How STEAM is Taking STEM to the Next Level! Monica Golobich

"Why STEM Is Still Skeptical of STEAM." (30 Apr. 2015). STEAM Portal. Education Closet Retrieved February 22, 2016, from http://educationcloset.com/steam/why-stem-is-still-skeptical-of-steam/

Summary

• The article Why STEM is Still Skeptical of STEAM is about the common debate between STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math) verses the advocates who feel that Art should be added, creating STEAM education. 

• In the section “Approach vs. Material “Makeup” the article addresses the fact that schools need to be responsible for having the right teachers involved in each STEM topic and rather than teaching in isolation, teachers should teach these content areas together.

• “STEM to STEAM” in this section the article touches on why STEAM isn’t getting the same recognition that STEM had. 

• However the closing section “An Integration Foundation” suggests that common ground between both STEM and Arts is learning the content for its own sake, and then applying those skills through the process of integration.

• ·STEAM can help students activate skills as they use process and application simultaneously through tapping into their own creativity in a way that STEM cannot.

Assess 

The article, Why STEM is Still Skeptical of STEAM offers some great insight on some of the different reasons that schools and educators may be more hesitant to introduce STEAM, when STEM is still fairly new. The article does sway more towards STEAM, but offers a few different approaches that could help break theses barriers.

Amundson, Christian (Producer). (2016, February 19).  Interest-Based Electives: Engaging Students With STEAM Explorations. [Video file]. Retrieved February 19, 2016, from https://youtu.be/mYfjdRWb7d0

Summary 

• This video offers a first hand look at STEAM being applied in the classroom. 
• At Walter Bracken STEAM Academy, they've turned enrichment classes into "Explos" short for explorations. 
• 50-minute, hands-on, enrichment classes that teachers create based on student interest.
•  For example we see students creating toys, candy chemistry and using drones.

Assess

•   The Interest-Based Electives: Engaging Students With STEAM Explorations video offers first hand perspective on the use of STEAM from the principal, the students and the teachers.

Reflect

• I feel that it is well over due that our country steps up to the reality that our education system is well over due for change. Yes, we have seen the over whelming response centered on the foundation of STEM. However I have to agree, that integrating STEM with Arts can offer a much broader experience for many different types of learning styles.  When we allow students to use their own creative thinking, they have to analyze from a personal perspective and in turn think out side the box.