What's the objective?

I had an announced observation last Thursday, and one of the pre-conference questions was, "What are your learning outcomes for this lesson? What do you want the students to understand?" I had already written the lesson plan and set the objectives, but this question forced me to really contemplate the importance of STEM. In the primary grades, what exactly DO we want the students to understand?

I've read plenty of articles that emphasize the benefits of introducing the STEM fields to children (especially girls) at an early age. And of course I know that STEM activities build critical thinking, problem solving, and even social skills. But returning to that question, "What do you want the students to understand?", I realized that what I want for my students is so much more.

I want them to understand that:

• the first idea is not usually the best idea

• even a well-conceived plan does not always go as expected

• when people collaborate, not everyone will have the same idea...and that's okay

• unconventional ideas are worth exploring

• there are many ways to solve a problem; some work better than others

• a successful thinker generates lots of ideas (even if those ideas do not succeed)

• it is better to try and fail than not to try at all

• struggling, failure, perseverance, and tenacity are the building blocks of success

Life lessons are inherent in STEM lessons. These are my learning outcomes. This is what I want my students to understand. These aren't the measurable objectives that were written in my lesson plan, but these are the reasons I "do" STEM.