What is the pathway to STE[a]M? THE BENEFIT OF STE[a]M

WHAT IS STE[a]M? This concept is not a new one - consider the work of Leonardo Da Vinci, the first innovator of STE[a]M. He could do it all-music, visual art, design and inventions. Many educators today realize the importance of innovation, creative thinking and engaging the right brain in science and math activities. Think of the person who created markers that smell like food or tinker toys and erector sets to build and create. What does a Rubik’s cube have to do with music? What happens when a yo-yo has a different design? Innovation is not new. It is time to reignite creativity in our children to be prepared for the jobs of the future. Who knows what lies ahead? Turn STEM into STE[a]M Engaging students through the arts develops cognitive connections that improve academics by fostering innovation and creativity. Turn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) into STE[a]M (add “A” for the ARTS) as an outlet for creative expression, inspiration and inventiveness. Only a few decades ago, the United States was at the forefront of technology. We put a man on the moon. Now our students have fallen behind. Education must change for our students to become competitive in the global marketplace. Thomas Friedman warned in his book, The World is Flat, that the US must work at producing more creative and competitive young people to keep pace with modern technology.

GOALS OF STE[a]M AT JSAA Work with individual teachers. Planning meetings with STE[a]M course teachers and team each week. Teach each class once per week, additional if needed. Research to contribute to general curriculum planning and implementation for STE[a]M project class through integrated curriculum and project development. Unique/Original lessons prepared by RC with extensions for teachers to implement. Scope and Sequence of STE[a]M class. May add after school programs/club as needed.

OBJECTIVES for STEAM at JSAA Create challenges for sixth grade students to encourage student engagement and as a result, continued attendance for 7th and 8th grade at JSAA. Facilitate Professional Learning Community between RC and other academic disciplines to comply with STEAM mission.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS FALL 2012 SEMESTER Ruth Catchen provides educational consulting service to teachers at JSAA for the development of STEM or STE[a]M curriculum integrated with the arts. This service includes the creation and development of grade level appropriate curriculum and extensions for teachers. Lesson plans available per request. All lessons designed by RC. JSAA shows a commitment to STE[a]M that reflects in the physical and educational environment, and demonstrates itself through student work. STE[a]M will enable students to better their scientific skills through the power of experience and observation. Linking left and right brain thinking benefits students’ engagement in learning and as a result, achievement. Students learn a variety communication skills, social media, collaboration skills, creativity and critical thinking, and use those skills in all projects. RC establishes positive relationships with students and teachers, building a better school culture.

OUTCOMES Integrate the Aerospace theme with STE[a]M concepts and aesthetic values through appropriate projects and curriculum. Opportunity to use student projects for positive effect for current students to be inspired and establish a legacy for JSAA. Increase the visibility of JSAA and STE[a]M to the school community and the public. Discover and explore the potential for STEM related careers. Create a positive environment for social/emotional benefit and prepare students for high school rigor. Reduce truancy and delinquent behavior increase student engagement.

MORE OUTCOMES Interest and engage all learning styles and use numeracy and literacy for students to express themselves. Improve student performance, attention to detail, ability to stay on task and create inquiry based learners adept at doing research and collecting data. Students will learn through strengths and create challenges for themselves. Increase ability for students to set goals and follow through to see results. Boost creativity, ingenuity and innovation.

SPRING SEMESTER 2013 Implement and complete the aesthetic improvement to the front of JSAA building. Plan to use students as assistants to engage them in their school to improve school climate. Students will each create a tile that represents themselves to be used on benches outside in the front of the school. Continue to collaborate with teachers to further develop the curriculum and the project-based ideas for arts integrated curriculum, STE[a]M. Proposed lesson ideas available per request. Students will write, plan, design and implement through a wide variety of arts based activities, all of which align to state and common core standards.

FUTURE GOALS 21st CENTURY SKILLS Incorporate more engineering tasks and expand on ‘how to’ and design skills that integrate with Math, Science and Technology – CREATIVITY. Continue to improve and develop COMMUNICATION skills. Continue to work on projects with peers and team for COLLABORATION. Engage students in CRITICAL THINKING and PROBLEM SOLVING skills through arts integrated and interdisciplinary curriculum.

DREAMS Students will begin to take charge of their own learning. Students will use creativity in all endeavors. Students will become more adept at design and understand how form follows function. Students will help to design and build a rocket replica that will be outside the school with all student’s names in it. RESULT: Improved students achievement and school climate.

CONCLUSIONS The marriage of STEM and the arts is transdisciplinary. These ideas show students how to make sense of the world rather than learning and memorizing isolated bits and pieces of content.  Students will learn how to shape an argument and find compelling evidence to support their assertions. This is inquiry-based learning. Students will have discourse and dialogue. Collaboration and teamwork is a part of every learning experience. There will be less emphasis on science and math content and more on inquiry, investigation and analysis. Students explore why and how. Discovery is the task and students can direct some of their own learning. Students will embark on an adventure to design and pioneer the concepts of math and science while learning to communicate their ideas effectively. Not “getting it” is not an option.

Ruth Catchen ~ December 10, 2012 Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy