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STEM at Confratute
This summer from July 11 through July 17, Mr. Fawks worked as a Confratute Management Engineer at Confratute which is held annually at the University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus. Confratute is a combined CONFerence, and an instiTUTE with a lot of FRATernity in between. Confratute is geared toward providing educators with research-based practical strategies for engagement and enrichment learning for all students, as well as meeting the needs of gifted and talented students.When Mr. Fawks was not working, he had an opportunity to meet Bronwyn MacFarlane, Ph.D., associate professor of gifted education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) in the Department of Educational Leadership and the editor of the newly released book entitled, STEM Education for High-Ability Learners: Designing and Implementing Programming. Mr. Fawks attended a Special Topic Session presented by Bronwyn MacFarlane entitled STEM Programmatic Design: Creative Teaching for Technical Talent Development. In this interactive and experiential session, participants learned about specific elements critical to the design and implementation of STEM programs for advanced students and application to local settings. Emphasis was placed on developing articulation plans with best practices for high ability students in Stem programs. To develop STEM talent, gifted students need programs that provide rigorous articulation of multiple elements - curriculum, instruction, assessment, creativity, and more. Ideally, a differentiated STEM educational program should begin during elementary school and continue seamlessly through secondary education with interdisciplinary and applied approach.As a result of this Special Topic, Mr. Fawks plans on incorporating these best practices into the design and implementation of the STEM program. Mr. Fawks also took advantage of the opportunity to get his copy of the STEM book signed by Bronwyn MacFarlane, PhD.STEM Education for High-Ability Learners: Developing and Implementing ProgrammingSTEM Education for High-Ability Learners: Designing and Implementing Programming focuses on the rigorous articulation of quality STEM education programming to develop STEM talent among high-ability and gifted learners. The intent of this book is to provided a comprehensive resource for educators designing and implementing each of the supports within STEM education by providing a discussion of each critical component for inclusion in a planned, coherent, and high-quality sequenced system. This edited volume provides a cutting-edge discussion of best practices for delivering STEM education by experts in the field. The contributing authors provide a differentiated discussion and recommendations for the learning experiences of gifted students in STEM education programs.Part I Foundational Theories, Research, and Best Practices in STEM EducationChapter 1: State Residential STEM Schools: A Case StudyChapter 2: S is for Science Education at the Elementary LevelChapter 3: S is for Science Education at the Secondary LevelChapter 4: T is for Technology Education: Developing Technological Talent and SkillThrough Curriculum and PracticeChapter 5: E is for Engineering Education: Cultivating Applied Science Understandings andProblem-Solving AbilitiesChapter 6: M is for Mathematics at the Elementary LevelChapter 7: M is for Mathematics at the Secondary LevelChapter 8: Assessing Aptitude and Achievement in STEM Teaching and LearningChapter 9: Infrastructure of Comprehensive STEM Programming for Advanced LearnersPart II Applications to School-Based Practice With Gifted EducationChapter 10: Connecting the Common Core State, Next Generation Science, and GiftedProgramming Standards With STEM Curriculum for Advanced LearnersChapter 11: Biography Builds STEM Understanding for Talented LearnersChapter 12: International STEM Education and the Integrated Role of Second Language StudyChapter 13: Integrating the Arts and Creativity in STEM Education: Emerging Talent Using STEAMChapter 14: Neuroscience and Gender Issues in STEM Education and Among High-Ability LearnersChapter 15: Designing and Developing an Exceptional Living-Learning Environment for the HighlyAble Student: A Grassroots Approach to a Statewide InitiativeBest Practices Are Good For All Students!