1 of 12

STEM to STEAM

Integrating the Arts into 21st Century Learning

2 of 12

Key Terms

STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics

STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics

3 of 12

Presidential Initiatives

- President George W. Bush introduced the American Competitiveness Initiative (2006)

- $5.9 billion in FY 2007

- Over ten years $136 billion

- President Obama introduced Educate to Innovate (2009)

- Over $250 million in public and private investments

- Provide students with the skills they need for STEM careers

4 of 12

What do 21st Century Learners Need to Know?

21st Century Skills:

  • critical thinking
  • leadership
  • metacognition
  • technology skills
  • collaboration
  • global understanding
  • digital literacy
  • creativity

5 of 12

Why the shift from STEM to STEAM?

Georgette Yakman created STEAM education framework in 2006.

- Goal: Bring FUNctional literacy to all students

- South Korea adopted the STEAM framework in 2001

- Schools in the U.S. began piloting the framework in 2012

6 of 12

What does STEAM look like?

7 of 12

How will we know what to assess?

Two questions must ask:

1. What STEAM content areas will be assessed?

2. What information from those content areas will the students be required to master?

8 of 12

Next step

- Create lesson and assessments that will address the two questions

- Design the lessons that allow students to be creative (demonstrate original ideas of high quality)

- Incorporate multiple disciplines throughout the lesson

9 of 12

Types of Assessments

  • Effective rubrics for formative and summative assessments
    • Aligned with collaboration, creativity, collecting evidence, facilitating reflection
  • Creating portfolios
    • Process focused
    • Reflections on the process

10 of 12

Examples of STEAM Lessons

Project Based Learning

  • Projects that require students to be innovators
  • Deeper learning opportunities
  • Focus on the 4 Cs
    • Creativity
    • Collaboration
    • Critical Thinking
    • Communication

11 of 12

STEAM Video

Brent Bushnell and Eric Gradman, co-founders of LA-based Two Bit Circus, discuss how they created a carnival for students to get them excited about STEAM projects and jobs.

12 of 12

STEAM Resources