In this session participants will learn how Heather Mailloux, gifted and talented educator and David Remillard, comprehensive technology educator, collaborated to design and implement the STEAM project titled Biomedical Prosthetic Challenge for the 8th grade Ventures/gifted and talented students at Hampstead Middle School. The purpose of this challenge was for students to combine the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological science to advance health care treatment. Throughout the completion of this challenge students practiced and implemented all of the 21st Century Skills; including, flexibility, adaptability, communication, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity, collaboration, and especially perseverance. The students collaborated in teams to do their own research, create prototypes, and eventually use the Lego Mindstorm Robotics kits to build the most innovative prosthetic that they could. Students also created a fictitious character to create their prosthetic for. Teams then presented their prosthetic legs to an authentic audience and judging panel comprised of medical professionals and robotics/mechanical engineers to provide honest and professional feedback. Let us share with you our successes and challenges with this STEAM project! (Presenter(s): Heather Mailloux, Grade 6 Science Teacher, Hampstead Middle School, and David Remillard, Hampstead Middle School)
