{"id":3824,"date":"2021-01-13T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/?p=3824"},"modified":"2026-03-26T08:16:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T12:16:24","slug":"teaching-stem-can-be-scary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/teaching-stem-can-be-scary\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching STEM can be Scary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An interview with Tess Strauch from Bethpage High School<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching STEM topics is a trend that will only grow in scope as we move forward into the world of digitalization, and the rate of technological change continues to increase multi-fold.  The speed of innovation is impacting everyone in our society from heads of state to heads of industry, and everyone in between. Faced with the responsibility of preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow, it is no wonder that STEM teachers find it daunting to keep pace and feel less than confident about their ability to deliver the \u201cright\u201d curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can we do to help teachers and their students navigate the deluge of digital technology and have successful learning experiences?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I spoke with Tess Strauch, who teaches Marine Biology, AP Physics 2, Physics and Introduction to Engineering at Bethpage High School, to learn how she is approaching the challenge herself.  What I learned is that the answer lies in continuous learning and collaboration; collaboration with other teachers, with industry partners, and even with students in real-time.  Strauch stressed, \u201cto successfully teach STEM in the age of digitalization teachers not only need to be open and willing to learn new topics, but they also need to learn new ways of delivering instruction.\u201d  Teaching from a prescribed text may provide a reasonably current reference, but it fails to help students develop the critical-thinking skills which are essential in the workforce today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bethpage has had a strong track record for collaborating with others, often working with other academic stakeholders in their ecosystem, such as Hofstra and St. John\u2019s Universities and STEM programs such as FIRST\u00ae <\/em>Robotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year Bethpage\u2019s science director recommended that Strauch take a training course and evaluate the merits of Siemens Engineering Design<\/a> problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum.  PBL is a method that Strauch is familiar with from prior teaching experiences, but she confessed that as a teacher, \u201cit can be terrifying, to give up the traditional way of teaching in which students learn by reading, discussing and taking notes on a subject and then typically taking a test on the content.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Problem-based learning requires teachers to outline a real-world problem that students must solve.   Working in groups students are in charge of organizing the project and creating and presenting unique solutions.  In this regard the PBL approach changes the way students learn, it allows them to define, explore and acquire knowledge along the way.  Additionally, the collaboration required in PBL helps students to develop other important skills, such as brainstorming, team building, decision-making and project management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strauch attended a week-long, on-line training over the summer, where she was introduced to Solid Edge software and Siemens Engineering Design curriculum.   By the end of her training, Strauch felt prepared to introduce the course to her 11th<\/sup> and 12th<\/sup> grade students.  She commented, \u201cthe curriculum is super clear and very well thought out, engaging for students, and has been extremely beneficial to her in the classroom.\u201d  She also commented \u201clearning a new software is a challenge that has to be overcome, but Solid Edge was very easy to learn and to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strauch\u2019s students seem to be having the biggest benefit from her training course.   To date, they have completed and presented 4-5 separate projects. In addition to accessing Solid Edge at school, all the Bethpage students also have a free Solid Edge student license that they use at home to complete assignments and continue self-guided learning.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe students love the class, it has been very easy for them to learn about engineering design, they are very engaged and often stump me with great questions \u2013 which we then explore together!\u201d  <\/p>Tess Strauch<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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