Reigniting Passion For Education with STEM
Mehgan Clavier, a middle school teacher at Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana, never imagined herself as a STEM person, but when she found herself in the position of Technology Teacher after some big changes at the school, she stepped up to the plate. What has she found? Her love of teaching and learning has been reignited.
When her new role went from technology teacher to STEM teacher and she was tasked with implementing a new STEM curriculum, she was rather overwhelmed with the prospect. With a career of teaching Social Studies and only a few months of technology training under her belt, it was daunting to consider how she could create a thriving STEM environment at her school. Clavier was introduced to Woz ED STEM Kits through the Calcasieu Parish School Board and found herself, and her students, entirely enmeshed in STEM learning.
Fast forward a few years and not only has Clavier created an engaging, expansive STEM program for her middle schoolers at the parish, but has presented on the power of Woz ED and STEM learning across the Lake Charles region. At a tech conference put on by the parish, Clavier’s presentation has been a huge hit over the past three years and has inspired other educators to learn more about the Woz ED program.
Implementation: A Breeze in Comparison
Learning how to use Woz ED STEM Kits turned out to be way easier than Clavier imagined. She picked them up fast, along with a zest for the “learn as you go” nature of STEM. These kits have allowed her to utilize that teacher’s sixth sense; knowing the specific needs of each group of students she is working with. She determines which lessons to teach based on the interest of her students. This has proved an effective way to keep students engaged as they have more autonomy over their learning.
Combining intuition and time considerations, Clavier selects which Woz ED Pathways she will focus on each semester. For example, her sixth graders this year have shown a massive interest in Animation Level 2. She has, therefore, created an entire course of learning that utilizes the Animation Kits for her sixth grade students.
Clavier has also implemented a course that the teachers refer to as a STEM crash course. Here, Woz ED Pathways are interwoven throughout the year to build a solid foundation for STEM specific skills like coding, animation, drones, robotics, and more.
From Newbie to Professional In A Matter of Years
Calcasieu Parish puts on a yearly technology conference for educators and leaders in the area called Tech Con. Since Clavier took over as STEM teacher at the middle school, she has been part of the CPSB Technology Department program “ITEC” or Implementing a Technology Enriched Program. She, along with other technology teachers and administrators, presents at Tech Con each year and reports her learnings to the district.
Clavier’s presentation at Tech Con goes over all of the positive benefits of Woz ED STEM Kits and curriculum support. It details student learning, adaptability, teacher training, and implementation. This year, Clavier threw in an additional element to her presentation, showcasing the innovation and exploration so pivotal in a STEM learning environment. She set up stations around the conference room and had attendees play around with the kits themselves.
This past fall, Clavier was nominated for Teacher of The Year at the middle school level. This is a series of interviews and portfolio reviews which starts at a school, then goes on to district, regional, state, and national competitions if desired. With her passion for education, her commitment to creating innovative, engaging learning environments for her students, and her ability to take on challenges, Clavier’s skillsets and capabilities are undeniable. Regardless of how far she goes in the competition, she is an exceptional teacher who cares deeply about educating young minds.
STEM Power Manifested Again
Clavier’s favorite element of implementing Woz ED Kits and teaching STEM at Calcasieu Parish is the “unscripted nature” of it all. There is not one right way to utilize it and it opens up a world of possibilities each day.
Since STEM is not currently a subject that is included on state exams, the goal of the course is student connection to the material. The way student faces light up when exploring STEM kits, how they collaborate with one another, the way they build upon concepts and explore is more important than test scores. At the same time, hands-on-learning has proven useful in its ability to supplement traditional subject material, allowing students to better grasp concepts in language and mathematics.
Her connection with her students is what keeps her going. She tells us,
“I always like to model myself behind whoever I needed at that age. Middle school is such a tough age, but these students are my people. I love the attitude of the students I teach and people I work with…to make sure that they are seen and heard, that they have a safe space to operate, and a safe space to make mistakes and learn from them. For me, that’s what is most important.”
