Mark Harmon
Snapshot
A New Kind of Intelligence
As educators, it is our responsibility to equip our students with the tools and skills necessary to reach their full potential and be successful when they enter the real world. In the past, this has simply meant giving them as much information as possible and teaching them to regurgitate it at will. However, in our modern world information is more accessible than any other time in human history. As a result, it is imperative that we teach them how to apply the knowledge they have gained. As a STEM educator, that means not only teaching students to apply an existing technology, but making an effort to implement new technologies into the classroom as well. One such rapidly growing technology is artificial intelligence (AI). According to the global research firm Gartner, Al implementation in the business world has grown 270% over the past four years alone (Gartner, 2019). Moreover, a report by the World Economic Forum, estimates that 85 million jobs will be displaced and another 97 million jobs will be created due the shift in the division of labor between humans and machines by the year 2025 (World Economic Forum, 2020). Therefore, early exposure to this emerging technology could prove paramount to the future success of my students.
Authentic Applications of 3D Printing
Mark Harom – A New Kind Mark Harmon – Authentic Applications
The COVID-19 pandemic has had numerous impacts on the way that schools traditionally operate. Classrooms have been exclusively virtual, entirely in-person and everywhere in between. According to the U.S. Department of Education, emerging evidence shows that the pandemic has negatively affected academic growth, widening pre-existing disparities (United States Department of Education, 2021). Similarly, a nationwide survey by the EdWeek Research Center found that many students have become more passive, have a lesser sense of social belonging, and feel disengaged from their learning (Toth, 2021). As a result, it is imperative that educators take the steps necessary to re-engage students and work to close the newly created achievement gaps.