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Innovative Thinking Leads to Innovative Actions
Author :: Dr. Reagan Flowers
Date :: Mon 06/20/2011 @ 08:00

Innovative Thinking Leads to Innovative Actions, which result in creative solutions that otherwise might not have derived from a preplanned strategy in a binder on your shelf, or a folder in your computer.

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Innovative Thinking Leads to Innovative Actions, which result in creative solutions that otherwise might not have derived from a preplanned strategy in a binder on your shelf, or a folder in your computer.

By Reagan Flowers, PhD

CSTEM subscribes to the notion that students must learn how to think critically and creatively, just as much as they need to learn math and science. One solution to reducing the dropout rate, developing competitive STEM students, and increasing the number of students, particularly minority and female students engaged in the pursuit of knowledge in math and science is creating more classrooms that thrive on real-world learning experiences that support applied knowledge, skills, research, and discovery. Schools must subscribe to learning environments that teach students how to approach problems from multiple perspectives, combining various approaches to developing innovative solutions. Similar to how CSTEM is working to assist Pre K-12 schools with transforming STEM classrooms and learning environments, Roger Martin of the Rotman School of Management is doing the same but with students in the business school.

Imagination is so vital to the work in STEM education in that it keeps learning magical and mystical. This approach has generated great success in the national CSTEM Challenge. Each year our curriculum team draws on imagination to develop (6) problems for students to solve encouraging them to consider multiple perspectives in the development of innovative solutions. The six challenges are in part created to provide students with real-world learning experiences that allow them to apply text book knowledge in coming up with creative solutions. In addition to the hands-on learning, we are developing “holistic thinkers” who think beyond the walls of their classrooms and are more willing to make important decisions.

School as we know it, has traditionally involved separate disciplines and deals less and less with interdisciplinary teaching and/or learning experiences, limiting a student’s ability to think broadly. The national CSTEM Challenge provides classrooms with the elements that assist teachers with helping learning relate to the “real world”. In the instance of visual arts, students apply geometry, architecture, and research to create a mural as an artistic expression. These types of experiences develop students into leaders. The interdisciplinary challenge, which focuses on students understanding and ability to think through problems analytically, allows students to develop artifact portfolios as a solution to real-world problems, leading the students to become better creative thinkers. Inquiry and out-of-the-box thinking through the national CSTEM Challenge is creating students that look into solving a problem without automatically referring to predetermined strategy or concepts. This leads to the multitude of innovative solutions submitted annually.

At Stanford, known as the d. school, the school of business has developed an innovative institute of design centered on teaching courses around “Design Thinking”, which aligns with the Pre K-12 work of CSTEM. Tim Brown, president of IDEO, puts it best in his statement, “critical thinking is an ability to understand a system or a statement and respond to it”. CSTEM provides problem statements to students annually, which allow students to take their understanding of the world and apply points of references, very similar to what is described by David Kelly, the creator of the Design School. “What’s different about design thinking is, it’s focused on taking that understanding you have about the world and using that as a set of insights from which to be creative.”: This concept is what CSTEM works to create in Pre K-12 classrooms. Furthermore, we are providing students with problems to solve to initiate creative thinking and inquiry outside of the context of what is provided in a traditional classroom.

CSTEM advocates a change in curriculum approach that links formal and informal learning practices and support collaborative teaching, and both vertical and horizontal learning along the Pre K-12 continuum. Part of the challenge is to learn from history and turn out better products in more of our students. As opposed to continuing down the path that leads to the continuous loss of thousands of students, which equates to over 600,000 drop-outs annually, a weaker economy, higher crime rates, an increased demand for social services, and the erosion of our country’s global competitiveness.

As business schools are some of our countries leading institutions of higher learning, it is time for Colleges of Education that produce our Pre K-12 teachers to rework their curriculum to be inclusive of course offerings that teach design thinking. This would allow student teachers to apply thinking more broadly through integrated collaborative approaches. As a result teachers would look at state approved curriculum through lenses that support more creative teaching that infuses experiential learning, reflection, and field experiences. This approach provides purpose for learning, connects with students and keeps them engaged in the learning process.

Students as a whole want to contribute positively to society. Their attempt to identify the answer to the question we ask them so often, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”, has gotten overwhelmingly difficult. They are left with fewer “realistic” answers, a result of a learning environment and home life that do not support the creative possibilities of their imagination. However, if we provide opportunities in our classrooms that support creative thinking in various STEM content areas and art, more students will plug into the learning process, stay connected and completes the journey.

CSTEM Making Math & Science Fun
Author :: Kristin Kane
Date :: Fri 04/01/2011 @ 01:53

HOUSTON - It’s a major problem in the US and even more so in Texas. American kids aren't keeping up in math and science.

But a national program that started right here in Houston is trying to change that.

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CSTEM Making Math & Science Fun

Kristin Kane (Fox 26 Reporter)

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HOUSTON - It’s a major problem in the US and even more so in Texas. American kids aren't keeping up in math and science.

But a national program that started right here in Houston is trying to change that.

When it comes to math and science, Texas just isn't up to standards with the rest of the country. It seems classes like history, English, gym and art are always the favorites.

Remember the movie ‘Mean Girls’? Popular chick Lindsay Lohan was secretly very good at math but was forced to join the ‘mathletes club’ even though the cool kids weren’t participating.

Often that’s the case in school. But Dr. Reagan Flowers developed a Pre-K thru 12th grade program, called CSTEM (Communication, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

It's about changing the way teachers teach math and science and the way kids learn about it.

“What CSTEM brings to the school is real world learning application, hands on, innovation, things that are absent that have been absent for over 100 years. Today’s kids are used to texting, watching TV, getting on the computer, playing video games and when they get to school it’s boring,” Dr. Flowers said. “It’s a text book, it’s a lot of pen and paper work so what CSTEM does is help bring hands on project based learning into the classroom and prepare the teachers to do.”

Field trips and group projects are directly related to current events. For example, CTSEM incorporates robotics and the fine arts through a sea turtle robotics competition and the use of paintings by local artists.

The program is already in hundreds of schools across the country but Dr. Flowers said Houston has a lot of work to do.

“HISD is the 7th largest district in the nation and we’re not fairing competitively not with any other states. Houston I’d say we’re doing very good, but when we look at comparatively across the nation we’re not doing a good job. It takes getting more support in the schools with teachers, not giving them enough and we have issues with parents and their lack of their interest in the education of their children or they don’t stress the importance of math and science,” said Dr. Flowers.

Students in 8th grade say through CSTEM, math and science is very cool and so much fun.

“For me science is so interesting it intrigues me because you get to do projects, and work with your hands, learn about the ecosystem and human body and it’s fun to learn about,” said Antonio Mondragon.

“I think it’s really cool working with a team and other kids you don’t know and you can use your hands and materials to make totally new things,” said Sydney Gonzalez.

Original Article can be found here

Alabama State University Conference Focuses on Globalization
Author :: Pearl Stewart
Date :: Fri 04/01/2011 @ 01:53

The conference, “Entrepreneurship: The Globalization of the New South,” succeeded in attracting disparate leaders to devise strategies for meeting common goals: encouraging economic development in local communities and moving HBCUs toward globalization through entrepreneurship and the STEM disciplines.

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Alabama State University Conference Focuses on Globalization
by Pearl Stewart , March 10, 2011

About 350 business and government leaders joined scholars and educators at Alabama State University in Montgomery this week to explore economic innovation and international business opportunities.

The conference, "Entrepreneurship: The Globalization of the New South," succeeded in attracting disparate leaders to devise strategies for meeting common goals: encouraging economic development in local communities and moving HBCUs toward globalization through entrepreneurship and the STEM disciplines.

The participants who convened at ASU included academic officials and nonprofit executives addressing such eclectic topics from "how to" sessions on starting a business, obtaining grants and capital for novice entrepreneurs. Business executives chose to highlight best practices for financial management and building alliances.

College professors and administrators spent sessions specifically focused on advancing STEM education [science, technology, engineering, math] and academic courses on globalization.

ASU President William Harris said the event was envisioned as "the first of a series of conferences that are part of our strategy of becoming a global university that stresses international relations as well as innovation." Other aspects of that strategy include upcoming exchange visits between ASU and Asian countries, including China, India and South Korea, involving both academic and corporate representatives from the area.

Dr. Leonard L. Haynes III, senior director for institutional services in the Office of Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education, said that as federal Title III recipients, HBCUs should meet the challenge "to be more global in expediting their mission and to encourage students to think more broadly."

"HBCUs should look at the activities they support and make sure they include activities that relate to internationalizing the curriculum," he said.

ASU Executive Vice President and CEO John Knight cited the symbolism of having the conference in Montgomery during the week of the 46th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were beaten by state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in nearby Selma. Montgomery is better known as the city where Rosa Parks sparked a historic bus boycott that helped lead to desegregation.

"So many struggles have taken place here, so this is the rightful place for this conference, which is about bringing parity to HBCUs," Knight said.

Knight is widely known as a plaintiff in the ground-breaking 20-year-old caseKnight v. Alabama, which contended the state had a dual system of education that disadvantaged the African-American population. The suit resulted in additional funding for the state’s Black institutions.

Dr. Reagan Flowers, a keynote speaker and CEO of CSTEM Teacher & Student Support Services, Inc., explained how it is important to develop programs that connect K-12 with HBCUs, promote literacy, encourage students to major in STEM subjects and expose them to STEM careers.

The Houston executive led a conference session for high school students. "I spoke to them about taking high-level math and science courses, doing the hard work, getting internships and successfully completing STEM majors at postsecondary levels," Flowers said. "Many of our students are not taking rigorous courses in high school, so they don’t have the background to complete those courses in college, and end up changing their major. That’s the gap we have now."

Some ASU students participated in the "Student Innovation and Motion Competition," which awards a $5,000 prize at the culmination of the conference. The conference ends today at 12 pm CST.

Dr. Leonard L. Haynes III is the senior director for institutional services in the Office of Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Education Department. (photo courtesy of David Campbell, Alabama State University)

Original article can be found here

Students Engaged in Learning 'Beautiful to See'
Author :: Jon Aert
Date :: Fri 04/01/2011 @ 01:52

Foregoing Saturday morning cartoons and video games seemed like no biggie to the 35 kids who turned up at William Wirt Middle School yesterday. In fact, many relished the opportunity provided by volunteer teachers and the National CSTEM Challenge, a pre-K through 12 competition aimed at fostering interest in and preparing students for careers of the future.

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CSTEM students are building robots, writing and using creative talents in preparation for a national competition in Texas.

By Jon Aerts

Foregoing Saturday morning cartoons and video games seemed like no biggie to the 35 kids who turned up at William Wirt Middle School yesterday. In fact, many relished the opportunity provided by volunteer teachers and the National CSTEM Challenge, a pre-K through 12 competition aimed at fostering interest in and preparing students for careers of the future.

CSTEM, which stands for Communications, Science, Technology, Environment and Math, is a nonprofit organization whose central mission involves eliminating achievement gaps in those fields through project-based learning initiatives.

“It’s beautiful to see,” said Lisa Walters, a substitute teacher and volunteer. “This program allows kids to think outside the box, to engage themselves and problem solve.”

Since CSTEM kicked off in September, students from Port Towns Elementary, Wirt Middle School and Bladensburg High School have been attending monthly workshops in the hopes of winning blue ribbons at the 2010-2011 CSTEM Challenge, which will be held on April 16 at the convention center in Houston, Tex.

“It’s going to be my first time on an airplane,” said elementary student Dominion Taiwoadewusi — this, while sketching out a sea turtle that will ultimately be included on her team’s mural.

Of course, Taiwoadewusi wasn’t the only one thinking big.

“What are we doing here?” Mark Spriggs, a teacher, asked his robotics team.

“We’re trying to absorb oil without hurting sea turtles, or ourselves,” replied Daniel, a middle school student fiddling with a four-wheeled robot his team assembled a month prior.

As with five other projects — ranging from the creation of pop-up story books and sea-turtle sculptures, to oil spill containment strategies using geographic information systems — the robotics challenge addresses issues of environmental concern.

In this case, students are tasked with assembling and programming robots capable of herding turtles and plugging a gushing oil valve.

“Oh, we’ll get it done,” Spriggs said of his team’s looming deadline. “Come April, we will be ready for Texas.”

Meanwhile, Alma Smith, a coordinator for Bladensburg High School’s biomedical program, presented students with a YouTube video of the “Da Vinci Robot” carefully peeling the skin off of a grape with its mechanical arms.

“(CSTEM) is designed to give these kids a head start, to provide them with insight and to recruit them into promising fields such health care,” Smith said.

In the school cafeteria, a group of young girls read and exchanged drafts of their stories for the creative writing challenge, another component of the program.

“I chose this [challenge] because it seemed very catchy,” said fifth-grader Sara Kandeh, sitting among her peers and a younger cast of elementary students. “And I like writing and getting to work with younger students, to see how they think.”

Kevin Kendrick, a reading and language arts teacher at William Wirt Middle School, said each of the illustrated pop-up books will be comprised of folktales about “the creation of life, strength of community and embracing the universe.”

But when asked to reveal a little more of the story, Kendrick quipped: “We don’t want anyone to see our magnificence until we get to Texas.”

Original article can be found here

One of Houston Business jurnal 40 Under 40 Honorees
Author :: Houston Business Journal
Date :: Fri 04/01/2011 @ 01:49

CSTEM President & Founder, Dr. Reagan Flower is one of Houston Business jurnal 40 Under 40 Honorees

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40 Under 40 honorees named