We need some STEAM!

As states and local school districts "race" to reorganize to address the latest reform efforts outlined in the Race to the Top legislation, it is critical that we maintain the opportunity for all students to discover the arts, develop individual talents and gain an appreciation for the talents of others each and every year they are in school.

Thus, STEAM! What is STEAM?

STEAM = Science & Technology interpreted through 

Engineering & the Arts, all based in Mathematical elements. 

(Georgette Yakman) 

This framework is engaging, hands-on and reality-based with many extensions to draw education, industry, government and the community together for the common good of bettering public education for all while meeting national educational and STEM related goals.

   

As President Obama reminded us in last year's State of the Union Address,

“We need to teach our kids that it’s not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to 

be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair.” 

I would like to add to his powerful statement...we also need to celebrate those students who show promise in the areas of music, art, physical fitness, creativity and innovation. After all, we want our students to be energized and motivated to pursue careers that will advance our society, while at the same time, developing healthy and creative pursuits that provide pleasure, happiness and satisfaction for a lifetime of learning.

STEAM helps to focus educators on the importance of developing in each child the imaginative, creative and critical thinking skills essential for a lifetime of learning and growing as students mature. We can't just teach short-term, basic skills that don't promote problem-solving and the process for creating original ideas and/or products.

After all, Sam Parker highlights in his 212 Degrees...The Extra Degree that:

"At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water, comes STEAM. 

And with STEAM, you can power a train." 

Just imagine what STEAM could do for our students!