, including meditation and observation activities, recognizing this as a shared responsibility between schools and families worldwide. The goal is to create supportive and engaging learning experiences that accommodate diverse backgrounds and needs.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Common Questions

The 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative is a collection of resources developed by MIT Open Learning to support teaching and learning online. It was created as a rapid response to the needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to provide high-quality digital and non-digital materials for K-12, higher education, and workforce learners.

Topics

Online Learning Social Emotional Learning Technology & Innovation Remote Learning Resources STEM Education Educational Technology AI & Machine Learning Project-based Learning K-12 Education Digital Literacy

Mentioned in this video

Organizations

MIT Open Learning

The division at MIT responsible for developing and sharing resources, including the 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative.

Peterson Institute for International Economics

Mentioned as offering free resources and recordings on social-emotional learning, relevant to supporting students remotely.

Lemelson MIT Program

A program that provided materials for the 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative, including an 'inventing notebook' activity.

Edgerton Center

A center at MIT providing hands-on learning experiences, resources of which are curated in the 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative.

Personal Robots Group

A group at the MIT Media Lab that collaborated on a weekly package for 'Full STEAM Ahead', focusing on AI and ethics.

Education Arcade

A team at MIT that curates games for educational purposes, with resources linked in the 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative.

Sloan School of Management

A department at MIT offering online education and professional development programs, with links available through 'Full STEAM Ahead'.

Software & Apps

Scratch

A graphical programming language and platform for creating interactive stories, games, and animations, featured in MIT's 'Full STEAM Ahead' resources.

MITx

MIT's platform for online courses, resources of which are linked in the 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative for higher education and workforce learners.

MIT App Inventor

A visual programming language and platform for building mobile applications, included in MIT's 'Full STEAM Ahead' resources.

Minecraft

A popular sandbox video game that students use to connect with friends and interests, and which is being incorporated into the summer pilot program activities.

Eliza bot

An early natural language processing computer program, mentioned in the context of building therapist bots with AI.

Media

Blossoms

A collection of videos for high school students designed to foster critical thinking, featured in MIT's 'Full STEAM Ahead' resources.

Locations

Greater Boston Area

The local region where MIT plans to pilot its summer program and partner with community schools.

Books

Animal Crossing

A video game used by students to connect with friends and express interests, integrated into the summer pilot program's recreational activities.

People

Jody Diaz

Program coordinator for the MIT pk-12 action group, involved in the 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative.

Eric Hoffer

Professor at MIT who initiated conversations about creating resources for distance learning within the 'Full STEAM Ahead' effort.

Justin Wright

Appears in a linked video discussing the transition to online learning, featured within the 'Full STEAM Ahead' resources.

Kate Stringer

Communication contact for MIT Open Learning, involved in connecting the initiative with educators and learners.

Claudia Area

Senior Associate Director of PK-12 at MIT, a presenter for the webinar discussing the 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative.

Quirke DeLong

Special projects coordinator at MIT Open Learning, contributing to the 'Full STEAM Ahead' initiative.

Megan Masucci

Host and part of the resource development team at MIT Open Learning, who introduced the webinar and facilitated the breakout sessions.

Products

micro:bit

A small programmable computer used for educational purposes, included in the summer pilot program's activities.

Companies

YouTube

A video-sharing platform whose accessibility can be a barrier for users in certain regions, impacting the reach of online educational materials.

Google

A global technology company whose services (like YouTube) may not be accessible in certain regions, posing a challenge for localization of online resources.

Concepts

OpenCourseWare

MIT's initiative to publish educational materials online for free access, with resources linked in 'Full STEAM Ahead' for higher education.

Space Food

The science of preparing and consuming food in space, explored as an activity in one of the 'Full STEAM Ahead' weekly packages.

Full STEAM Ahead

An initiative by MIT Open Learning to provide resources for teaching and learning online, initially as a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic.