Teachers, What's Your STEM Challenge Personality?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  How often do you do STEM Challenges with your class?

  • A.
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    Once in a blue moon, if ever
  • B.
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    On holidays
  • C.
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    1-2 times a month
  • D.
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    Once a week
• 2.
  You're doing a STEM Challenge and running low on time. What do you cut short?

  • A.
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    Build time
  • B.
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    Sharing/presenting & discussing designs
  • C.
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    Everything after the build phase
  • D.
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    Individual record/reflect
  • E.
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    Nothing, adjust the schedule or spill into tomorrow
• 3.
  Which of the following projects are you most drawn to for your students?

  • A.
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    Cotton Clouds
  • B.
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    Card Towers
  • C.
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    Catapults
  • D.
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    Apple Wrecking Ball
  • E.
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    Bridges
• 4.
  When you do a STEM Challenge, how often do students get a second chance to build designs?

  • A.
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    What?! We barely have time for one build!
  • B.
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    Rarely, sometimes as a free-choice center
  • C.
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    25% - 50% of the time.
  • D.
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    About 50% - 75%
  • E.
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    Almost always
• 5.
  When students are building during a STEM Challenge, how do you use the time?

  • A.
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    Grading papers
  • B.
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    Helping where you're needed
  • C.
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    Circulating & asking questions
  • D.
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    Observing
• 6.
  A STEM Challenge is not going as planned. Students are melting down and it's looking like an epic fail. What's your reaction? 

  • A.
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    Grr! This was supposed to be fun!
  • B.
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    I can fix it! (Help students with designs.)
  • C.
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    This is fine...
  • D.
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    Shut it down & clean it up! Never doing this again!
  • E.
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    Yes! I've got a plan for this!
• 7.
  Which quote resonates with you most?

  • A.
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    Answer A
  • B.
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    Answer B
  • C.
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    Answer C
  • D.
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    Answer D
  • E.
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    Answer E
• 8.
  If your class was a carnival ride, how will your students remember it?

  • A.
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    Merry-Go-Round: Orderly & safe
  • B.
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    Bumper Cars: Exciting, contained chaos -- with lots of student-driven experiences
  • C.
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    Roller Coaster: Organized adventure
  • D.
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    Ferris Wheel: Predictable with some awesome moments
  • E.
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    Plane Ride: Middle ground -- controlled adventure with some student control
• 9.
  At the end of the day, which student goal are you working toward more than any other?

  • A.
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    They score proficient or advanced on standardized tests
  • B.
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    They feel safe & supported
  • C.
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    They develop a fierce love of learning
  • D.
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    They think critically and are resilient & self-reliant problem-solvers
• 10.
  What's your biggest question, obstacle, or objection when it comes to STEM Challenges?

  • A.
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    I don't get the hype. Looks like fun fluff to me.
  • B.
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    I need more simple, easy STEM Challenges!
  • C.
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    I need help with student behaviors (getting them to collaborate, be motivated, innovate, etc.)!
  • D.
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    I need more time to do more challenges!
  • E.
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    I need it to feel less chaotic & crazy!
  • F.
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    Am I doing it "right"?

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  The Skeptic

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  You've seen a lot of trends come and go. You take your work seriously, and you're not just jumping on all the shiny bandwagons without some proof that it's worth the instructional minutes. Good for you, teach! Your students are lucky to have you looking out for them! Keep up the good work, and check out the "Open Mind" button below to learn how STEM Challenges are totally worth the time -- when you take the time to learn to do them well!
• 2.
  The Adventurer

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  You live for those feel-good teaching moments in class when your students are having a blast and don't even realize how much they're learning! You're always on the lookout for new lessons, activities, and strategies to make learning fun and relevant for your kids. Variety is the spice of life! You want to try #allthethings -- if only there was more time! You've probably noticed the magical moments STEM Challenges produce, but you have a sneaking suspicion there are more of them to be gained... And you know what, you're right! Click through if you want to learn these STEM secrets!
• 3.
  The "Edge of My Comfort Zone"

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  You love to see how much your students love STEM Challenges, but parts of the process still make you a little uncomfortable! As a master teacher, you're used to having a clear vision of a lesson, start-to-finish. With STEM Challenges, you never know how things are going to turn out, and that makes your insides itch a little. 😆 You're not a fan of your classroom looking like "Craft Time at the Thunderdome," and you wonder if there's something you can do to make STEM Challenges more rigorous & beneficial while also being a little less chaotic. Most importantly, you want to feel confident that you're doing it "right". Great news! There are some simple strategies to make your STEM Challenges brain-busting work, disguised as fun! And, yes, we can work on the chaos too! Click through to learn these STEM Challenge secrets!
• 4.
  The "I Got This"

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  You get it. You're totally on board for all the amazing gifts STEM Challenges bring to your students! Teachers at your school know to come to you for ideas and extra pipe cleaners when they run out! Your students LOVE you for the awesome hands-on activities. In short, you're killing it, Teach! Still, sometimes wiggly questions keep you up at night: Am I challenging my kids enough? Did I ask the right questions when they were building & after? Was I too leading? Did I help too much? When we hit that epic fail, did I handle that well? Am I missing something important? When we're running out of time, am I cutting out the right things? There's always room to hone your craft. For answers to these keep-you-up-at-night questions, click through on the STEM Challenge Beauty Sleep Button.
• 5.
  The Pro

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  Your STEM Challenge game is strong! You were probably an early-adopter of STEM Challenges and were totally on board for all the amazing gifts STEM Challenges bring to your students! Your class is the stuff of legends. Students LOVE you for the awesome hands-on activities. Teachers come to you for ideas & materials (or to complain that they're tired of their kids begging them to do what you do)! You make it a point to get all the way through the Engineering Design Process, including multiple chances to build. You're bold enough to challenge your students to the edge of their comfort zones, and you have a plan in place in the event they fail. Failure isn't in your fear vocabulary! In short, you're killing it, Teach! That said, there's always room in your toolbox for new tools! Maybe you'd like to brush up on handling epic fails, time management, or meaningful post-challenge activities? Click through on the button below to load up that toolbox!