Dawn Pickering

STEM

Junior High School Math

 

Dawn Pickering believes teaching STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classes at Seneca Junior High School “gives students the opportunity to focus on projects that promote problem-solving skills as well as allow them to build, create, collaborate and experience both success and failure.

“We offer a wide variety of experiences, so students can start thinking about different career opportunities.”

Pickering explains, “Current STEM teachers decide what their classes will focus on each year. There are common projects/activities, such as coding, mousetrap cars, catapults and airplanes.”

As far as why these classes are so vital, Pickering says, “STEM-related jobs grew at three times the rate of non-STEM jobs between 2000-2010. This year, it was projected that 2.4 million STEM jobs will go unfilled.

“I enjoy watching students brainstorm, work together, encourage one another, play and realize it’s okay if your first project didn’t go as planned. I love watching students successfully complete their projects with a sense of pride.”