STEAM
From OER Commons Wiki
Contents |
Introduction
From STEM to STEAM: Incorporating the Arts into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Learning
"Our art, our culture, that's the essence of what makes America special, and we want to make as much of that as possible in the White House." President Barack Obama on "Meet the Press." December 15, 2008
President Obama has entered office with the first-ever Presidential Arts Platform drafted during his campaign. His three top priorities are to :
- expand public/private partnerships between schools and arts organizations
- creating an Artists Corps
- publicly champion the importance of arts education
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education has been recognized nationwide as imperative for preparing students for future success. Incorporating the Arts into STEM education will further empower students to be the innovators of tomorrow.
For students to be successful in the 21st century global economy they need to acquire the skills developed through study of the arts, such as creativity and innovation; critical thinking and problem solving; communication and collaboration; flexibility and adaptability; and social and cross cultural skills. Partnership for 21st Century Skills
According to Americans for the Arts, students who participate in the arts are more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and more likely to participate in a math and science fair. Arts education also helps students develop a sense of craftsmanship, quality task performance, and goal-setting. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math subjects are all intertwined and complementary.
Science provides a personal understanding of a universal experience, and art provides a universal understanding of a personal experience. - Mae Jemison, astronaut, doctor, art collector, dancer at the TED Conference, February 2002 http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/mae_jemison_on_teaching_arts_and_sciences_together.html
The STEAM Project
ISKME is bringing together Middle and High School Teachers and their Students from throughout California to collaborate on sustainability projects that incorporate science, technology, engineering, art, and math resources.
Goals:
- To educate and inspire students on sustainable design and innovation to solve real world problems and inspire change.
- To build awareness of Open Education Resources (OER), and promote the creation and sharing of multi-disciplinary educational materials.
- To facilitate the collaborative process of teachers, students and other participants to be makers of learning and to continuously improve OER.
Work Plan:
Spring 2009
- Open Education Resources Development
- Curriculum Resource Activities for Teachers. Subject matter include science (botany, biology, ecology), technology (renewable energy, sustainable agriculture), engineering (physics, sustainable/green design), art (design, sculpture, creative writing, photography, video, repurposed art), and math (geometry, logistics, logarithms, periodic functions)
- Group Project ideas for classes/schools
- A sustainable invention (make something green or self sufficient)
- Solve real world problems (sustainable agriculture practices, habitat loss, water shortages, renewable energy, pollution)
- Solve an environmental issue in the Group’s community
- Sun Curve Challenge information for schools
May 2009 STEAM Sustainability and Sun Curve Challenge launch at Maker Fair
Summer Academy 2009 STEAM Sustainability Course – Teachers collaborate with OER to engage students in sustainability projects that incorporate science, technology, engineering, art and math.
Fall 2009 Teacher Mentoring and Coaching by Mentors and ISKME Team
Winter 2009/2010 One day workshop – Teachers share their challenges and success within the STEAM Sustainability Project and plan for the Spring.
Summer 2010
Science, Literacy, Arts iNtegration in the Twenty-first century (SLANT) Summer Institute for Pre-k through 8th Grade Teachers to explore and investigate science and art integration. STEAM Design Challenge
Participant Expectations:
- Commit to ten hours of OER Spring training, creation and sharing; attend a weeklong Summer Course; collaborate with other participants and mentors; share feedback and future plans at the winter workshop.
Image: Digestive Table by Amy Youngs. This compost table is a living ecosystem. Food scraps are placed in the portal in the top of the table; bacteria, sowbugs, and worms break down the leftovers into rich fertilizer for plants. Amy Youngs' website
Image: Wind driven ventilation system in Sutton, England. Roof top wind cowls use the wind to draw warm stale air up from inside, and direct fresh air downwards over passive heat exchanger. Photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/8586443@N03/2377282168/in/photostream/
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