STEAM Questions, Answered

Some folks have wondered what has gone on in our school, with the STEAM initiative.  Our school was one of the first in the Fulton County cohorts that went charter.  We decided that it would be a good idea to have a destination for our teaching, like multiple intelligences, International Baccalaureate, or one of those sorts of things.  We chose STEAM because it fit so well into what we were already doing.

Every teacher is doing some sort of Project Based Learning in their classroom, including the specialists.  Some of us teach STEAM classes, as well; I'm teaching engineering and our music teacher, Jessica Weingart, has a theatre class.  STEAM classes meet for 45 minutes a day, each day, for 7 weeks.

Students use all kinds of technology in my classes, using iPads for research, photography, videography, and building digital portfolios.  They present their findings at the end of a project, using document cameras, projectors, and of course the ever-present iPads.

From building kites to making automobile prototypes, my Engineering Design students have learned all about different types of energy, the laws of motion, and how to make things go.  They are currently building robots that draw.  Each project is documented and photographed; students conduct interviews and compile data to make decisions on what they are designing.  It's been a terrific ride and they--are loving it.  Me, too!