What is STEAM?
STEAM is an integrative approach in education that promotes interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths as students develop a variety of important skills. A STEAM approach promotes innovation, values the application of skills in the real world, creates content knowledge and is full of practical learning opportunities for students. STEAM lessons are an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, creativity, and critical thinking.
For the purposes of this project, we will focus on STEAM activities which combines two or more of these two STEAM subjects of study.
For the purposes of this project, we will focus on STEAM activities which combines two or more of these two STEAM subjects of study.
What makes a good STEAM lesson?
- Content: The contents of different subjects are integrated and contrasted during the project. The project implies working simultaneously with the contributions of each subject. About 2 to 3 subjects are integrated and are given equal importance in the project.
- Scientific relevance: The situations should generate new interests and curiosity beyond their everyday life. The situations and challenges planned are connected and generate interest (over time) in the students on an:
- individual level (works on day to day skills),
- social level (prepares students to interact in and with society) and/orn
- professional level (offers guidance).
- Scientific significance: The context allows for scientifically based questions that can be investigated. Phenomena are reinterpreted from new perspectives. The context gives meaning to new concepts that are associated with new scientific language. The project gives students an idea of what scientific activity is.
- Evaluation of the process: The objectives of the project, how tasks will be carried out, and the evaluation criteria are discussed with the students beforehand. Time should be given to apply said criteria to the different types of evaluation.
- Evaluation of results: Students use rubrics based on competency objectives to evaluate their work and determine what level they have reached. Regarding the final product, it is important to reflect upon what could be done better.
(adapted from RÚBRICA STEM ABP PARA EL ANÁLISIS DE PROYECTOS STEM DE EDUCACIÓN SECUNDARIA
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/920/92064232001/suppl1.pdf)