Summitvue STEAM

Integrated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Classes at Summitvue Middle School, Caldwell, Idaho

What is STEAM and why teach STEAM in Middle School?

Consider all of the innovations created since you were born. As for me, I was born in 1960, before President Kennedy challenged the nation to go to the moon, before calculators were invented, twenty years before the advent of the personal computer. The innovations are near innumerable. Many people of my age are lost in the new world of technology. Some are technology illiterate. Our children need as much head start with understanding, using, and the basics of developing technology as possible in order to be viable contributors to the society of today and the future.

STEAM takes the fundamentals of Science and Math taught in core classes and applies those fundamentals through practical technology and engineering. In order to create functional and appealing technology and engineering, art is necessary for finished products, physical or digital. Thus Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math are essential skills for the majority of current and future careers.

STEAM classes prepare today's students for Computer Science, Business Computer Apps, Graphic Design, Architectural Computer Aided Design, and Robotics Applications classes taught at today's high schools. Middle School STEAM classes are an introduction to many skills necessary for STEAM related college and trade school classes and STEAM related careers.

So, what happens in STEAM classes?

While Summitvue STEAM classes focus in computer applications not all of the classes are just computers. Students learn the basics of structural engineering through building bridges, towers, and ferris wheels as well as through 3D design and printing. Intermediate and Advanced students have opportunity to build electric motors, gearing systems, working model simulations of turbines, engines, or other technologies and many more STEAM projects.

Students learn to disassemble and reassemble small apparati, computer parts, or small appliances. Some students learn to use hand tools and a few basic power tools for the first time. Advance students participate in building some of the equipment used in the STEAM classes like 3D printers from kits, an internal network, and other tools.

While doing so students learn programming, at a basic level for 6th grade students and advancing to website design and development, JavaScript, PHP, Python, or Java programing for intermediate and advanced students. STEAM is hands on experiential learning and practical application leading toward practical and applicable high school, college, and career choices.

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