STEAM Tools

STEAM is a movement in education that utilizes classroom opportunities for out of the box thinking and for preparing our students for future-ready learning. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) is an approach that works to integrate subjects across curriculums to improve the problem-solving skills and real-world application of ideas. Through STEAM, students are being given opportunities to be more creative and bring their ideas to life through the introduction of Maker activities, coding applications, engineering principles, and cross curricular learning. Take some time to explore some of the STEAM tools highlighted in this section to learn more.


"In a rapidly changing world, today's students will need a whole new set of skills to solve tomorrow's problems. Computational thinking gives them the ability to recognize when and how technology can boost their own critical-thinking, creative and problem-solving skills in order to find innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Advances in computing have expanded our capacity to solve problems at a scale never before imagined, using strategies that have not been available to us before. Students will need to learn and practice new skills — computational thinking (CT) skills — to take full advantage of these revolutionary changes brought about by rapid changes in technology." ~ISTE


What are the four stages of computational thinking?

Decomposition

Pattern Recognition

Algorithms

Abstraction

"The skills needed to solve an equation, plan a project, or develop an outline for a writing assignment show similarities.

They include important problem solving competencies that students need throughout their lifetime. Computational thinking (CT) can magnify problem-solving skills needed to address authentic, real-world issues. The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) worked together to develop materials to help educators understand, value, and implement computational thinking in K–12 education." ~TED-Ed


GOOGLE'S APPLIED DIGITAL SKILLS

"Ready-to-use video lessons teach digital skills that have immediate, real-life application

Our trusted curriculum teaches the digital skills students need to succeed in the classroom and on the job, from researching to analyzing data."

-Google for Education


Google CS First

"A free computer science curriculum that makes coding easy to teach and fun to learn

No CS experience required

CS First empowers every teacher to teach computer science with free tools and resources.

Fun hands-on learning

Students learn through video tutorials and block-based coding in Scratch."

~Google CS First


Scratch

"With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community.

Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century.

​Scratch is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is provided free of charge." ~Scratch


Trinket

"Trinket lets you run and write code in any browser, on any device.

Trinkets work instantly, with no need to log in, download plugins, or install software.

​Easily share or embed the code with your changes when you're done." ~Trinket


Think Like a Coder

"Think Like a Coder is a 10-episode series that will challenge viewers with programming puzzles as the main characters— a girl and her robot companion— attempt to save a world that has been plunged into turmoil.

In our digital age, coding has become a basic literacy skill which gives us a deeper understanding of the technology we use everyday. Beyond being a much sought-after skill on the job market, coding helps foster creativity, reinforces math skills and develops our problem-solving abilities." ~TED-Ed



Tinkercad

"Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use app for 3D design, electronics, and coding. It's used by teachers, kids, hobbyists, and designers to imagine, design, and make anything!"

Tinkercad is a free online collection of software tools that help people all over the world think, create and make. We’re the ideal introduction to Autodesk, the leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software." ~Tinkercad

​Tinkercad is the go-to resource for K-12 3D design for 3D printing.




Blender

"Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing and 2D animation pipeline." 

-Blender

GeoGebra

GeoGebra is a free online math tool used for graphing, geometry, 3D, and more!" -Geogebra


Arduino Science Journal (APP)

The Arduino Science Journal (formerly Google Science Journal) is a mobile application that allows anyone to conduct scientific experiments by measuring the surrounding world with sensors, documenting and comparing data, developing and validating hypotheses, and taking notes.

The app and all learning materials are free, open-source, and available for download for Android and iOS devices.

-Arduino

p5.js is a JavaScript library for creative coding, with a focus on making coding accessible and inclusive for artists, designers, educators, beginners, and anyone else! p5.js is free and open-source.

Using the metaphor of a sketch, p5.js has a full set of drawing functionality. However, you’re not limited to your drawing canvas. You can think of your whole browser page as your sketch, including HTML5 objects for text, input, video, webcam, and sound. 

-P5.JS TEAM