Longwood University’s Institute for Teaching through Technology and Innovative Practices (ITTIP) offered the professional development opportunity, “Problem-based Interdisciplinary STEM Learning II (PISTEM II),” on June 25 – 26 and July 15 – 17.   Twenty-two elementary, middle, and high school teachers came to campus to learn problem-based learning strategies for their classroom through the integration of Hummingbird Robotics.

Hummingbird robotics works with a variety of sensors, motors, servos, and LEDs that can be integrated with crafting materials (i.e. recycled cardboard, popsicle sticks, string) to create untraditional robots.  During ITTIP’s professional development, the participants learned both CREATE Lab Visual Programmer and Scratch programming environments to program the Hummingbird Robotics kit.  Participants were challenged during the week with problem-based learning activities that incorporated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  

PISTEM II teachers will have access to classroom sets of Hummingbird Robots for integration into their classrooms.  ITTIP staff looks forward to visiting the participants’ classrooms throughout the upcoming school year. In May 2016, PISTEM II participants will be sharing their problem-based unit plans with the Hummingbird Robots through pictures, videos, and teacher lesson plans which will be further shared on the ITTIP website (www.ittip.org). Teachers will also be participating in webinars throughout the school year focusing on STEM integration in language arts, as well as mathematics.

Participating teachers included those from Lunenburg County and Mecklenburg County.