TSIN Partners with Defined Learning to Make Innovative STEM Education Platform Available to TN Schools
The Tennessee STEM Innovation Network is pleased to make available the Defined Learning platform for all Tennessee students in middle grades. Defined Learning provides students with engaging, Tennessee state standards aligned, project-based learning experiences, while building educator capacity to teach in a virtual learning environment.
Defined Learning focuses on STEM careers through the lens of performance tasks that align to the Tennessee Department of Education’s 16 CCTE Career Clusters . Students explore STEM careers by cluster through exploration of problem-solving tasks that mirror the place of work, and strengthen 21st century skills that include critical reasoning, creative thinking, metacognition, collaboration, communication, and citizenship.
As students explore career clusters and complete performance tasks, the Defined Learning platform curates a portfolio that tracks project completion and skill development. The portfolio is a helpful tool for guiding students through high school course selection and post-secondary pathways.
To support implementation, Defined Learning provides online teacher professional development that can be accessed anytime, anywhere led by Jay McTighe , who developed the Understanding by Design Framework .
“With so much uncertainty around what school reopening will look like, the Network is excited to provide a resource that meets the current need for virtual or hybrid learning and the opportunity to build teacher capacity through professional learning that focuses on STEM practices and pedagogy,” said Brandi Stroecker, Director of the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network.
School leaders and educators speak highly of the impact of the Defined Learning platform on student engagement and are eager to implement the program as a component of their virtual or hybrid learning plans for the upcoming school year. “Right now, we’re having to rethink how we provide instruction. Defined Learning is an incredible opportunity to set the stage for whatever type of learning model we return to this fall,” said Dr. Donna Wright, Director of Wilson County Schools. “Project-based learning allows students to explore and collaborate. This resource provides exploration of and engagement with trackable learning targets while exposing students to new career pathways.”
“Defined Learning is an amazing tool. When we piloted the program in Bartlett City Schools, educators reported higher levels of student engagement as they listened to students ask insightful questions, push each other, and take pride in their final projects,” said Katie McCain, Instructional Supervisor of Bartlett City Schools.
All students, regardless of career path, will benefit from learning STEM concepts and practices allowing them to better understand the world around them and improve their logical reasoning, problem solving, and creativity. STEM professionals are needed within nearly every field, many with strong job growth prospects in Tennessee - including healthcare, engineering, computer science, and manufacturing. “The TSIN team feels incredibly fortunate to be in the position to invest in the growth and development of the next generation through this partnership with Defined Learning,” said Stroecker.
TSIN and Defined Learning will host three webinars for educators interested in utilizing the platform. The webinars will be at the following times and can be accessed using this link .
- Thursday July 30th at 1:00 CT/2:00 ET
- Tuesday, August 4th at 1:00 CT/2:00 ET
- Wednesday, August 5th at 1:00 CT/2:00 ET
Complete this form to get your school or district started on the platform. Alternatively, you can contact Aimee Tait with Defined Learning to support implementation of the platform within your class or district. She can be reached at aimee_tait@definedlearning.com or at 615-948-9494.
