You’ve Got the POWARR! An Integrated Approach to Literacy and STEM

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

Dr. Blades Consulting

Second Presenter's Institution

NA

Third Presenter's Institution

NA

Fourth Presenter's Institution

NA

Fifth Presenter's Institution

NA

Location

Scarbrough 4

Strand #1

Academic Achievement & School Leadership

Relevance

This proposal relates to the selected strand (Academic Achievement & School Leadership) in that it provides an effective strategy that can be used to increase the incorporation of literacy in STEM, particularly for students who struggle in these areas.

Brief Program Description

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn to incorporate literacy into any STEM lesson using the POWARR method of predicting, observing, writing, analyzing, researching, and reporting.

Summary

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn to incorporate literacy into any STEM lesson using the POWARR method of predicting, observing, writing, analyzing, researching, and reporting.

When challenged with inquiry-, problem-, or performance-based learning tasks, many students have trouble organizing the information gathered from research and data collected from experiments, in order to properly analyze and communicate the results of their learning. The POWARR method was designed to assist students with organizing and communicating information gathered from research-based and hands-on learning experiences. The POWARR method is a collaborative approach to writing, which requires students to not only evaluate their own work, but also the work of their classmates, by requiring students to question each other and provide justifications for their contributions. Given sample data, participants will practice using this method and produce exemplars that can be used to model the POWARR method with their own students. In this highly engaging session, participants will learn to apply the POWARR method to any STEM lesson and how to use it to encourage increased use of literacy in their STEM courses.

Evidence

The POWARR Method was developed when I realized the disconnect between students participating in lab experiences and submitting formal lab reports. I realized that I needed to create a way to teach students to communicate the information gathered and organize it into a formal lab report. This methods removes many of the barriers students have to writing and allows them to do so without the fear of "being wrong".

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Marquita S. Blades is a professional educator with 16 years of experience as a high school science teacher and manager of national STEM programs for high-achieving high school students. During her time working with public school districts, she also served as a curriculum & assessment developer, and professional learning facilitator for multiple school districts in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Dr. Blades earned a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Broad Field Science from Georgia State University, a Master of Science in Technical and Professional Communication from Southern Polytechnic State University, and a Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Blades is currently a full-time educational consultant, the founder of The Mediocre Teacher Project, and the host of The Dr. Marquita Blades Show, a radio show dedicated to discussing current issues in education. Dr. Blades’ consulting firm offers solutions to learning institutions and individuals by through professional development programs, curriculum and assessment development, and conference development and programming services. When she is not working, Dr. Blades enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling with her husband.

Keyword Descriptors

Literacy, STEM, STEM, writing, science

Presentation Year

2018

Start Date

3-6-2018 1:00 PM

End Date

3-6-2018 2:15 PM

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Mar 6th, 1:00 PM Mar 6th, 2:15 PM

You’ve Got the POWARR! An Integrated Approach to Literacy and STEM

Scarbrough 4

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn to incorporate literacy into any STEM lesson using the POWARR method of predicting, observing, writing, analyzing, researching, and reporting.