Curiosity Creates STEM Connections -- Adventures in Learning with Brad Herring

11/16/22 • 36 min

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How can we harness curiosity to engage learners in STEM and in the world around them? Swift Creek Media CEO Brad Herring shares thoughts on storytelling, building STEM connections, and approaching the world from a new perspective. Plus, learn about the NISENetwork and its many STEM resources.

While Brad’s career began by serving overseas in Panama with the United States Peace Corps, his passion for filmmaking began with the birth of his daughter. What started as a hobby, quickly grew into his job and eventually led him to start his own production company, Swift Creek Media. He has over 17 years of experience in project management, creating and producing over 150 videos for one of the largest science museum networks in the United States. Brad previously worked at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC and led NISE Network online workshops while serving as NISENet's Earth & Space project-based professional learning community leader and as the Southeast regional hub leader.

I first met Brad when we were both deeply ensconced in the museum world. Through our collaboration together, I learned how to tap into STEM resources and community professionals to enhance the wow factor of the STEAM Night programs I developed for the children's museum where I was working at the time. I also gained access to the creative collaborative energy of a nationwide network of informal educators seeking to get the public excited about science and hands-on learning.

[00:40] Wonder, curiosity, connection -- building engaging STEM/STEAM programs

[5:13] The challenges of grabbing and keeping attention when building engaging programs.

[10:06] What is NISE Network (National Informal STEM Education Network) and how can it help build engaged learning?

[14:17] Taking Curiosity On The Road: Brad shares details about his recent summer trip of a lifetime and the perspective it gave him.

[21:25] How do we tell the stories? Filmmaking as storytelling through Swift Creek Media

[27:25] Strategies for connecting storytelling and engaged STEM/STEAM learning? Horton Senses Something Small, Breakfast Moon, Moonbear’s Shadow, Hide and Seek Moon, Frankenstein

[33:17] What Brings You Hope?

It (camping) really gave me hope that there are good people out there and we just need to get outside of our own walls and travel more and experi

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[00:40] Wonder, curiosity, connection -- building engaging STEM/STEAM programs

[5:13] The challenges of grabbing and keeping attention when building engaging programs.

[10:06] What is NISE Network (National Informal STEM Education Network) and how can it help build engaged learning?

[14:17] Taking Curiosity On The Road: Brad shares details about his recent summer trip of a lifetime and the perspective it gave him.

[21:25] How do we tell the stories? Filmmaking as storytelling through Swift Creek Media

[33:17] What Brings You Hope?

It (camping) really gave me hope that there are good people out there and we just need to get outside of our own walls and travel more and experi

Support the show

Previous Episode

Books as a Force for Change: Author Christy Mihaly's Adventures in Learning

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Author Christy Mihaly talks water, insect eating, and the first amendment as inspiration for her writing. We share ideas for kids (and their grown ups) about everyday steps that can make an impact for climate change. And we discuss Christy's fascinating adventures in learning.

“And I think that making kids feel empowered and helping them channel the energy that they have is what we want to do. Because kids do care. Kids have an immediate, visceral, emotional reaction when they see dirty water and when they see suffering animals. They want to help. And that's where I want to go. It's like, here's the information you need, and here's how we can be active in making things better.”

— Author Christy Mihaly (@19:20 Adventures in Learning podcast)

Author Christy Mihaly is a nature lover, a former lawyer, and a poet. She writes for kids because she believes that our best hope for the future is raising young people who love to read and giving them the knowledge and skills to lead. Christy has written more than 30 children's nonfiction titles on topics from hayfields to free speech to food. Her fall 2021 picture book with Barefoot Books Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery, illustrated by Mariona Cabassa was awarded a Kirkus Star and a gold in the Nautilus Book Awards. I’m a huge fan of Christy’s work, particularly the nonfiction she writes that helps educate kids about the environment and about the importance of making their voices heard. Please listen, subscribe, and leave your comments. You can check out the full show notes here.

[02:07] Connecting Past and Present — From Environmental Lawyer to Children’s Book Author

[05:17] Taking on Big Issues and Making Them Accessible and Fun for Young Readers Free for You and Me and The Supreme Court and Us

[08:08] Building connections with Water. A Deep Dive of Discovery.

[14:02] How Eating Insects Might Help Combat Climate Change (And other ideas for you to digest with Diet for a Changing Planet: Food for Thought)

[17:20] Action Steps for Reducing Carbon Footprints

[24:34] A Writer's Process

[24:34] Dr. Diane: So what are you currently working on? Are you able to share?

[27:34] A Possible Hint to Christy's Next Project?

[28:55] What Brings You Joy?

What Brings You Hope?

Hope. I find hope comes from the kids. Again, talking with kids about these issues and just seeing them and seeing their emotional reactions to nature, to the world,

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Building Connections through Nonfiction Storytelling: Meet Award-Winning Author Candace Fleming

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How do we help young (and not so young) truth seekers make connections, build context, and satisfy their curiosity? Nonfiction storyteller extraordinaire Candace Fleming joins us to discuss the power of nonfiction storytelling for building connections, the importance of asking questions, and the power of vital ideas in creating works of nonfiction that kids (and their adults) want to read. Among her nonfiction titles are Giant Squid, Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart, and The Family Romanoff.. Most recently, she's published The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindberg, which won the 2021 YALSA Excellence in nonfiction and Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera, the winner of the 2021 Sibert Medal. She also just recently published Crash From Outer Space and Polar Bear. I had a wonderful time talking truth, fiction, and everything in between with Candace Fleming.
[01:41] Why write nonfiction? And how do you write for diverse audiences that range from preschool to high school?

The reason I write for middle school and middle school and high school nonfiction is because I think they have plenty of facts to hand, but they don't have any context. And I also think that that is an age group that are seeking facts. They're looking, actively looking. They are truth seekers.

[05:27] How does creative nonfiction help build connections? Crash From Outer Space

I ask myself, what does this piece of history have to say? What does this piece of history have to say to how we live today? What echoes? What hooks?

[10:18] How do you structure nonfiction to keep readers engaged while providing confidence that what they are reading is factual?

[11:56] Building Creative Nonfiction Through Vital Ideas

[14:25] What happens when research shifts the vital idea? Faberge Eggs and The Family Romanoff

[23:27] Sparking Science Wonder Through Nonfiction Picture Books or Giant Squid, Honeybee , and Polar Bear, Oh My!

[32:10] What is it like collaborating with real-life partner Eric Rohmann?

[34:57] Origin Stories: Candy's "I'm a Liar" Story aka the Three-Legged C

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Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning - Curiosity Creates STEM Connections -- Adventures in Learning with Brad Herring

Transcript

[00:01] Dr. Diane: Wonder, curiosity, connection. Where will your adventures take you? I'm Dr. Diane, and thank you for joining me on today's episode of Adventures In Learning. So, welcome to the Adventures In Learning podcast us. I'm your host, Dr. Diane, and I am so excited to welcome Brad Herring to the podcast today. We first met when we were both in the museum world. He was in Durham, and I was in Winchester and we bonded over a love of STEM and finding ways to bring hand