HATBORO-HORSHAM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATOR PARTICIPATED IN PRESTIGIOUS STEM FELLOWSHIP FROM THE SIEMENS FOUNDATION

HORSHAM – This fall, Joel Evans, a high school math teacher at Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School, will return to his classroom with a deeper understanding of how to integrate real world science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts into classroom instruction.

This understanding comes as the result of his participation this summer in a highly-exclusive, week-long, professional development opportunity sponsored by the Siemens Foundation and administered by Discovery Education in association with the College Board and Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).

“It was a wonderful experience – very fun and exciting to be surrounded by so many high quality teachers from throughout the country,” Joel Evans said.  “It was fun to bounce ideas off of them, and think about how I can incorporate what I learned into my classroom and to my students.”

Evans was one of only 50 educators from across the country selected to take part in the Siemens STEM Institute, a fellowship designed to promote hands-on, real-world integration of STEM disciplines in the classroom helping educators to get their students excited about STEM education and careers.

The Siemens STEM Institute specifically sought applicants who want to become STEM leaders and help change the way STEM subjects are taught in American classrooms.  The goal of this one-of-a-kind, all-expense-paid immersion program is to create a group of STEM ambassadors who can take what they learn back into their own classrooms and become key influencers in their schools and communities.  Evans collaborated with educators from both urban and rural areas across middle and high school grade levels in an effort to bring new and innovative digital tools into the classroom that will enhance STEM teaching and learning. 
 
The Siemens STEM Institute is part of the Siemens STEM Academy, a premier online professional development community for STEM educators empowering and celebrating excellence in STEM education.
 
Just outside of Washington, D.C., Evans and his colleagues spent the week of August 4 - August 9 at the world headquarters of Discovery Communications working with leading scientists, thought-leaders, educators and innovators whose work across STEM disciplines shape the world of science today and prepare for the world of science tomorrow. Guest speakers included Camsie McAdams, University of Iowa professor Dr. Joe Krajick, and education pioneer Dr. Lodge McCammon, Senior Advisor of STEM for the Department of Education.

“I feel more comfortable sharing what I’m doing because of what I learned there,” Evans said.  “You’re surrounded by all these people and energy so that made it a lot fun.”

Evans said that speaking with and learning from Dr. McCammon about “flipping” the classroom, where alternative media and methods are used to not only teach but also engage students was helpful in focusing how he will be teaching not only his AP Statistics, which was “flipped” last year, but also his other math classes.