Kurt Lichtenwald - Teacher, Gloucester High School
Content Area(s): Physics, Engineering, Robotics, Biology
Background / Bio / Educational Philosophy: I grew up an Army Brat living all over the world. It was a great education and experience but hell on making lifelong friends. As a teacher I have the ability to translate complicated material to multilevel students, using rigorous kinesthetic approaches. I can take students with low math skills and expand their understanding, showing the importance of science, because it relates to the past, the future; their interests and everyday lives. I have developed curriculum which is student driven, goal oriented and standards based which for myself and other teachers to use. My work and that of my students has been published in two national Science and Engineering Textbooks.
Current / Completed Professional Development:
Northeastern University Research Experience for Teachers Fellowship (Brain Robotic Interface) 2013
Northeastern University Real-World Engineering Experiences (STEM – Capstone Project) 2012
Robotics Engineering Curriculum Training ( I ) 2012
Robotics Engineering Curriculum Training ( II ) Advanced Training 2012
MIT’s Center for Material Science and Engineering Research Experience for Teachers Fellowship 2010
MIT’s Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (S.T.E.P.) 2010
Lemelson – MIT Excite Award or InvenTeams 2009 and 2010
Taft; Advanced Placement Teacher Training, Physics 2009
FIRST Robotics Mentor 2006- Present
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Sea Perch Remotely Operated Vehicles
Salem State College; Geographic Information Systems in Math and Science
Massachusetts Museum of Science; Engineering the Future
Massachusetts Museum of Science; Power Up Teacher Leadership Training
Massachusetts Museum of Science; National and State Curriculum Review for
Engineering and Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MIT National Conference on (ROV's)
(Remotely Operated Vehicles) in Washington D.C.
CAPSULE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS: Students will work in groups to design and build hands-on projects that are student initiated and student driven. Students will work through the engineering design process and discover their own projects constraints, designs, plans, creativity. These projects will start in the beginning of the year, after class rules and expectations have been established. Students will continue the project to gain experience with the engineering design process and apply concepts that they learn. Students will keep an engineering notebook as well as pictures and video of their progress to be culminated into a portfolio of their work. I will put together a PowerPoint presentation for Northeastern University and I will post it on my website to foster a better understanding of the type of learning what happens in my classroom; for parents and the community at large.
Background / Bio / Educational Philosophy: I grew up an Army Brat living all over the world. It was a great education and experience but hell on making lifelong friends. As a teacher I have the ability to translate complicated material to multilevel students, using rigorous kinesthetic approaches. I can take students with low math skills and expand their understanding, showing the importance of science, because it relates to the past, the future; their interests and everyday lives. I have developed curriculum which is student driven, goal oriented and standards based which for myself and other teachers to use. My work and that of my students has been published in two national Science and Engineering Textbooks.
Current / Completed Professional Development:
Northeastern University Research Experience for Teachers Fellowship (Brain Robotic Interface) 2013
Northeastern University Real-World Engineering Experiences (STEM – Capstone Project) 2012
Robotics Engineering Curriculum Training ( I ) 2012
Robotics Engineering Curriculum Training ( II ) Advanced Training 2012
MIT’s Center for Material Science and Engineering Research Experience for Teachers Fellowship 2010
MIT’s Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (S.T.E.P.) 2010
Lemelson – MIT Excite Award or InvenTeams 2009 and 2010
Taft; Advanced Placement Teacher Training, Physics 2009
FIRST Robotics Mentor 2006- Present
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Sea Perch Remotely Operated Vehicles
Salem State College; Geographic Information Systems in Math and Science
Massachusetts Museum of Science; Engineering the Future
Massachusetts Museum of Science; Power Up Teacher Leadership Training
Massachusetts Museum of Science; National and State Curriculum Review for
Engineering and Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MIT National Conference on (ROV's)
(Remotely Operated Vehicles) in Washington D.C.
CAPSULE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS: Students will work in groups to design and build hands-on projects that are student initiated and student driven. Students will work through the engineering design process and discover their own projects constraints, designs, plans, creativity. These projects will start in the beginning of the year, after class rules and expectations have been established. Students will continue the project to gain experience with the engineering design process and apply concepts that they learn. Students will keep an engineering notebook as well as pictures and video of their progress to be culminated into a portfolio of their work. I will put together a PowerPoint presentation for Northeastern University and I will post it on my website to foster a better understanding of the type of learning what happens in my classroom; for parents and the community at large.
Download copies of my implementation plan, classroom activities, EBL strategies, or related curricula below.