Dave Handt
Mathematics
Marion, North Dakota

How has NICERC curricula impacted your classroom?

It not only has impacted my classrooms, it has had a great impact on our school as a whole. It has brought staff and students together for a common goal.

Why is STEM education so important for your students?

Because we are a very small rural community, we need to show our students that they have many options outside the realm of basic farm labor. We can also show how farming itself has changed due to technology. It opens their eyes to ideas outside the box for career choices.

Share with us a favorite success story from your classroom.

Presently, we are in the early phase of a Boe-Bot Championship in which all students and staff work together in teams to build and exhibit a Boe-Bot and a special creative task. These teams will be grouped by grades 7-9 and 10-12 to compete for prizes to be awarded after seven weeks of team work. Each group will present a PowerPoint and a creative task that the Boe-Bot was designed and programmed to accomplish in front of judges. We are using a business model with employer and employees in each group with a task to accomplish. It has created such interest—it is amazing. All the classroom and life skills are present. As the coordinator of the project I am really impressed and proud of the results to date. A large THANK YOU to Kevin Nolten for the assistance in making the activities possible!!

Thank you Dave for sharing how you use NICERC curricula in your classroom!

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