The Kenan Fellowship changed me in many ways. I think Kenan Fellowship is a way of thinking then doing sort like NCSU Motto: Think and Do. It also changed me because it like the rafting picture above, teaching and learning should be an adventure and fun although it is hard work. It also relies on team work. Everyday in my classroom I use something I learned from my Fellowship, either the content or how think from mind mapping to engineering design. I think this is so important because content and science is constantly changing so if I can teach my students how to think, this will be a valuable skill for them. I also learned more about creativity. Applying knowledge to make something new. I try to instill this to my students. My students had to make a mind map and also make a design for a new wearable device. We try to think of applications of knowledge we are learning daily. How it connects to the real world or how we can use it to improve the world. This has increased students want to learn more since they see the application of what they learn.
I also think having fun and adventures in important. There is a burn out in teachers from 10 plus hours a day and no or little lunch break. One of the things I things Kenan Fellowship improves is longevity. The teachers in Kenan Fellowship that are picked are high quality teachers but the Kenan Fellowship gives us a support network, resources, knowledge and fun needed to want to continue for a long time. It opened up the Fun for me and I try to instill this daily in our lessons too. Change of scenery is important too. My students have had two but will have 3 field trips in my class, this year to see the world and learn more STEM. In addition, just liked I learned lots on the river while having fun, I take my students more outside to learn in the small patch of woods we have with a stream. This is important because many of my students do not go outside to play much in the woods and also to have experiences in nature like we did with Citizen Science or rafting. This also helps the kids learn more.
I learned to use more the word how. If a student wants to do make something or invent something the question is how no, not it can not be done. While some ideas maybe better, it is best to lead or mentor the students then tell them. The Fellowship has given me and my students many ideas for new projects. My high school students came up to make a wearable device for cows. We are now EXCITE finalists for MIT Inventeam. We have lots of support from the ASSIST Center and other departments. I know being a Kenan Fellow has opened many doors for us. My middle School students are making an exhibit for the NC Museum of Natural Science SCITECH Day in April on: electricity, nanotechnology and wearable devices. This Fellowship has opened a new world for them too.
I have really enjoyed working and learning from the other Fellows. I have gained much support and also ideas from them. Although I will keep in touch with them, I wanted something to fill part of the void next year and applied for NC Science Leadership Fellowship and was picked. This will help me develop more skills and additional network of people to support me throughout my educational career. It will also help increase my leadership skills, something I learned in the Kenan Fellowship. I learned about the need to advocate. I have written two articles in EDNC, one on my high school program Catalyst but the other on how vocational high schools can help fix NC leaky STEM pipeline. The Kenan Fellowship has taught me why it is important to come outside your classroom to help fix things for more than just your students. I have had Rep. Meyer’s come teach my high school students about advocacy so they can learn to change things too.
Writing curriculum was a big challenge for me. Coming up with lesson plan ideas was not hard since I write my own lesson plans daily and teach 5 curriculums a day. The hard part was writing it so other educators could understand it, not just myself. I know I will not want to write curriculum for a career, I do enjoy sharing with other teachers. This year I presented in two conference, Bridging the GAP and NSTA about nanotechnology, wearable devices and teaching students with disabilities. I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with teachers and do a much better job doing so verbally with hands on activities.
The Kenan Fellowship has taught me to Think, Do, Have Fun and use Team work, all things which will help my students and me many years to come.