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C-STEM Robotics at McPherson Magnet (K-8th grade public STEM Magnet School)

A journey to a 3rd - 8th grade C-STEM Continuum

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Overview

History of C-STEM at McPherson

Decision to bring it to primary grades

Elementary Model

3rd Grade Implementation (and 3rd-5th grade continuum)

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History of C-STEM at McPherson Magnet

  • McPherson Magnet is a K-8th grade public school within the Orange Unified School District. Our Magnet Focus is on STEM education.
  • 8 years ago, McPherson Magnet (along with other schools within the Orange Unified School District) received funding to help students get algebra ready by 8th grade.
  • McPherson Demographics:

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History of C-STEM at McPherson Magnet

  • The implementation of C-STEM was done in conjunction with our CTE (Career and Technical Education) department and Irvine Valley College with Merry Kim.
  • We had two teachers trained in C-STEM robotics (a math-Greg Miller and a robotics/computer science teacher).

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History of C-STEM at McPherson Magnet

  • Initially (for the first several years), C-STEM was run as an elective course at McPherson for 7th and 8th grade students (interested in robotics).
  • Each year, this small group of students participated in the RoboPlay Competition in Southern California.
  • We tracked these students early on and noticed that they had a high level of math achievement after taking the C-STEM course (again, we did not initially design the course for math instruction).
  • This started our conversation about bringing the program to a larger group at McPherson Magnet.

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History of C-STEM at McPherson Magnet

  • In 2017-2018, Mr. Miller started teaching C-STEM Robotics to his 3rd grade students.
  • We were able to take these students to the RoboPlay Competition (thanks to Merry Kim) and these 3rd graders presented on how they had been using C-STEM in the math classroom with Mr. Miller.

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History of C-STEM at McPherson Magnet

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History of C-STEM at McPherson Magnet

  • We pushed on and slowly developed our middle school course into a co-taught elective with a math and robotics teacher. The math teacher brought in her geometry students and that year McPherson Magnet won the state and regional RoboPlay Competition.

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Decision to bring C-STEM into Primary Grades

  • After seeing the success of students in both middle and 3rd grade, the McPherson team began developing a plan to bring C-STEM Robotics to 3rd-5th grade students (as a supplement to their math curriculum).
  • Mr.Miller, 3rd grade teacher began teaching C-STEM as a regular component of his lessons and each year we saw an increase in our 3rd grade math SBAC scores.
  • At this point, we made the decision to bring C-STEM to 4th and 5th grade as well.

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Elementary Model

  • We developed a plan to have a math specialist at 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. The math specialists will teach three cohorts per day (like middle school).
  • Over the summer of 2019, the three math specialists were trained at McPherson Magnet so that everyone was ready to teach the content.

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Elementary Model

  • Over the 2019-2020 school year, we created several competition days in the cafeteria where 3rd -5th grade students had the opportunity to compete against one another.

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Elementary Model

  • We have just completed our first year of the rotational model with math specialist teaching the C-STEM curriculum. Due to the COVID closure, we will not be getting math score back, but we are looking forward to seeing the impact of the C-STEM implementation on our summative assessment.
  • This year Mr. Miller has been named a C-STEM Teacher of the Year due to his work with 3rd grade.

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C-STEM Implementation

Year 1

  • The C-STEM curriculum was already a taught in out middle school technology elective class
  • We learned the curriculum was expanded to K-14
  • Free training-->free robots!
  • Implement in class
  • Also formed a core group of students after school
  • Asked to present at the RoboPlay competition

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C-STEM Implementation

Years 2-3

  • Purchased more robots and mats
  • Increasingly included Ch coding for Linkbots as well as RoboBlockly
  • Partnered with middle school class
  • Presented at our school STEAM Night and Open House
  • Increased use of the math component
  • Training for grades 3-5 math teachers over the summer

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C-STEM Implementation

Year 4

  • McPherson implements FITT program
  • C-STEM is an integral part
    • RoboBlockly
    • Ch coding with Linkbots
  • Curriculum supplements 3rd and 4th grade standards
  • Regular RoboPlay competitions in cafeteria for 3rd-middle school
    • Some past C-STEM challenges
    • Some self-created

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C-STEM Implementation

Why the success???

  • Creates intrinsic motivation
  • Success from a student’s point of view
    • Making the Linkbot move
    • Successfully completing RoboBlockly activities
    • COMPLETING MAT CHALLENGES
  • Seeing the results of their work through the Linkbots or even on the screen IS A BIG DEAL!
    • Students are willing - even eager - to tackle the math

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C-STEM Implementation

Results

  • 3rd graders (8- and 9-year-olds) learn to :
    • Measure
    • Make much larger calculations than the standards call for
      • Repeated addition
      • Multiplication
      • Division
      • Not just right angles, but multiples and fractions

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C-STEM Implementation

Common Core's 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice

  • Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them…
    • Every task/challenge. You have to GET IT!
  • Reason abstractly and quantitatively…
    • Multiple ways… standard algorithm is critically important, but…
  • Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others…
    • Why is my approach better?
    • Why is yours better?

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C-STEM Implementation

Common Core's 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice

  • Model with mathematics…
    • Multiplication is repeated addition.
    • Equal groups…
      • Multiplication AND divison
  • Use appropriate tools strategically…
    • These tools might include pencil and paper, concrete models, a ruler, a protractor, a calculator, a spreadsheet,a computer algebra system, a statistical package, or dynamic geometry software…

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C-STEM Implementation

Common Core's 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice

  • Attend to precision…
    • Rulers… measuring, change…
  • Look for and make use of structure.
    • Multiplication as repeated addition
    • Groups
  • Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
    • Repeated calculations…3 revolutions…

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Questions?