The need for incorporating more Arts into STEM classes

Pamela Stewart – Biomedical TeacherHeather Corban – AP Bio & AP Enviro. Teacher

Dennis Greenwell – AP Art teacher

www.howardcountymd.gov

• STEM - It’s all the rage!

• Examples of STEM investments in schools: – BYOD– New assessment technologies– STEM clubs, programs, sponsored events

• EX: Robotics programs

• Logic: STEM degrees are needed for tackling the rising job markets in science, tech, engineering and math.

• According to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the United States would need to increase its yearly production of undergraduate STEM degrees by 34 percent over current rates to match the demand forecast for STEM professionals.

Men vs. Women in STEM

Men• 61% of male STEM college

students say that the top factors were games and/or toys that sparked their interest in STEM

Women• 68% of female STEM college

students say that the top factor for them was a teacher or class that sparked their interest in STEM

Common STEM jobs & current needs

Schwartz, A. (Ed.). (2014, November 13). This Is What STEM Jobs Really Look Like. Retrieved July 6, 2015, from http://www.fastcoexist.com/1682246/this-is-what-stem-jobs-really-look-like

What does every job have in common?

• Whether it’s a PhD or an industry certification, all 21st Century workers must have the ability to:

1. Creatively and innovatively think of new solutions to old problems

2. Adapt to an ever changing work environment and overcome any/all complications (including learning new things)

What are we teaching our kids today?

• We cannot teach our kids the skills they will need to do the jobs of tomorrow. – Those jobs haven’t been created yet– The technology that will run those jobs hasn’t been

invented yet

• We must teach our kids the two most fundamental skills needed to approach any job1. Creative/innovative approaches2. Adaptability

TechnologyScience

Engineering Math

ARTS

STEAM FACTS

Participation Exercise

• Complete the drawing the right way:

STEAM vs. STEM• STEAM removes limitations and replaces them with

wonder, critique, inquiry, and innovation. • There is not one right or wrong answer – students focus

on the process of creating – new solutions or new approaches to everyday problems

More cool innovative approaches

STEAM = Differentiation at its best!• There is not ONE right or wrong answer – only

different ways of viewing or approaching a problem

What happens when students think there is only one right answer?

• Video

• So how are schools contributing to the lack of creativity in our graduates and how can we change it?

How Schools Kill Creativity

• TED talk : Ken Robinson– 2:00 min to 6:30 min– 11:00 min to 13:30

• Takeaway message: – Schools kill creativity through benign advice and not

valuing a student’s talents (if it’s not a core subject)– Creativity is the process of having original ideas that

have value– Usually comes through the interaction and integration of

different disciplinary ways of viewing things

What does a STEAM project look likein the classroom?

• A classroom environment which enhances creativity provides students with:– Choices– accepts different ideas– boosts self confidence‐– Focuses on students’ strengths and interests

De Souza Fleith, D. (2010, January 20). Teacher and student perceptions of creativity in the classroom environment. Retrieved May 22, 2015.

How can you create a STEAM project?

• Inquiry, collaboration, and an emphasis on process-based learning are at the heart of the STEAM approach

• Good STEAM projects involve two or more standards from cross-curricular subjects AND are assessed throughout the process– LESS TAKE HOME GRADING!– Provides immediate feedback – Stops misconceptions before they can form

STEAM with a purpose• Begin your lesson/unit with a specific project in

mind

• Do not immediately answer their questions – let them inquire amongst themselves or guide them to other sources

• Let them fail! – Then pick them up, dust them off and guide them

back onto a new path

Source: What is STEAM? (2014, February 21). Retrieved May 26, 2015, from http://educationcloset.com/steam/what-is-steam/

The need for failure

• FAIL = First Attempt In Learning

• Students today are typically so sheltered from failure that they fear it immensely

• We must teach them that failures are not an ending, but a beginning.

• Famous failures

Tips for incorporating more Arts

1. Start slowly – incorporate one or two new projects a semester (or year, if that is too much)

2. Use what you’ve got3. Focus on the process (more than the end

result)4. Partner with an ART teacher5. Think beyond the paintbrush - the ARTS

includes all fine arts – drama, choir, band, etc. Adapted from scholastic.com “full steam ahead”

Tips for incorporating more ARTS

• Make it matter – It must be relevant – to the curriculum AND to the

lives of your students• Embrace failure (FAIL = first attempt at learning)– We tend to teach our kids that failing is bad and they

become unwilling to take risks.• Accept the chaos – A true STEAM project will

have an entire classroom of kids doing different things. It will be noisy and messy – but the good kind of both!

Adapted from scholastic.com “full steam ahead”

Now it’s your turn!

• Using the list of ideas provided, work with a partner and create a project specific to your subject/curriculum.

• In 10 minutes, we will share these ideas

• If you have a new idea not on the list, please share!