Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The Danger of the Single Story of STEM?

Each time I view this TED talk with Chimamanda Adichie I become more inspired to discover each person's story and avoid the creation of a single story. 

I have wondered if there is a single story being told of STEM.  Are STEM educators mindful to avoid telling students the single story of STEM.  We want young people to see themselves as scientists, engineers and mathematicians.  Are we showing under represented populations they can become innovators in STEM fields? 

PBS Kids Go! has created Dragonfly TV featuring real scientists sharing their work and ways they impact the world.  I can just imagine how African American girls might feel when they see and hear engineer Ayanna Howard speak about the robot she is working on to navigate Mars.  These short video clips could be used during morning meetings or as an intro to your STEM inquiry time.  During literacy, students could choose a scientist, watch their video, summarize what they have learned and then share their information in a small group. 

What other resources do you use to avoid the single story of STEM in your classroom?

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