Driving to Success with Social and Emotional Learning
We use Social and Emotional Learning to teach math and science. Driving to Success is a self-contained, project-based STEM module. The module is designed to promote peer-to-peer learning, encouraging small groups to share and discuss their answers to the presented problems.
The Black Data Guy brings hands-on math kits into classrooms so students can build, test, and experiment with numbers in ways that feel engaging, creative, and fun.
By connecting math to real-world, culturally relevant experiences, he helps students see themselves in the numbers so they understand what they actually mean.
Our STEM modules are designed for children to collaborate on creative and academically rigorous projects. The combination of teamwork, creativity, and academic rigor encourages peer-to-peer communication about the task.
The first step in Driving to Success is to design and build your own individual car. This involves self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness. When a student is designing the car, they are expressing themselves through the educational manipulative, the car. This self-expression during the educational process empowers them to take ownership of their learning. Each student owns their car, including the design and build process, and the outcomes reflect their direct inputs into the project.
Self-Awareness: the ability to understand your own emotions and develop a positive self-concept. When designing the car, the student must make decisions. These decisions impact the car’s ability to function. Furthermore, their decisions will influence how the car is viewed and received by their peers and teachers.
A desire to see positive results in how the car looks and functions will guide students through failure and frustration. Self-management is reinforced; getting angry with the car, classmates, or most importantly themselves won’t lead to success or the positive reinforcement they seek.
Finally, as the kids design and build their cars, they will naturally glance at what their classmates are doing. They will ask questions among themselves and offer each other help, fostering healthy academic competition and the values of teamwork.
Are you going to follow the instructions? Will you work with your fellow classmates? These are essential skills for life. Every student is responsible for their own car; if they break a wheel or glue the wheels, these things will have serious consequences when the students race their cars. The creative exercise ignites the students’ intrinsic desire to participate and succeed; no one wants to have a broken or ugly car.
Teamwork promotes the development of relationship skills. The children will learn that positive relationships and good communication lead to success. The workbook guides students through individual and team competitions. Students will need to work on their own for their personal success and collaborate with classmates for the team’s success.
Lastly, but certainly not least, is the concept of future self. The ability to enjoy expressing your creativity and to work through academic and creative challenges with classmates helps students develop a positive and realistic view of their future selves. Our modules are designed to ensure everyone feels like a winner. These are not tests but fun, creative exercises that reinforce what is already being taught in the classroom, offering a hands-on, three-dimensional experience. All a student needs to do is take the time to work through everything to succeed and visualize a positive version of their future selves.
The Black Data Guy introduces hands-on math kits into classrooms and works directly with teachers to incorporate them into real lessons. The kits are designed to enhance the existing curriculum. We provide teachers with practical tools that help students see, build, and understand math – not just memorize it. We move the math off the blackboard and into the students’ hands.
