34: Women in STEM: A Conversation with Lauren Pugh on the Value of Project Based Learning Experiences and the Importance of Curiosity and Exploration for Girls in Education.

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EPisodes: Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age

Education


STEM teacher and educator Lauren Pugh discusses with Jimmy Bowens her background, education and the way in which developing a curiosity mindset, Kiwi ingenuity and building confidence through the unpacking of answers has enabled her to become a successful woman in STEM.  Lauren talks about the way in which assessment driven outcomes can hinder women or girls in STEM and can create a negative experience for early learners in the field, curiosity and exploration should be the priority as opposed to overall outcome. She explores how communicating how to be confident and have a growth mindset through the traditionally challenging environment of online learning requires project based learning experiences, the weaving of educational objectives with a personal journey, and the proactive fostering of a go-getter attitude in girls."I never call STEM Science Technology and Maths. I say it’s a problem-solving mindset, a curiosity mindset. Being in STEM is more about how you think about things, and not necessarily about skills in those areas."