The STEAM Team:

Now Recruiting

When we talk about STEM-based education we use words like collaboration, self-directed learning, creativity and critical thinking.  These elements of STEM education are not new to learning; they are just new to the learners.

Many of us can remember the days when learning like this was a natural part of life - we just didn't know it was learning!  We remember spending many Saturdays on the empty lot in the neighborhood playing any kind of pick-up ball game.  There were no set rules.  We made them up as we went along and would adapt to conflict and change as it came.  We chose teams according to who would make the best team - simple as that.  There was no "coach" telling us what position to play or that we would play for 30 minutes and then take a break for Gatorade.  The street lights determined the end of play.  Someone would naturally take the lead and the others would follow...everyone had their role in the game.  Each team member was responsible for being a part of that team and contributing in their own way.  One team lost and one team won, and everyone learned.

It is our responsibility to teach the next generation how to play the game.  As educators, we must provide opportunities for students to learn how to work together as a team and discover what their positions are, how to create the best team, how to make critical decisions based on unexpected outcomes, how to think creatively and how to work together (collaborate!) to be successful in reaching their goals.