Revista online paginas en baja

STEAM 1 Education:
A way to teach inquiry through
hands on cross-curriculum
Ricardo Pacheco
High School Science Coordinator
This year the science department has engaged the students in learning by using e-books, virtual
labs, science apps, games, as well as other resources. Using technology is a common practice
in any career and it is part of every student`s daily life. Our challenge for the 2017 school year
is to lead our students to be innovators and to use even more tools to learn, so that they can be
successful in our increasing technological society.
In 2016, we have included several online resources in our classroom. For instance, we made
an electrical circuit with an online application from the University of Colorado called Phet. The
students were able to build a virtual electrical circuit and made a design for a house; I would never
have thought of something like that back in the 80s. Moreover, we have used e-books that allow
the students to build online concept maps, conduct virtual labs, play balancing chemical formula
games, watch videos and solve math problems related to science with an interactive online tutor.
Also this year our physics lab has been equipped with a unique tablet that collects data with
different sensors so that the students are able to make graphs and mathematical analysis while
they conduct an experiment. They can share their lab data wirelessly with their electronic devices
to make lab reports. The use of these resources comes naturally to the students and they are very
savvy about how to trouble shoot. But we are looking beyond the technology; how do we spark
their creativity to become the innovators of the future?
In order to meet this challenge, we are going to implement a cross curriculum approach in our
school to integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math, which is known as STEAM.
STEAM is not a new class, not even a new approach. It is just a new try to reinforce concepts that
already exist, like project based learning and cross curricular project planning, now that technology
gives us many more tools in the classroom. Think about having to learn how electricity works. It
is fascinating to build an electric circuit. Moreover, it can be more fun and really motivating if you
are asked to design a small toy house and wire all the rooms to have light bulbs and switches.
Fascination might turn to concern when you realize that you have to learn physical laws and solve
mathematical equations too, but you will be motivated to do so! The science class will give you
much more than science concepts. You will be a designer, a constructer, a problem solver, using
all different sort of habilities and learning a lot of Science, Math and Technology in a natural way.
In the last several years our school has allotted one week to engage all of the students in a project
week. This week is for them to ask, investigate, create and present their findings on a topic of
their interest. Our students have learned by doing and many have shown interest and curiosity to
solve problems such as awareness campaigns for mosquito transmitted diseases like Zika. This
idea of a project week has been proven successful not only in our school but in many schools
around the world. Mrs. YY from the Boston STEM Week organization said about TRENER “You
already have the experience and the structure to implement a STEM Week in a very successful
way”. So, in 2017 school year we are going to implement a STEAM week in addition to the project
week that we are already conducting. During the STEAM week all teachers and students will be
working together in this cross-curricular approach in an engaging, meaningful way to plant the
seed of inquiry and creativity in each student´s mind so they have curiosity about how the world
works and ideas to solve its problems and invent new solutions. I believe it will be an exciting time
for the school and the Science team! We will continue to bring interesting labs and activities that
are meaningful to every student and the STEAM week will help us continue to build a culture of
cooperative learning in order to boost academic achievement, increase motivation, invite higher
level thinking and foster a positive discipline environment (Kagan, 2009).
1
STEM or STEAM is a learning approach that uses projects and problem solving to integrate
Science, Technology, Arts (and Language Arts) and Mathematics.
135