Teacher Case Study: Jessica Enlow

Cox Mill High School (NC)

A Defined STEM Learning Experience From:
Jessica Enlow
AP Chemistry & Upper level Biology Teacher
Cox Mill High School (NC)

Performance Tasks: 
Carbon Fiber Engineering

What we did: 
I try and teach chemistry in a way that is relatable so students realize how science is incorporated into every day life, and that is what they did with this performance task. Students were asked to explore real world applications of carbon fiber. They had to find a place in the world where carbon fiber is used and create a presentation about it. I left the application type open-ended because I wanted them to choose something that interested them. Some students explored carbon fiber 
application in music while others explored topics like sports or cars. Students worked independently creating multimedia projects and used Defined STEM to perform their research. They presented their projects during class. 

Why Defined STEM was the Perfect Fit: 
Chemistry tends to be a fun but an extremely dry subject. Defined STEM helped me get my students excited. I like my students to engage in hands-on activities, not have their noses in books or snoozing away while I lecture. I have found personalization of projects sparks student interest. This project was a nice change to incorporate into the traditional classroom. It allows the students freedom of choice plus puts them into a new role that they maybe never imagined themselves in before.