The S+T in STEM: Place-Based Experiential Learning
Head Start Program
July 12, 2016
Eyes on the Future Child Development Center, Chicago
By TEC Program Manager, Jenna Herdzina, and intern Meghan Farrell
Erikson Institute’s Technology in Early Childhood (TEC) Center hosted a TEC Playdate preceding the event, Learning from the Outside In: Technology and the Power of Place-Based Science Education featuring Milton Chen, PhD on December 4. The TEC Center demoed activities to do with young children to explore Place-Based Learning. These activities includes apps, websites, and tangible tech tools.
The focus of place-based learning allows educators, parents, and service providers working with young children to connect science and technology in a meaningful way while learning more about their local communities and environments.
A couple of key definitions we explore:
- Place-Based Learning is “a dynamic classroom approach in which students actively explore real-world problems and challenges and acquire a deeper knowledge” as cited in Buxton & Provenzo, 2012
- Citizen science is “scientific work undertaken by members of the general public, often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists and scientific institutions” as defined by Oxford Dictionary (2014).
Download the activities featured: ST-in-STEM-Place-Based-Learning.pdf
Below is a list of items used for TEC Center’s, “The S+T in STEM: Place-Based Experiential Learning” event.
Items featured from the TEC Center Tools Collection can be loaned from the Edward Neisser Library by Erikson students, alumni, faculty and staff:
Zoomy 2.0 Handheld Digital Microscope
Household items used:
AA batteries
