On July 10, 2025, PBS News Hour Classroom, in collaboration with invention education teacher Doug Scott, hosted a live Educator Chat featuring Michigan educator and DailySTEM.com founder Chris Woods.
The conversation focused on how educators can build a strong STEM culture in their classroom and why fostering STEM learning is important for helping students to become critical thinkers and innovative leaders.
During the chat, Woods emphasized that STEM is everywhere, not just in the places people traditionally imagine.
“It’s not just robots and rockets. It’s not just having a degree in astrophysics. It’s the stories, [ ... ] the things that we go and see. It’s the exploring in our world, in our neighborhoods, in our communities — and it’s making something together,” said Woods.
Woods also emphasized that STEM education should not be confined to specific classes or accessible only to a handful of students. Every student, he argued, deserves the chance to engage with STEM in meaningful ways as part of their everyday learning.
“It’s not just for the gifted kids. It’s not just for the kids in the STEM class … We’ve got to find a way to make STEM happen for every kid, every classroom, every day,” said Woods. “It’s not just a class we teach. It really is a culture that we build,” he noted.
Woods' message is clear: STEM education is not about fancy equipment or elite credentials, but rather about curiosity, creativity and connection. And when educators make space for these things, every student will have the chance to see themself as a maker, a thinker and a problem-solver.
Watch the video clips below to see some of the highlights from this Educator Chat:
Chris Woods on looking at the world with STEM colored glasses
Chris Woods on how we build a culture of STEM learning
Chris Woods on the symbiotic relationship between STEM classes and community
Chris Woods on making STEM learning accessible to all students
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
To learn more about Chris Woods and to explore his many STEM education resources, you can visit his website here.
Lesson plan: An elevator for everyone — Improving on long-standing inventions with inventions of your own
Lesson Plan: Why this athlete invented a sports concussion sensor
Read: Student Voice: STEM students compete to solve real-world problems
Read: Educator Voice: Nurturing young inventors and entrepreneurs
Be sure to check out PBS News Hour Classroom's Invention Education collection, full of lessons and video stories featuring student inventors and their teachers.
We also have an Invention Educator Network (no experience necessary!), which brings together teachers from various subjects and grade levels to discuss all things invention & innovation. Sign up here to learn more.
Written by Brooke Ingemi, PBS News Hour Classroom's intern and senior at Amherst College, and News Hour's Vic Pasquantonio.
If you would like to pitch an Educator Voice article or Zoom show idea to News Hour Classroom, contact education@newshour.org.
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