Poster Presentation/Demo Abstract
The vision of BLOSSOMS is to begin to develop a large, free repository of learning videos for high school students, created by gifted volunteer teachers from around the world, seeded initially by MIT faculty members and by partnering educators in Jordan and Pakistan. The goal is to develop deeper and richer skills in the students and to enhance their critical-thinking skills.
Statement of the problem or issue
The OER (Open Educational Resource) movement is built around the premise that all educational content should be open and free, representing as it does a significant part of the global human heritage. While this premise is admirable and ambitious, there continue to be substantial impediments to fulfilling the potential of OER, particularly in the developing world where such resources are needed most. The goals MIT BLOSSOMS are (1) to increase OER usage and production in Jordan, Pakistan and other developing countries, (2) to encourage critical thinking skills in high school students and move away from rewarding rote memorization, (3) to excite young women and men around the world to stay with math and science, encouraging careers in science and engineering.
Description of activity, project, solution, and outcome
Each BLOSSOMS learning video will be a stand-alone educational exercise created pedagogically with the in-class teacher integral to the learning experience. The video lessons are designed for viewing in brief segments, allowing the in-class teacher time between segments to engage the class in an active, goal-oriented exercise provided in a companion teacher’s guide. Once this goal is accomplished, the video is turned on for the next segment. Typically this alternating sequence continues for the full class session.
The BLOSSOMS video module is not meant to replace required curriculum, but rather to enhance it – either by expanding theory or demonstrating use in practice. It is hoped that the BLOSSOMS topics will stimulate interest among students on both a cognitive and motivational level to continue the study of math and science. By October of 2009, there will be 45 BLOSSOMS video lessons, 15 created by educators from each of the three countries and all available in English, as well as Arabic and Urdu.
Importance or relevance to other faculty, staff, students, departments, and programs
BLOSSOMS is a major MIT international outreach initiative that has the support of the MIT administration and the MIT International Advisory Committee. We see faculty and student participation as a key component of that outreach, not only to developing countries but also to high school students in the USA. And, each contribution to BLOSSOMS offers the chance to encourage one or more high school students to stick with STEM education – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Elizabeth Murray, Project Manager, MIT BLOSSOMS Initiative
(Presented at MIT Educational Technology Fair 2009)
Topic Area(s)
3. Supporting global learning experiences
5. Open educational tools and resources