Reduce...Reuse....Upcycle

Looking for a project that fosters creativity, citizenship, prototyping & problem solving? Do an upcycling project! It fits into any technology curriculum and reinforces science concepts such as conservation and material science. Go a step further and make it an authentic STEM activity. Incorporate a survey to get feedback from others about ways they upcycle without knowing it. Then document the trends of the survey in a chart to help form discussions on additional opportunities for upcycling. Thanksgiving & Winter Holiday time are great times to assign this activity since more disposable products are in use- such as pie pans and toy clear wrapping/containers! Also, students practice how to give thanks via preservation of their environment. In addition, students educate their family about ways to both save money and help the environment. Trash can really be our treasure. Reduce, reuse.....these are two actions we all can do!

Where it all begins....

Technology Education (formerly known as Industrial Education) has been the teaching STEM all along.  STEM educators now utilize tech ed lessons for their instruction.   STEM has its place but it only works when truly integrated.  Integration must be a seamless blend of all disciplines not one or two taught or one taught individually with a dash of the other 3. True STEM education occurs when Technology, Science and Mathematics educators collaborate together, share their ideas and build a lesson that allows students to play the role of an engineer.   Calling for true, authentic STEM education.  Calling for universities to provide opportunities for all STEM related departments to work together ...not separate.  True integration starts early on....and with the education of the educators that will impart this knowledge.

What is it?

Authentic STEM occurs when technology is designed using active science and math concepts.