During my undergraduate studies, I was already somewhat familiar with STEAM, so I was not completely intimidated by it. I was more curious to see how CSUSM would approach and implement STEAM within the program and how it would be integrated into our learning experiences. At the start of these design challenges, blending science, technology, engineering, art, and math into meaningful lessons still felt like a big task. However, as I worked through each project, I realized that with practice, patience, and an open mindset, integrating STEAM is not only possible but exciting. I am also seeing its importance every day when I substitute in different classrooms and observe how students respond to hands-on, technology-based learning. I now feel much more confident in my ability to bring STEAM into my own classroom in consistent and meaningful ways using tools such as Pixton, Tinkercad, Scratch, and Soundtrap.

I have also reenforced my learning that students do not all learn in the same way. Instead of relying only on traditional instruction, I can design experiences that are hands on, visual, creative, and interactive. Offering different platforms gives students the opportunity to choose how they want to engage with the content and how they want to demonstrate their understanding. At the beginning of the school year, I plan to introduce students to a variety of technology tools. Once they are comfortable using them, they will be able to select the one that best fits their learning style and strengths!

The ISTE standards, especially Standard 2.1, will continue to remind me that I must remain a learner myself. To provide current and meaningful STEAM experiences for my students, I will need to consistently explore new tools and strengthen my skills. Although this will take time and effort, it will be worth it. My students will gain confidence in using technology, develop stronger critical thinking abilities, and learn how to connect ideas across multiple subject areas. This entire process has reshaped my perspective on teaching and reinforced the importance of technology learning in the modern classroom.