After growing up in Russia, Liliia Khmarskaia embarked on her American journey 12 years ago. “My background includes a Master's in Physics and Computer Science from Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University, Russia, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Salisbury University, USA. Currently, I am enriching young minds as a high school Honor Chemistry and Honor Physics teacher at Wicomico County JMB High School in Maryland. This year marks my fifth year of teaching and my second year implementing Project-Based Learning (PBL) in all my classes.”
JMB is a public school in Wicomico County School District, serving about 1,600 students this year. “We have 52% free or reduced lunch students, and our graduation rate is 85%,” said Khmarskaia. “We are a family, and our motto this year is Together is Better because we can do everything together.”
Empowering diverse minds with project-based learning
Khmarskaia (or Miss K) teaches grades 10-12. “My students from JMB High School are fantastic kids. I have a couple of students who are ELL and IEP. Also, I have students who have dual enrollment and students who have 504 plans. They have different socioeconomic backgrounds, but I love all of them. I have some Honor Physics students who decided to continue their science credit track because of me (my small moment of pride); they chose physics because they want to have me as their educator,” she said.
Some of her students go beyond the school science program. “For example, with some of them, we won a Cash for a Class grant to support our ‘Renewable Energy Time Travelers’ project, where my physics students will explore the differences between solar panels and wind generators,” said Khmarskaia.
How Miss K enhances physics learning beyond the classroom with Gizmos
As a STEM educator, Khmarskaia is also a fan of using ExploreLearning Gizmos with her students. “I need to show my students some ‘unshowable’ stuff (electrons, protons, exchanging of electrons). Gizmos is a perfect platform to simulate these parts,” as she noted in her previous STEM Star feature. Her focus this year is more on an exploration of physics in Gizmos.
Khmarskaia uses Gizmos as part of unit introductions and homework. “Gizmos helps my kids understand scientific concepts. Many of my kids who struggle with abstract concepts find Gizmos activities helpful,” said Khmarskaia. Using Gizmos benefits students with special needs because they can study at their own speed and do extra activities, such as extensions in worksheets or assignments after simulation, such as self-checking.”
STEM Cases are done during class because students sometimes need assistance with case steps. “Honestly, I want to see more STEM Cases. They help my students connect academic chemistry and physics with real-life problems. We use this platform as a simulation to explore and investigate phenomena through it,” said Khmarskaia. “I even used one as an example of my technology-related class for my National Board Teacher Certification component and a couple of technology lessons for the National Certificate of STEM Teaching.”
Her students found the
Crumple Zones simulation very interesting. “My physicists are 16-17 years old and can have a driver's license. It is very personal and real-life related for them.”
Crumple Zones Gizmo
Another Gizmo loved by students is
Feed the Monkey. That simulation brought a lot of fun and funny sounds to the class.
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Feed the Monkey Gizmo
What about Miss K’s favorites? She considers the
Water Crisis: Stoichiometry STEM Case the best introduction to stoichiometry ever.
Water Crisis: Stoichiometry STEM Case
“My favorite Gizmo is
Trebuchet because we can investigate more data from that simulation compared to our hands-on created Trebuchet. Plus, we can destroy the Middle Ages castle,” said Khmarskaia.
Trebuchet Gizmo
Gizmos allow her students to work in simulations to better understand the chemical and physical processes in the world around them instead of “boring theory.” What about results? “I can prove that my students' averages have improved since I started using Gizmos in my teaching. I also have students who decided to take AP Science after my classes because they saw a point of how science is connected to real life, thanks to STEM Cases in Gizmos.”
Your students can have those incredible results, too! Start your free Gizmos trial today.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Liliia Khmarskaia is actively involved in various enrichment clubs at her school, such as the Scientific Research, STEMinist, Garden Club, UN-Model, and co-advising the NHS JMB Chapter. She is also a proud mother to two energetic young boys and a menagerie of pets, and she is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology - STEM Education FOS program.