Models for Learning from a student’s perspective
Models for learning is a company that places careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) before young adults and helps them understand and prepare for them in the near future with tools to help along the way. There are two ways to get information, reading it out of a textbook/reading it online or you can make it fun like Models for Learning has by providing a way to learn it while having fun!
For example, you can make your own games with the tools they provide and you can enter contests, play board games, card games, and you can do it all on your phone. Maybe you want to get up on a web page and see all you need to know in 15 minutes a day, well that’s MFL. Find or start STEM clubs where you can meet and interact with people who are interested in the same things you are. With your group you can try cool things together or find and interact with models for STEM topics. Explore which STEM careers might match your interests and skills and learn how to prepare for those careers. There are summer programs where you find one day or week long STEM learning opportunities, home school where parents can teach their children STEM courses at home, and online communities where you can interact online with others with similar STEM interests. You can find opportunities to work for a STEM company as a student.
What MFL means to a teacher is a simple way to get students excited about careers in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and teaches them about it. Or if your not a teacher yet you can find and take online courses that help you certify to teach STEM content. Anyone who is interested in it can use it. When a kid or even a teenager is wondering what their future might be like instead of wondering they could take action and do something about it. You can gain skills and knowledge that will help you in your STEM employment. Models For Learning, “A vision, rationale, and a road map for success.”
Vision for Models for Learning
My long range vision for Models for Learning is to provide tools that help learners and mentors find, use, discuss, record, create, adapt, and share:
- STEM Resources - STEM resources for learning and teaching what interests you.
- STEM Models - Interactive models for STEM topics.
- STEM Challenges - Interesting real world STEM problems and questions.
- STEM Spaces - Workspaces for representing, sharing, and discussing STEM problems and solutions.
- STEM News - Stay abreast of what is going on in STEM and STEM education.
- STEM LMS - Learning management system for managing/mediating STEM learning.
- STEM Courses - Online STEM courses.
- STEM Heroes - Profiles of scientists, inventors, and other interesting STEM people.
- STEM Mentors - Tools for connecting STEM learners, educators, and professionals.
- STEM Teacher Training - Just in time teacher training videos, curriculum, and courses.
Many efforts already exist in these areas. Models for Learning will support, learn from, and extend these efforts.
STEM Pictures
A flickr STEM slideshow page with pictures representing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Enjoy!
Interactive Math Search Engine
I’ve long collected a list of my favorite interactive math websites. Today I created a Google Custom Search engine for searching them. Try the search engine using the search form on the right sidebar, or by going to the Interactive Math Search Engine home page. Eventually I plan to create a search that searches interactive tools only.
Announcing Models for Learning!
I’m pleased to announce that Models for Learning has acquired a license to develop and market products based on the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) and eNLVM! The development of these websites was funded by grants awarded by the National Science Foundation to Utah State University and partners. Here are details:
NLVM. The NLVM is a website that contains over 100 Java applets for K-12 mathematics. It has received great attention and been widely adopted; the website averages over 25,000 unique visitors and 5 million hits each school day. Strengths of the math applets, called virtual manipulatives, are their interactivity, depth of math content, and uncluttered design. The focus of the NLVM project was to develop virtual manipulatives that can be flexibly used for many topics and grade levels. While the NLVM website provides instructions and activities for using the virtual manipulatives in specific contexts, it does not provide comprehensive curriculum materials.
MATTI Math. MATTI Math is a company founded by the principal investigators of the NLVM for the purpose of developing and marketing value-added versions of the NLVM. MATTI Math developed and markets the NLVM Application, a Java application version of the NLVM website that runs without a web connection. It also includes print and save functionality. MATTI Math has also funded the translation of the NLVM website into French, Simplified Chinese, and Arabic.
eNLVM. The eNLVM was a project based on my dissertation to develop interactive online learning units for mathematics called eModules. Each eModule targets specific objectives and includes sequences of activities that utilize the NLVM applets and other web resources. The eNLVM project developed a learning management system uniquely tailored to the development and delivery of interactive online content. Teachers can configure applets for use in a specific context and students can save work done using the applets for teachers to review. See the website for more information about the eNLVM.
Models for Learning. Models for Math is company started up for the purpose of developing and marketing products and services to help prepare students for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The first products to be released will be based on the NLVM and eNLVM.