STEM Highlights of 2013-2014 Listed below are several websites for science, which will eventually be incorporated into a comprehensive website featuring highlights from all STEM disciplines. Science: Students had the opportunity to conduct novel research through the AIRS (Advanced Independent Research in STEM) program. Maxwell Solman (Class of 2018) explored how color affects performance on math tests while Sydney Garson (Class of 2014) studied the relationship between optical lenses and image projection. Ben Cohen (Class of 2015) will be combining metallurgy and astronomy to create an orrery (a mechanical model of the Solar System). The website for Middle and Upper School science, www.bwlscience.org, was expanded and Science Roundtable students had the opportunity to publish articles on the site. (This site will be incorporated into BWL s STEM website.) Furthermore, as part of the WISE program, prominent women in scientific fields were featured online. Additionally, AIRS participants had the opportunity to display their independent projects on the website The Lower School Science Department launched a website, https://sites.google.com/a/gbwl.org/lsscience/ where K-5 science highlights were posted weekly. In addition, the Lower School hosted their second annual science fair, which saw unprecedented participation in grades 4-5. Middle and Upper School students completed an extraordinary number of lab experiments and field trips, averaging 20 investigations per class, including long-term investigations into the environmental conditions necessary for life The WISE speaker series featured an unprecedented seven speakers across various scientific disciplines including deep-sea geology and arctic exploration BWL students competed in our first Science Olympiad, combining elements of engineering, technology, and science in a regional competition (Grades 9-12). The 12th grade Anatomy and Physiology course was approved for college credit. Students can now earn up to 6 credits taking the course. As part of Recyclemania, 2nd grade students assembled
photosynthesis murals out of recycled materials. Recyclemania will now be known as A Greener Green (Grades K-12). 3rd grade students were exposed to basic circuitry and programming using LittleBits Modules. 5th grade students were introduced to a weekly extended lab period for longer term experimentation. Technology: The BWL radio station, WBWL, was launched and featured live broadcasts in the mornings, updating students on community news and events. The Middle School Computer Science lab was refurbished with new technology to allow students a collaborative class setting. A monitor was installed outside the Middle School office displaying community news, awards, and test schedules for students. 6th graders completed a game design module as an introduction to programming, and 8th grade students learned basic html for web design, in addition to developing mobile apps and designing their own inventions. The Middle School activity BWL News published a record number of interviews and exposed students to the technological skills present in journalism (Grades 6-8). Engineering: Students attended the FIRST Robotics Competition in New Jersey in preparation for BWL s participation in the program (Grades 9-12). 5th grade students completed an engineering unit in which they studied the structural integrity of bridges. Math: Teachers utilized physics simulators to help students derive equations (Grade 8). Middle School Math is involved with Problem of the Week, a program run through the Math Forum of Drexel University. Each year, several students responses are selected for national recognition (Grades 6-8). 6th grade students were assigned projects over winter break that incorporated STEM into the curriculum. They have designed the layout for a zoo and in coming year will collaborate with the
computer science department to construct their habitats online. Math and Technology departments have collaborated to make educational games to reinforce concepts. For instance, a monkeythemed game is used to teach one-step equations to Middle School students (Grades 6-8). Cross-Discipline: Teachers made student progress reports available online through Engrade. Imogen Ma (Class of 2014) created a new lab manual for science students. Her illustrated guide explains safety procedures in a visual, artistic manner to capture students attention. Students made use of our MakerBot 3D printer in various classes. Students in 7th grade math designed and printed geometric shapes to model the relationship between area and volume. 7th graders in computer science generated sustainable living spaces in computeraided drafting. Science Roundtable students across the Middle School created their own organisms from the extruded plastic. Upper Schoolers made use of the printer in Java class and for the Science Olympiad. Upcoming STEM projects for 2014-15: Science Google Chromebooks will be installed for Lower School Science (Grades K-5). Columbia University professors will engage with students in the 6th, 10th, and 12th grades. In addition, students will have the opportunity to participate in college experiments by spectating on the labs via videoconference. BWL had partnered with NASA s Jet Propulsion Lab. This digital learning network will allow students to engage with astrophysicists in their research (Grades K-12). Technology: BWL s library has been completely remodeled to house additional computer resources. As the main source of information, students can come to the library for all their research needs. In addition, the emphasis on technology in Library Sciences will allow students a
reach of inquiry beyond the walls of the School (Grades K-12). WBWL has partnered with Columbia University in an exciting new endeavor. Professor interviews will be featured on the radio show and a Twitter page will be available for students to ask real-time questions (Grades 9-12). The Technology Department has taken on a new faculty member for the deployment of mobile devices (Grades K-12). The LS Computer lab has been remodeled for collaborative learning (Grades K-5). A monitor was installed in the Upper School student lounge that will display community news and events. In addition, it will feature a lecture series and educational videos to engage student interest (Grades 9-12). Teachers will make use of the online learning platforms Tophat, Khan Academy, and Nearpod to engage students and gather data about student performance in real time (Grades K-12). Engineering: BWL will be launching a new Robotics program. Upper School students will have the opportunity to compete in FIRST, a national Robotics competition. Middle Schoolers will be able to enroll in a Robotics elective, to have an introduction to and assist with the competition Sparki robots will be introduced in CompSci 1 to explore basic Robotics programming. BWL is launching a new digital music course for students to design their own compositions with the help of a computer (Grades 6-8). Math: Students in Algebra II will learn a section on business math, where they will work with the Computer Science department to explore algorithms that companies use for computer trading (Grades 9, 11). Students will work with the Museum of Math and the New York Hall of Science in distance learning projects (Grades 6-8). Cross-Discipline: Middle School students will create projects for a Design Fair. Using the scientific method, they will see an experiment through from conception to prototype. Guided by Columbia University professors, students will compete in the
International Year of Crystallography crystal-growing competition. The STEM Director has traveled to Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, and Carnegie Mellon University to explore opportunities for collaboration Meghan McGuinn will work in the Lower School to infuse STEM into the humanities fields (Grades K-5). The BWL environmental initiative will continue under the title A Greener Green (Grades K-12). BWL is proud to announce that our first visiting lecturer in anthropology, Douglas Bailey, will be giving an assembly on Neogene archeology. In addition, he will be visiting history classrooms across the grades and using artifacts as examples, to explain how science informs our understanding of the past (Grades K-12). The upcoming year will host STEM assemblies where students showcase their work and where faculty will discuss their STEM passions (Grades K-12). Students will be making use of the 3D printer in their studies to explore everything from how hominid skull sizes changed over time to creating a printable prosthetic hand Google groups have been created for each of the STEM disciplines so that teachers can interact and share between departments. Students will be invited to participate in both an early morning exercise program and an important study. BWL will study the effects of long-term exercise on students academic and behavioral performance. This will be one of the first experiments of its kind