By Ryan Walsh
Science, technology, engineering, mathematics – and arts? While most are familiar with the STEM acronym encompassing these scholarly subjects, STEAM, with its inclusion of the arts, has recently begun to broaden the curriculum.
The arts in this instance includes so-called ‘soft sciences’, such as the humanities, design, language and other creative outlets. Proponents of the STEAM curriculum believe that incorporating these disciplines helps students tackle problems and accomplish tasks with a more well-rounded approach.
Dr. Lisa Sauberan, Science Curriculum Specialist for K-12 for Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS), identified the key difference between these two ideas.
“STEM is the intentional integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and their associated practices to create a student-centered learning environment. A STEAM-focused program will connect the hard sciences to the innovative problem-solving techniques to help students solve problems in more creative ways,” Sauberan said.
The benefits of including the arts in the traditional STEM curriculum are worthwhile. Besides the opportunity for students to broaden their academic mindset, positive career implications are present.
“Focusing on the connection between the visual art, performing arts, drama and design can deepen a student’s understanding of concepts related to the sciences. Studies have shown that students that participate in a STEAM education are more likely to apply to college and more likely to attend postsecondary institutions,” Sauberan said.
ACPS incorporates a STEM-heavy lesson plan for students starting as early as elementary school. Both Metcalfe Elementary and Stephen Foster Elementary offer the STEAM Magnet program, which help kids understand STEM disciplines in real-world scenarios. 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders participate in STEM labs and take instructive field trips for events like Physics Day at Busch Gardens.
Meanwhile, Irby Elementary, Alachua Elementary and Mebane Middle School offer the STEAM Academy, where students will be provided with iPads and other digital devices to practice more hands-on instruction. This initiative, also called I.A.M. STEAM, was designed in part to prepare students for biomedical and biotechnology classes that are offered in some of the county’s high schools. Its full implementation will be in the fall of this year.
The real-world applications of these curricula are baked into their inclusion. Sauberan pointed to several examples of art’s involvement in the STEM field.
“Sculptors could not create their masterpieces without applying geometric concepts and accurate measuring skills. Medical students are studying how to draw parts of the human body to better understand how it all works,” she said.
For now, students can flex their STEAM muscle at events such as the Alachua Region Science and Engineering Fair, where they can put their hard-earned knowledge to the test.
“In the real world, these disciplines do not stand alone,” Sauberan said.
While the marvels that STEM has produced continue to improve our everyday lives, it just might be the arts that gives it that little extra boost.