1. Why Do I Need to Take a Writing Course?: The Importance of General Education Courses within the STEM Curriculum Dr. Michele Mont Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Welcome.

2. Agenda BackgroundOverview ResearchApplications Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium

3. Objectives: 1.Describe current context 2. Identify integration methods 3.Develop action plans.Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium

4. Student Influence How do connections occur?. Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Personal Narrative (engagement)

5. Goal of Learning Experience. Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Personal Narrative

6. Current status Why should interrelationships exist? Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Overview

7. Mark Sanders Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Overview “…some have suggested that STEM education implies interaction among the stakeholders. It doesn’t. For a century, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education have established and steadfastly defended their sovereign territories. It will take a lot more than a four-letter word to bring them together.” (2009)

8. Herschbach (2011) On secondary level each subject is taught separately with little attention to interrelationships between subjects Students exposed to discrete subjects Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Overview

9. Integrated Curricula Correlate Coordination between courses Broad A cluster of subjects taught together in single course Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Overview

10. Integrated Curricula What does the research indicate? Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Research

11. Hartzler (2000) Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Research Meta analysis findings: 1. Students in integrated curricular programs consistently out perform other students on national standardize test, state-wide testing programs and on program- developed assessments. 2. Successful for teaching science and math across all grade- levels and especially beneficial for students with below – average achievement levels

12. Examples of Integration How is it being done? Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Applications

13. Harrisburg University Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Applications Correlated Creative Mind & English Composition

14. Virginia Tech. Integrative STEM Education Graduate Program Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium Applications Purposeful Design & Inquiry Problem solving model

15. Your Decision What should be your primary focus? Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium

16. References Hartzler, D. S. (2000). A meta-analysis of studies conducted on integrated curriculum programs and their effects on student achievement. Doctoral dissertation. Indiana University. Herschbach, D. R. (2011). The STEM initiative: Constraints and challenges. Journal of STEM Teacher Education:, 48 (1) 32 – 36. Fairweather, J. (2008). Linking evidence and promising practices in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); and undergraduate education. The National Academic and National Research Council Board of Science Education. Sanders, M. (2009). Integrative STEM education: The primer.The Technology Teacher, 20-26. Dr. Mont 2015 Innovations in Teaching Symposium