What I like about the iSTEM project is the problem-based focus one theme: getting to the moon (and later infrastructure and life systems). That offers a broad enough theme that spans a great deal of STEM learning but the overall theme remains constant, which I think helps students understand the schema of the various problems. I’m also glad to hear one of the researchers state the importance of the 21st century learning skills like public speaking and collaboration along with the STEM content knowledge that is gained. In my experience you always need both. At this point you are relatively young program so what have you learned in your first year? What has surprised you? Also, how are students recruited, and do they all attend Saturday Academy? After-school time can be challenging around consistency. Have you found this to be true? Why or why not? I am also interested in the curriculum? Has it been developed or is it being piloted at this point?

This is one of my favorite videos so far! I love seeing the actual students and facilitators involved in the projects and how engaged they seem in the program. I’m also curious about some of the details of the program that Teresa mentioned, especially about how students are recruited and how many Saturdays they attend the academy. Will the same students attend all three years? Will you be able to keep in touch with them when they head off to college and find out if they use the skills they learned in iSTEM?

Echoing what Teresa and Lauren said, I’m also interested in learning more of the details of your PBL program. For instance, what educational improvements do you expect and how are you measuring them?

The iSTEM program at Morehouse College is a dynamic program that my daughter, Emily, participates in twice a month and during the summer for 5 weeks. She loves the program and is engaged from start to finish. She enjoyed participating in the Morehouse College Innovation Day where her team showcased their project, Moving On the Moon. I look forward to her continued growth and interest in the STEM field over the next three years while participating in the program.

Looks like a very exciting project! As other facilitators have asked, I would like to know more details—how long students are involved in the program, how are they recruited, how many students have been involved up to this point and what has been the feedback from those students? Is there any family engagement component?

This looks like a great program. How specifically do you expose the students to STEM careers? Are you purposeful in exposing them to many different mentors? If so, how do you choose these students? I have all the same questions mentioned above as well. I would also be interested in what metrics you are using with your students since you have prolonged exposure unlike most “camps”.

Craig thank you for your comments. Students are exposed to STEM careers through a speaker series of STEM professionals, video cases and independent student research on STEM careers of interest.