STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math)

As an artist who teaches, I share my passion for art and focus on process, as well as a final product. This Design Thinking approach, which is found in STEAM, encourages problem solving, exploration, research, and confidence in trying new ideas. I believe that the Art room is a studio for students to feel comfortable and supported. And in this studio space, students give criticism, as well as, accept criticism, and it is viewed as an opportunity to grow as an artist.

STEAM resources:

How to stock your Makerspace

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-05-24-how-to-stock-your-makerspace-for-100-bucks-or-less-plus-an-essential-equipment-list-from-the-makerbus-driver

And the Word is STEAM

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-m-eger/and-the-word-is-steam_b_4404462.html?utm_source=Alert-blogger&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Email%2BNotifications

Hexaflexagons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIVIegSt81k

STEAM  article Rhode Island Art Education Association Spring newsletter (29 March 2016)

Submitted by Carolyn M. Dooley

What is STEAM?

What is STEAM?  STEAM is Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.  It is a pedagogy that involves high level questioning within the parameters of good Design.  Using the questioning of Bloom’s Taxonomy, students approach problems using the Design Process model.  There are several varieties of the design process, but it boils down to research and experimentation; prototype; redesign; and product.  For many of us, we have been utilizing this approach for years and it comes naturally to us.  However, when using the STEAM approach, it brings the Studio Art process and product to a higher level with deeper depth and bigger breadth.  There is more investigation as this child-centered and discovery learning process unfolds.  By utilizing the STEAM approach, students are able to experience a richer design process to arrive at more elegant solutions.  

Background

The development of STEAM is credited to Dr. John Maeda, former President of the Rhode Island School of Design.  Maeda brought the idea to RISD. Maeda utilized his background in engineering (as a graduate of MIT) and advanced education in Design to synthesize the design process into STEAM.  Presently, STEAM continues to be a vibrant part of the Industrial Design program at RISD.  Professor Amy Leitdke works with the RISD Student STEAM and conducts community outreach opportunities Leitdke STEAM advocacy.   

In our school district, Cumberland Public Schools, we began our experiment with a STEAM conference about 4 years ago.  Our theme was Synthesize = Solution.  We had a STEAM Conference on a Saturday with  44 students.  We had 22 students from each of the two middle schools, which was over the maximum 20 from each school that we had as a goal.  The demand for this type of learning experience was evident.  It was important for our demographic to deliver this experience to our students.  Volunteers from the school community, local businesses, and higher education donated their time to provide workshops that included:

• • Up Close to Nature  by RISD Museum of Art Museum Educator, Mariani Lefas-Tetenes

  • Part to Whole:  The Relationship of geometric shapes and the grid to create objects of daily use by Dr John Chamberlin, RISD Art Education program

  • Engineering Art! - Creating Sculptures using Space Frames, by accomplished artist/Army officer/engineer, Major Cullen Jones, from the United States Military Academy at West Point

The STEAM conference has grown to the point that our veteran RI STEAMer students, now at the high school level, taught the majority of workshops at our conference last year.  We started as STEMtoSTEAM and now we are STEAM.

Integration and Goals

We have integrated STEAM into our curriculum in Cumberland, such as 3D Design at Cumberland High School and STEAM Academic Growth and Enrichment at the middle school level.  We have had Design Thinking workshops throughout the day working with Downcity Design DownCity Design.  Adrienne Gagnon, Executive Director and founder of DCD, performed a workshop for our students at Cumberland High School last year.  She proposed the problem of “How can public libraries better meet the needs of the 21st century?”  Students worked with all of the librarians at Cumberland Public Library to create a renewed vision of our public library.  The Director of the library created a schedule so that librarians rotated through the workshop the entire school day.  Design solutions are already taking place, to include an aquarium complete with fish as a new addition to the library.  

This year, at the middle level, we have experimented more with MakerSpaces and MakerFaires.  MakerSpaces involve the deconstruction and redesign of materials and ideas.  Students approach the cannibalization of an old computer CPU to design new art that may or may not have form, as well as function.  Click here for more information on MakerFaires

Other Rhode Island schools have organized their school departments to be STEAM and provide STEAM pathway certificates.  Nancy Brandley, Art teacher and former RIAEA President at Portsmouth High School is part of this model.   She teams with the engineering teacher and the technology teacher to provide Pathway Certificates to interested students.  Schools who are beginning their exploration typically begin with STEAM Days.  Janice Strain, Art Teacher at North Kingstown High School organized her first STEAM Day that occurred this past November.  Barrington High School had their first STEAM Day this past November Barrington High School STEAM Connect, as well.  STEAM Days are good starting points for the ultimate integration of STEAM into a curriculum.

Planning and the Future

Carol M. Giuriceo, Ph.D., Director, Rhode Island STEM Center at Rhode Island College is also leading STEAM at the state level Read about RI STEAM Now Coalition.  She leads the Rhode Island STEAM Now Coalition.  Giuriceo is forming project teams that are necessary for the Coalition to move forward decisively and effectively.  Presently, the goals of the Coalition are:  

• • Develop a structure for the successful governance and operation of the Leadership Team that supports the Rhode Island STEAM Now Coalition

  • Develop a Master Plan that will identify the short- and long-term action items

  • Build awareness for the importance of STEAM literacy.

As interest has increased throughout our state and the nation, RIAEA is now seriously addressing the exploration of STEAM with this new position of STEAM Coordinator.  The new position description is:

Serve as the Rhode Island Art Education Association (RIAEA) representative in support of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) related issues.  Communicate, education, and advocate for the increased and improved understanding of the STEAM pedagogy.  Facilitate and collaborate with interested parties toward the integration of STEAM into classrooms and curriculum.

Contact

If you are interested in learning more about STEAM, please contact me, Carolyn M. Dooley, RIAEA STEAM Coordinator/Art Teacher, Joseph L. McCourt Middle School, Cumberland, RI 02864 or carolyn.dooley@cumberlandschools.org.