About this class

Byron STEM

• Mastery is Required. It's OK if you don't "master" the concept right away! It's not OK for me or you to move on anyway as if we don't care about learning! If you get it, that is great! If you don't get it, you WILL. Phrases like "I can't" or "I'm not good" or "I don't know" must be followed by the word "YET".
• Grading is Standards-based. Some assignments will be graded and some formative assessments will not. You will have many opportunities to show what you know. I don't want you to be concerned with the grade, but I do want you to be concerned about how much you are learning. Learning matters, and you grade will reflect how much you have learned.
• Learning is Fun. I will attempt to provide technology-rich activities that involve choice and creativity. Learning is awesome, and who doesn't love autonomy and freedom? I think you will enjoy many of the projects that we do in this class.
• I hardly ever "lecture". Not all knowledge must come from me. I don't know everything, anyway! I can be thought of as the "Facilitator of Learning" rather than the "Disseminator of all Information". I want to learn just as much from you as you do from me!
• Class information is available. Instructional videos and other resources are available to you at school and at home, any time you are ready to learn the concept, on computers or iPads. Much of the info can be accessed on Moodle or our class blog.
• Student work in class. I plan to be available during class time to work with, guide, and build a positive relationship with every one of you. Homework might not be necessary very often.
• Learning is Collaborative. Natural groups will form within your class. You will work together as a team, not as competitors. If I am helping someone else, rely on the strength of the other people in the room to help.