[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu=”371″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
STEAM embeds arts education and critical thinking throughout the curriculum as an enhancement to the national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math agenda. The goal is to foster the true innovation that accompanies combining the mind of a scientist or technologist with that of an artist or designer.
This program design helps students develop 21st century skills necessary to succeed as members of the global community in an increasingly complex and technologically driven world. These skills include creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, self-direction, initiative, and collaborative design in an interdisciplinary model that emphasizes a STEAM instructional format. It also provides students the opportunity to engage in a dialogue and conduct research that leads to enhanced understanding of the processes that underlie how individuals become lifelong STEAM learners, STEAM practitioners and researchers, as well as the structures and mechanisms that lead to achieving these outcomes. By building this suite of technology-rich academic offerings at the undergraduate and graduate level, Thomas provides a set of unique programs to distinguish its teacher education program. No other Maine college currently offers a STEAM-based mode
The following paper was delivered by Thomas professor, Dr. Richard Biffle at the annual STEAM Education Conferenceheld in the Hawaiian Prince Hotel Waikiki in the island of Oahu.
Introduction to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) – Course Design, Organization and Implementation
By Dr. Richard L. Biffle III – Thomas College
“Even though I build buildings and I pursue my architecture,
I pursue it as an artist. I deliberately keep a tiny studio. I don’t want to be an architectural firm. I want to remain an artist.”
The purpose of this paper is to provide readers the opportunity to see the planning, organization and delivery of an undergraduate course in the area of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). This course for is designed for students to thoughtfully engage in the interdisciplinary nature of STEAM.
In the course students develop skills related to intersections between these content areas, and the construction and application of STEAM models for cross-disciplinary dialogue, inquiry, and problem solving. The discussion fits in the discipline of SCIENCE and contributes to the continued efforts in the science community to engage and create opportunities for interdisciplinary study for student work and research.
Click on the link below to download and read Dr. Biffle’s paper.