STEM

1. Explanation of artefacts according to STEM practices
Summary:
Each of the artefactsare part of a continuationof
an entire teachingsequence.Theyeachaddto
the studentslearningonconstructinga
project,an ultimate treehouse,aswell as
informingparentsonthe resourcesavailable
to themto assistinthese designingand
buildingprojects.Incorporatedwithinthese artefacts
there isa focus onintentionallyimprovingstudents
STEM knowledgethroughthe practice andteachingof
the value of persistence,buildinganddesigningideasas
well asgeneratingideas asamethodforcreatingan
outcome.
STEM practices:
The three STEM practices – persistence,buildinganddesigningand
generatingideaswere chosenastheyare all cohesive practicesthatassist
studentsinpartakingina buildingproject.Sequenical learningisalarge
focusin termsof the overall project ideaaswell asineach artefact.Where
studentsare learningthere needstobe a seriesof stepstobe undertaken
inorder to achieve anoutcome.Thisallowsthe preschoolersto develop
theirthinking,generate ideas,andlearnnewwaystoexpressthemselves
and newterminology,formtheoriesabouthow thingsworkandevenwhy.
Artefacts:
The artefacts showreal-worldinnovationanddesignconceptsandlearning.Theyall connectwiththe authentic
experience of utilisingresourcestocreate anddesign aprojectforpre-schoolerstolearnfrom.The illustrations
of the bookand informationonthe parentSTEMbrochure show and immerse the readerswithnew ideas,
invitingdivergentthinkinganddoing.The app representsthe practicesof technologyandscience bygenerating
ideasonhowto go about a task and understandhow processeswork.The unpluggedcodingactivityshowsthe
practicesof engineeringandmathematicsby designingandredesigning foundations,showingthe processof
workingthroughtrial anderror as well as progressivelydevelopingbetterengineeringsolutions basedonsize
and materials.All of which illustratethat,atpoints,failure mighthappenandisacceptable—provided
reflectionandlearningoccur.Therefore all tyingintoandexploringthe STEMpractices
- Persistence
- Generatingideas
- Buildinganddesigning
Features:
The four artefactsall feature constructionandexperimentation experiencesandopportunities.Theyfocuson
enablingyoungchildrentoplayandbuildwithSTEM concepts.Each of these artefactsofferopportunitiesfor
the pre-schoolerstoenterthe worldwithinnovative designs.These artefactsare inaccordance withthe
pedagogiesandpracticesof earlychildhoodeducatorstosupportearlylearningviaplayful explorations.
Theyeach have featuressuchashavingcharacters that youngchildrencanidentifywith,activitiesthat
stimulate curiosityandare challenging,opportunitiestopractice skillsandcommunications,connectionstothe
real worldintermsof ideasandevents,the abilitytoreturntothe activityat a laterdate,the buildingof skills
and knowledgeinsequence,andvisuallyattractiveandengaginggraphicsandinteractivity.
Buildingand
designing