I teach science. My passions are teaching, science, art, and tinkering. I currently teach science at the Mahtomedi Learning Center, a part of Intermediate School District 916.
Inquiry
I try to take an inquiry based approach with my classes. I feel that inquiry based learning will give my students a deeper understanding of the topic and best prepare my them for real world problems. Kitchen Chemistry is my first core science class that uses inquiry to engage students while teaching them the foundations of chemistry.
Technology
My newest goal in education is technology. Not using technology in my lessons, that’s how I solve problems. My goal is to have students solve problems using technology. Problems like creating or editing a webpage or making a device to measure the wind speed for their homemade wind turbine. I like to adapt Plato’s quote of “necessity is the mother of invention” to “curiosity is the mother of learning”.
After having a group of students with no experience or interest in computer programming beg me to teach them about if/else statements I knew I found a good approach to teaching. I now have students ask to be in my technology classes and for help during lunch on their own side projects.
I am currently collaborating on a k-12 curriculum for the Arduino, an open-source circuit board. If you would like to hear more about it or help with our efforts, send me an email!
More
If you want to know more about me take a look at my information on the right or send me an email matt [a] nupen.us