Our vision: All Pennsylvanians will have access to quality STEM education and career pathways to become tomorrow’s leaders, influencers, and problem-solvers.
From The Director’s Desk
STEM Education in a Classroom Without Walls
Spring has arrived! With that comes warmer weather and a healthy dose of cabin fever. For
teachers and students who have been cooped up inside all winter, there is a remedy:
outdoor learning. The concept of outdoor learning might seem strange in the fast-paced, let’s-get-the-last-bit-of-new-learning-in-before-summer-break time. Yet, some educators are rediscovering the immense benefits of taking the classroom outdoors. Outdoor learning isn’t just a way to break the monotony of the traditional classroom setting; it’s a powerful tool that enriches education in profound ways.
Outdoor learning involves taking students outside the traditional classroom to engage in educational activities in urban, suburban and rural settings. It can be a short trip to the schoolyard, or it can be a field trip to a state park and/or environmental learning center. The locations vary. It’s about using the backdrop of the environment, whether a park, a garden, a forest or schoolyard, to teach lessons that stay with students long after the class ends.
K-12 Outdoor Learning Studies have shown that students are often more engaged when learning outdoors. The change of scenery can help break routine and revive students’ interest in different subjects. Nature inherently stimulates sensory experiences that are not available indoors, capturing students’ attention in ways that boost concentration and facilitate deeper learning.
Outdoor learning naturally involves more physical activity than sitting in a classroom. Whether it’s a nature walk, a scientific investigation or just reading under a tree, students are more active when they’re learning outside. This activity can help to boost cardiovascular health, reduce obesity rates and encourage healthier lifestyle habits.
Spending time in a natural environment has also been linked to improved mood and self-esteem. Outdoor activities often require teamwork and communication, fostering a sense of community and collaboration among students. These settings can be particularly beneficial for students who struggle with traditional learning environments, offering them alternative ways to succeed academically and socially.
The outdoors provides a vast array of real-world applications of classroom content. Whether it’s a biology lesson about ecosystems while visiting the ecosystem, a geometry lesson on shapes and angles found in structures, both natural and technological, or a history lesson at a historical site, the outdoors makes abstract concepts tangible.
To integrate outdoor learning effectively, teachers don’t need vast expanses of wild forests or sprawling outdoor facilities. Start simple:
- Nature Walks and Local Parks: Just walking through a local park and discussing the flora and fauna can be immensely educational.
- Schoolyard Tours and School Gardens: These can be used not only for biology but also for lessons in responsibility and the food cycle.
- Historical Sites and Museums: Visits to these sites provide a deeper understanding of history and culture.
- Environmental Education Centers: These sites are designed with outdoor learning in mind and include experienced staff.
Outdoor learning is more than just a teaching tool; it’s a way to transform how students see the world and themselves. It breaks down the walls of the traditional classroom and opens up a multitude of possibilities to prepare students not just academically but also socially and personally for the challenges of the world. This May, let’s step outside and learn.
Yours in STEM,
Alexandra Konsur-Grushinski
STEM Resources & Opportunities: For Educators
GLOBE Workshop at Berks Nature Center
Immerse yourself in hands-on environmental literacy and science education with a full-day workshop from the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program at the Berks Nature Center! Praised as the quintessentially ideal program for involving kids in science, GLOBE offers FREE interdisciplinary learning resources for educators. Through engaging outdoor activities and protocols, educators will discover how GLOBE enhances higher-order thinking and science process skills while promoting environmental literacy and sustainability. Moreover, this workshop highlights GLOBE’s compatibility with the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) framework, supporting the Pennsylvania Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Standards. Join to elevate your teaching practice and empower students to become stewards of their environment.
For more information, please explore GLOBE’s website. If interested, please register here for the workshop at Berks Nature Center.
Events
Join Us for Remake Learning Days from May 2nd to 22nd!
Join us for Remake Learning Days, a joyful celebration of hands-on learning events across Pennsylvania! Between May 2-22, we invite parents and caregivers to learn alongside their kids at over 800 events hosted by local community partners such as libraries, parks, schools, tech centers, museums, after-school centers, non-profits, maker spaces, and more. Find events by different learning themes such as arts, maker, outdoor learning, science, tech, and youth voice. In addition, at select RLD events, students may be able to earn a digital badge for career readiness through the Career Ready PA Backpack Challenge. Be a part of this worldwide celebration where families are encouraged to be curious, explore new types of learning, and discover new passions!
For more information: Check your region’s homepage on our website.
Esports Experience Hosted by Eastern PA Scholastic Esports League (EPSEL) at Carbon Lehigh IU for Remake Learning Days
On May 13 from 6:00-8:00 pm, embark on an immersive esports experience, which begins with a diverse panel of speakers representing various facets of the esports world. Participants will then break into smaller discussion groups to engage in various perspectives, with hands-on experience with the game Rocket League. This engaging event promises a night of education, networking and interactive fun for adults, teachers, and students interested in the exciting realm of esports.
Participation Needed
Pennsylvania’s Chief Science Officer (CSO) Program Seeking Participating Schools
Have you heard? Pennsylvania has a statewide Chief Science Officer (CSO) Program! CSOs are students in 6th to 12th grade who demonstrate an interest in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and/ or innovation and have a desire to impact their community. CSOs are elected by their peers to be liaisons for STEM and innovation in their schools and community.
This year, 25 out of 29 Intermediate Units (IUs) launched or expanded their CSO Cabinets. This growth has led to 86 school districts and 311 students participating in the CSO Program. The PA CSO Program addresses the following STEM education challenges:
- STEM Student Engagement Attrition
- K-16 to Workforce Skills Gap Discrepancy
- Over-rewarding of formulaic problem solving
- Shrinking Teacher Pipeline (especially in STEM/CS)
Previous PA CSOs have shared that being a CSO has allowed them to:
- advocate for STEM outreach,
- enrich other people and themselves,
- have an opportunity to make a difference, bring STEM to their community, and grow
- people’s awareness of STEM,
- be a leader and develop their leadership skills,
- be a representative for their peers, family and community, and
- be a role model for younger students.
To learn more, view this slide deck from a recent conference presentation or watch this PA CSO Program Impact video. Recruitment for CSOs for the 2024-2025 school year are currently underway.
2024 Pennsylvania Statewide Environmental
Education Survey
The statewide Pennsylvania Environmental Literacy Network (PA ELit) needs your help! Educators and professionals in the field of environmental education are encouraged to participate in a statewide initiative – the 2024 Pennsylvania Statewide Environmental Education Survey. The objective of this survey is to gather insights into the current landscape and future needs of Environmental Education (EE) across Pennsylvania. Your input will directly influence the development and capacity enhancement of EE programs, particularly in addressing professional development and watershed education practices. The survey, which closes on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
