Summer STEAM Institute at William Paterson University

This past summer over forty teachers participated in an exciting two-day workshop that focused on integrating art into other core subject areas. These teachers were from schools participating in the University’s Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation STEAM grant and from other schools in the University’s Professional Development Schools network.  (STEAM, which stands for Science Technology Engineering Art Math, emphasizes the integration of all content areas to enhance learning and make it more meaningful.)
 

The workshop offered over twenty proven art-integrated lessons ranging from kindergarten through 12^th grade that have been developed in prior years of the STEAM grant.  Participants were guided through their activities by professors in residence and by teachers who have been participating in the University’s Dodge grant for up to four years. 

The Institute leaders included: WPU Professors in Residence (Triada Samaras, Art; Simone Sandler, Art; Myra Winter, Art; and Paul Odenwelder, Math) and Paterson teachers (Darryl Jones, Art; Vivian Reyes, Art; Marilyn Simon, Art; Belinda Casais McBride, Elementary; and Michael Schulties, Science).  The "STEAM Team" shared their content knowledge, STEAM pedagogy, and STEAM expertise.

 
 At left, Art Teacher Jones prepares to illustrate how to use 3D to bring science lessons alive!  Mr. Jones also taught a lesson on cell phone photography.

 

 Meanwhile Math PIR Odenwelder explains how to teach geometry using orgigami and tesselations.

Art Teacher Simon describes a lesson that integrated art and engineering, in which students built a life-size model of King Tutankhamen.

All participants completed the workshop with an increased understanding of the vital role of art in the teaching of the other content areas.  Their engagement and enthusiasm is illustrated here. 

Because a major goal of the workshop is for teachers to develop their own arts-integrated lessons, a follow-up workshop has been scheduled for December 6, 2016,from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM through the WPU Center for Continuing Education. Summer participants may demonstrate their newly-designed lessons, and new registrants are welcome.