It’s technology married with
the liberal arts, married with
the humanities that yields us
the results that make our
heart sing.
- Steve Jobs
STEAM Power
2016 Collaborative Conference
for Student Achievement
By Courtney Willard
willardc@surry.k12.nc.us
Welcome
• Introduction
• Principles of
STEAM
• Lesson
Development
• Studio Time
• Assessment/Critic
Using your Smart Phone
or WiFi enabled
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STEAMPower
What is STEAM?
• STEM + the Arts = STEAM
• Educational Philosophy
using Guiding Principles
• Methodology, NOT a separate
Curriculum
• A Hot, Attention Getting,
Relevant Topic in Education
Leonardo da Vinci
What does STEAM look like…
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Inquiry Based
Hands-On
Interdisciplinary
Collaborative
Challenging
Relevant
Flexible
Creative
Science
All the materials and
processes that make
art have a science
component behind
them.
Technology
• Research Ideas and
Find Inspiration
• Create
• Communicate and
Collaborate
• Document
Accomplishments
• Promote Your Value
• Advocate for Your
Classroom
Engineering
This is an intimidating
word for inventing,
designing and making
things.
Mathematics
• Line, shape, form,
pattern, proportion,
balance- critical
elements in both Art
and Math.
• Mathematics had
been described as
an art motivated by
beauty.
Criticism of STEAM
Arts Perspective
STEM Perspective
Art for art’s sake. Art’s
value should not be
tied to function or
economy, but rather as
an activity of human
enrichment and
personal expression.
Adding the arts to STEM
distracts from our
critical need for
learners with highly
developed traditional
math and science
knowledge to meet
functional needs.
http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/20
14/11/18/ctq-jolly-stem-vs-steam.html
Developing STEAM Lessons
1. Select an overarching theme that is conducive to
STEM content.
2. Develop a cache of related content information,
visual and non-visual, traditional and digital.
3. Provide free access to an assortment of tools and
materials.
4. Integrate technology, no matter how small into
every lesson.
5. Build in time for discussion and collaboration.
6. Focus more on the process than the product.
Color Shape Robots
Kindergarten/1st grade
• Show 3 minute video
10 Amazing Robots
• Brainstorm ideas as a
group
• Demonstrate the
expectations and skills
needed for the project.
• DO NOT show them
one completed
example to replicate.
The Ecology of the Seascape
1. Discuss what does the sea represent to you?
(Include your understanding of the environmental
impact of global climate change)
2. Decide how to work, independently or in groups
3. Gather supplies
4. Studio Time, remember to take pictures
5. Clean-Up
6. Post at least one picture with a comment/caption
on STEAMPower.
Assessment
Does the student model the STEAM principles?
• Keep the expectations of the product broad.
• Keep the expectations of the process tight.
• Develop a rubric that defines how you measure
student learning and make sure students
understand the expectations.
Comparison of Methods
Traditional
STEAM
Thank You
for your
Participation
Please keep in touch through my
Facebook page STEAMPower