Summer STEAM Workshop at WPU

This past July WPU’s College of Education presented a two-day workshop on STEAM.  Supported by the University’s Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Grant and the COE Office of Professional Development, the workshop was attended by approximately 40 teachers, most of whom were drawn from the College’s Professional Development Schools network.

On Day One, after an introduction to STEAM by Dina Scacchetti, Dodge Grant Coordinator, the participants were presented with 18 activities (lesson plans and packages of supplies), and encouraged to engage in any that they found of interest.  These proven-successful activities, which cover all grade levels K-12 and which cross into many other core areas, had been developed over the preceding three years through WPU's Dodge grants.   For example teachers could try "Biophillic Design/Biomimicry" for high school students:  a two- dimensional drawing and color activity in which students research the natural world as a source for their own new inventions   Or they could create a "Car That Moves" (for grades 3-6) using an assortment of three-dimensional materials and the laws of physics to create a moving vehicle.

The participants were guided through the activities by a “STEAM Team” that consisted of

WPU Professors in Residence (Triada Samaras, Art; Simone Sandler, Art; Myra Winter, Art; Paul Odenwelder, Math; and Betsy Golden, ELA) and Paterson teachers (Darryl Jones, Art; Vivian Reyes, Art; Marilyn Simon, Art; Ana Alea, Math and Science; and Michael Schulties, Science).  The "STEAM Team" shared their lesson plans, STEAM pedagogy, and STEAM expertise.

On Day Two, participants continued experimenting with these activities for much of the morning.  In the afternoon they were asked to collaborate with each other to create new activities for their classrooms, or to adapt the activities they had already tried to make them more appropriate for their individual settings.  All teachers completed the workshop with an increased understanding of and enthusiasm for the vital role of  Art in the teaching of the STEM subjects.

 

Teachers rated the STEAM Workshop very highly in their workshop evaluations, and many stated that they would like more professional development of this type.  Consequently, a follow-up workshop at which summer participants can provide feedback on their activities and new registrants can be introduced to STEAM has been scheduled for December 3, 2015, through the WPU Center for Continuing Education.