For those of you who don’t know, I taught language arts at MEMS for many years. So, how did a language arts teacher become the STEAM teacher? Good question.

I have always been interested in the latest, cutting edge advancements in the classroom, from SMART boards to Google Classroom. As the STEAM movement gained popularity, it became clear to me that we needed a new course at MEMS. Adding the Arts to STEM was my ticket into this new and exciting world.

I also have a son that is interested in engineering and robotics who is a senior at Duke University. Throughout his college selection process, I learned what top universities are offering to their students- collaborative, hands-on projects that incorporate technology.

I wanted to bring that concept to MEMS students in a fun, creative course that encourages imagination and teamwork. As someone who loves all things Disney, I knew that Imagineers always base their attractions on story, and I knew their creative process would make a great template for a class. As a little kid in an adult body, I also knew that Minecraft would be the perfect tool to create our ride simulations.

This will be the fourth year of STEAM, and I think it has quickly become one of MEMS students' favorite cycle classes. It doesn't hurt that we get to play Minecraft!