Bringing STEM to Life with Linked Learning

ConnectEd's article Making STEM Real, published in ASCD's Educational Leadership Magazine in March 2011 outlines how Linked Learning makes STEM come to life in high schools.

Linked Learning pathways focus classroom-based learning around industry themes such as engineering, biomedicine, or digital media and design. And these pathways provide an exceptionally effective approach for engaging students in STEM because they offer students:

1. An integrated curriculum based on real-world problems;
2. Project-based learning that helps students to learn by doing rather than through classes dominated by lectures, individual silent work, and recall-based assessments;
3. Work-based learning such as job shadowing and internships that offer interaction with local business and industry; and
4. Continuous improvement opportunities with students engaging in STEM through comprehensive programs of study

The ASCD article provides more in depth information on the four points mentioned above, and the ConnectEd video below shows STEM and Linked Learning in action. Through Linked Learning, students become engaged and excited about STEM subjects and about school in general. And students finally get an answer to the pressing question: Why do I need to know this?