STEM edutainment: now showing in classrooms.

AuthorMiller, Cynthia D.
PositionSTEMNEWS

* No matter how intriguing scientific and mathematical theory may be, students truly love and remember a great story. The best teachers understand this concept when they reinforce basic principles with exciting projects to both entertain and educate their students.

In 2009, Chicago-based Defined Learning announced a partnership with The Futures Channel, a producer of videos showcasing real-life professionals who use math and science in interesting professions. The two companies created a partnership service called "Defined STEM" that allows teachers to download self-contained units of study including subject recommendations, lesson plans, related websites, teacher guides and state standards that are complementary to The Futures Channels' library of videos and clips.

The videos explain how professionals use STEM disciplines on a daily basis in their vocations. They are produced to answer students' age-old question: "Why do I have to learn this?" The videos' topics include everything from using math and science to create music, cakes, parade floats, roller coasters, toys, backpacks and sports equipment, managing the global economy and other more traditional engineering and scientific feats.

"Defined STEM is used as a springboard into Project Based Learning which accomplishes two goals," said Joel Jacobson, executive vice president of business development. "First, it infuses STEM into the curriculum, and at the same time it incorporates 21st Century skills through the project based environment. Add to that the input we receive from the professionals and educators who create the ancillary tools that accompany each video, and we have created a social education network at its best."

For more information, see www.definedlearning.com.

Similarly, Global Imagination, a company also founded by former entertainment executives, was created to "change the way people see, understand and act upon...

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