Zooming to the STEM Academy

Periscope of Zoom Conference

Mrs. Maynor from Roanoke Elementary and Mrs. Helmick from Northwest High School have partnered together to help take face to face conversations digital.  Through a Zoom conference the students of the STEM Academy and third graders at Roanoke Elementary were able to discuss what happens in the academy at NHS as well as go on a digital tour through the STEM classrooms.  Third graders were then able to participate in a question and answer forum with the STEM students.  At the end of the Zoom conference the STEM students challenged the third graders to build a model of a tree house that would be capable of lifting something from the ground, up into the tree house.

The Roanoke third graders then took the idea to paper. Or so they thought... They soon realized they had some questions about the task.  So they sent the STEM students another ZOOM invitation and had an impromptu digital chat for clarification. Christian, a 3rd grader in Mrs. Rogers class at Roanoke commented, "It helped us because we didn't understand the challenge at first and we just needed to ask more questions. So we did." Then they had to plan and design a model tree house system.  They spent two weeks in class working in groups to design their system and a way to present the information.

Today, November 16th, the 3rd graders will get up in front of the students of the STEM Academy, in person, and present their ideas.  The STEM students will then use their 3D printing machine to create the tree house system that is best presented to them.

When STEM students were asked what value there is in communicating with a younger audience, one student stated, "Communicating with a younger audience is very interesting since it is something we're not as used to doing, it helps to further expand our presenting skills."  Shelbee and Dominae, in Mrs. Maynor's 3rd grade class also added that using a chat on a phone or computer will help students when they want to talk to companies like Yeti. They said it makes it easier when they can't go on a field trip there.  Video Chats are tearing down classroom walls throughout Northwest ISD.