STEM Workshop With My Kids School - Part 3 - Where To From Here
2019-04-13
Coming to the end of the STEM workshop series, it's time to think about next steps...
See the full series of blogs on the STEM workshop:
- STEM Workshop With My Kids School - Part 1 - Before the STEM Workshop
- STEM Workshop With My Kids School - Part 2 - The STEM Workshop
- STEM Workshop With My Kids School - Part 3 - Where To From Here
- STEM Workshop With My Kids School - Part 4 - STEM Workshop Tweets
First Step
I see this STEM workshop series as a first step - but the next steps, or the destination, are not yet defined.
Ultimately, I'd like for this to scale i.e. for teachers and SNAs to deliver contemporary STEM content, with STEM parents becoming more involved.
Part Time
I would not do this full time and this is not an "Encore Career". I greatly admire teachers and what they do - but it is not for me full-time. I have a full time demanding job that I enjoy and it is rewarding personally and financially. I enjoy my own company and thinking time. So doing this part time is a good balance. Running an after school class is something I considered for the future. This would realise the curriculum idea I originally wanted. But this would require a significant reorg of my work life e.g. working a 4 day week.
Meanwhile, other teachers I know in other schools asked if I'd be interested in doing a STEM class with them. I declined; my primary interest is that my kids benefit.
Other Activities
Currently, I'm busy speaking on various work related topics
- Last week, I gave a presentation to Masters students in ITT on DevSecOps. And I ran a patent training workshop to encourage engineers to submit their first patent.
- Next week, I'll do a presentation on the Payment Card Industry security and certification requirements. And then, there's a business trip to China.
STEM Is Very Accessible
STEM has become a lot more accessible to students and teachers. Companies like makeblock.com or Raspberry Pi offer STEM products and associated curricula that get you up and running quickly and easily.
STEM materials and electronics and kits are now available at low cost from sites like wish.com, aliexpress.com, gearbest.com. Though these are not always of high quality, and user friendliness of premium products like Makeblock Neuron.
Robot Wars, Dance-off, FormulaPi
An alternative to a Product Development curriculum idea is a robot competition curriculum. Students would build and program a robot over a series of classes to compete e.g.
Next steps
I'll resume my work related course and certification and reduce my STEM activities for now.
Any significant updates may be posted here in the future...