Improving Connections
Staff Development Guide
Training Situation: Training (large group)
Length: 60 minutes
Objective: Participants will design dough creatures to learn to connect youths’ prior experiences to STEM activities.
Agenda:
- Welcome – 5 minutes
- Silent Introduction – 5 minutes
- See the Skill in Action – 10 minutes
- Planning to Connect Experiences to Learning – 10 minutes
- Hands-on Learning – 20 minutes
- Conclusion – 10 minutes
Video-Based Learning Module
As you watch the skill video below, think about these questions:
- How does the staff member, Gauri, connect youth to different topics to guide the discussion? (Listen at 0:43, 1:06)
- What does she do that connects to what youth already know? (Watch at 0:10, 0:55, 1:25)
- How does Gauri re-state the youth’s responses and how does that link to their experiences in the current activity? (Listen at 1:35, 1:47)
- How would you lead this discussion differently? What would you do the same?
Now that you’ve watched the video, reflect on what you saw and post your responses.
- How did the youth use their prior knowledge to guide the planning and building of their stoves?
- Why do you think it is important for STEM to be linked to everyday experiences?
- What are some ways you have connected STEM to the needs of others?
- What are some examples of ways you could connect to prior knowledge or experiences of the youth you work with?
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Examples in Action
Watch the Giving Youth Control in Investigations Video-Based Learning Module to learn how to give youth more control in their STEM learning experiences.