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About the

movable courtyard Project

For this STEAM project, students will design and create movable courtyards to enhance the solar tiny houses they designed in our cohort PBL- STEAM project. The goals of our cohort project are still applicable in this offshoot project, as eleventh and twelfth grade high school students will develop their environmental awareness while designing and presenting to mock clients their plans for movable courtyards for the solar tiny houses in their English class.

This courtyard project will require SMART objectives, with solid STEAM foundations, and strong 21st-Century Skills. There will be a timeline for all activities, and modifications will be made for students with special needs and ELL students.

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Module 3: Unit 4, Activity 2, Laura Merleau

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For this STEAM project, students will design and create movable courtyards to enhance the solar tiny houses they designed in our cohort PBL- STEAM project. The goals of our cohort project are still applicable in this offshoot project, as eleventh and twelfth grade high school students will develop their environmental awareness while designing and presenting to mock clients their plans for movable courtyards for the solar tiny houses in their English class.

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Access Google Drive with a Google account (for personal use) or Google Workspace account (for business use).

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Based on each STEAM component each person will implement in her/his classroom (next week's individual subpage), create 1-2 cross curricular goals that describe how concepts and/or skills from more than one content area will be addressed in the project, e.g., what literacy and math skills could be combined? What art and science skills could be connected?  This will require some ideas from each person about how they might demonstrate their individual STEAM components with their learners next week. Remember, the homepage can be adjusted during Unit 4 if needed. Keep the goals simple and brief -- just identify possible concepts and/or skills and revise next week if needed.

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Ladies. I realized that I should have some more background knowledge on plastics if I want to do a project on "plastic waste."

My wife recently told me to not use the plastic bottle when feeding my baby with formula. And I did not know why or which type it belonged to.

I think my Engineering for STEAM can start from here. I hope you guys can learn from it, too!

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Plastic is amazing. But like anything, you can have too much of a good thing. When plastic was invented in the 50s it was seen as a wonder - material. It's cheap to produce, light, strong and can be moulded into a huge variety of shapes and sizes. Pretty much overnight, plastic transformed our world, in many ways for the better, but in many ways for the worse.

70 years later and the world is drowning in the stuff. Of all the plastic ever produced only a fraction of it has been recycled. When it gets into the natural environment, it can destroy habitats, kill animals that eat it and breakdown into micro-plastics; of which the impact on the environment and on our health we don't fully understand.

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The seven types of plastic - London Recycles

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Plastic is amazing. But like anything, you can have too much of a good thing. When plastic was invented in the 50s it was seen as a wonder - material. It's cheap to produce, light, strong and can be moulded into a huge variety of shapes and sizes.

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I emailed Beth last night and asked for clarifications on the steps. I will share them here.

1. Choose a theme and goal.

2. Set cross-curricular goals.

3. Each one of us develops a project related to the theme to achieve the goals.

4. Integrate collaboration

I wrote those steps and she replied to each one of them. You can read her replies for each steps in the boxes below.

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As you explore the platform resources, you'll notice themes or topics that relate to real world issues or problems. These can be narrow (like a local problem at the school in the community) or a broader issue (like a global problem).  When the group has selected a theme, then you need to create an overall project goal. This can be an essential question (which, personally, I find easier to create) or the key understanding the learners will take away from the project.

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Each one of us develops a project related to the theme to achieve the goals.

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Each one of us develops a project related to the theme to achieve the goals.

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Yes, but if you keep the goals on the homepage simple and general, it will allow each person a lot of flexibility next week when you develop your classroom-specific subpage. Each of you will develop your selected STEAM component's learning activity for your individual classroom. Think of it as anything from a learning activity that can be done in 1 lesson or a mini project that might take 1-3 lessons. The platform calls it a "project," but I am OK as long as it aligns with your content area and the overall STEAM homepage's information. Below, I shared the U4A2 activity description, but please do not spend a lot of time processing it. We will talk about it in VC, and then you will have time to start it (at least 30 min.) with peer and my help if needed.

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A. Project Theme & Goals (Megan)
B. Cross-Curricular Goals (Lisa)
C. Description of STEAM (Yukako)
Project

Science-Megan

Tech-Yukako

Art-Lisa

Engineering - Joshua

D. 21st Century Skills (Joshua)

Collaboration

Critical Thinking

Creativity

Information Literacy

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Yes - collaboration is typically one of the 21st century skills (you need at least 4).  You can add the 21st century skills in any of the above componments or list them separately on the homepage.

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Here we explain how we can apply the 21st century skills to our STEAM project in keeping in line with the theme. This area is based on the skills outlined in this article.

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The ISTE Essential Conditions are the 14 critical elements necessary to effectively leverage technology for learning. They offer educators and school leaders a research-backed framework to guide implementation of the ISTE Standards, tech planning and systemwide change.

Learn more about each condition below and find out how they apply to your school or district. Share the information with your colleagues!

For a deeper look into your school or district's strengths and weaknesses, use the Lead & Transform Diagnostic Tool to generate a free custom report that will help guide your tech integration planning based on the Essential Conditions.

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The ISTE Essential Conditions are the 14 critical elements necessary to effectively leverage technology for learning. They offer educators and school leaders a research-backed framework to guide implementation of the ISTE Standards, tech planning and systemwide change. Learn more about each condition below and find out how they apply to your school or district.

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Project Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects.

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What is it and why is it important? It would be great to add here how we can use STEAM in PBL.

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Pollution- Plastic Reduction
Goals- to teach students about the environment and the impact pollution has on it, specifically plastics pollution.

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STEM/STEAM | / Future-focused learning | / Teaching / enabling e-Learning - enabling eLearning

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Rather than teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as separate and discrete subjects, STEM integrates them into “interdependent” learning units based on real-world applications.CORE Education

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Cross-curricular teaching is the use of multiple academic disciplines during each lesson. This teaching method works on students’ soft skills, increases engagement, and helps improve student retention rates.

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4 Benefits of Cross-Curricular Instruction | STEM Sports

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Cross-curricular instruction helps students make connections in new ways.
Explore the benefits of this method with these insights from STEM Sports.

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The Importance of Engineering in STEAM Education

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The Importance of Engineering in STEAM Education

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Tbh, I think STEAM education is heavily influenced by 21st Century skills. We ought to develop every lesson into those 5 sub-categories and trigger students' briains to find connections. Whether or not I like it, it is already happening so...

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Engineering in STEAM education is of growing importance due to the sheer demand for engineers worldwide. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of engineering to STEAM education or visit the ViewSonic education solutions page for further insights into the modern classroom. All of the STEAM education fields (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) are included within the concept because of their perceived importance and the question of 'what is STEAM education?' can largely be answered by emphasizing their value in teaching transferable life skills, assisting with cognitive development, and teaching useful concepts. However, the field of engineering can be especially important because there is a real demand for more engineers within the workforce.
The philosophy behind STEAM education is to bring together five important subjects or areas of study - science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics - in order to highlight their importance, emphasize their value to employers, and promote more integrated teaching. Additionally, a key part of the concept itself involves teaching these subjects in a way that students can relate to and in a way that is relevant to real-life situations.

Out of these subject areas, engineering is especially reliant on each of the other fields. It does not have the same long history of being taught as a standalone subject that, say, science or mathematics have, but its reliance on other fields does help to make integrated teaching easier. In this article, we will go into more detail about what engineering is, the importance of engineering, and how it functions within STEAM.

What is Engineering?

Various definitions of engineering refer to it as the application of science, technology, mathematics - and some even describe it as an art - with a view to designing and constructing objects, machines, structures, and other items or things. Most commonly, it is defined as the application of science and mathematics principles to create things.

The field of engineering is also sometimes divided into a number of sub-categories:

Civil Engineering - Engineering of buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure.

Electrical Engineering - Engineering of electronic devices, electrical circuits, control systems, etc.

Mechanical Engineering - Engineering of vehicles, robots, engines, etc.

Chemical Engineering - Engineering of chemicals, oil refinery, etc.

Some definitions offer aerospace engineering as a separate fifth category, focusing on aircraft and spacecraft specifically, but these activities are still most commonly included within the field of mechanical engineering.

The Importance of Engineering

The importance of engineering can perhaps be best summarized by thinking about how much we rely on engineers' work. Whether it is the buildings we live, work, and study in, the computers and smartphones we use every day, the roads we drive on, or the medicines we take, there has inevitably been some level of engineering involved.

One of the major reasons for its inclusion within STEAM education is because there is a high level of demand for individuals with engineering skills and qualifications within the workforce. Over recent years, in various parts of the world, including the United States, initiatives designed to encourage students to pursue this area of study and its integration with other subjects are seen as a potentially useful way of furthering this agenda.

Engineering STEAM Education

Any good answer to the question 'what is STEAM education?' will place a focus on integration between the different STEAM fields. Out of these fields, engineering integrates with the others in some fairly straightforward ways - to the extent that in her overview of STEAM, Georgette Yakman states that students who are studying subjects like design and technology are essentially studying engineering.

A great example of where engineering combines with both science and the arts is in relation to ergonomics. This is where physiological and psychological principles are applied to design and engineering to emphasize things like comfort, safety, and ease of use. Similarly, architecture is an area where the arts and engineering combine very clearly because buildings and bridges are intended to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Meanwhile, engineering, science, and mathematics can easily be taught together because engineering is hugely reliant on scientific and mathematical concepts. The key to teaching in a STEAM-friendly way is by integrating the different STEAM fields and making sure the lessons are as applicable as possible to real life.

Final Thoughts

The inclusion of engineering within the STEAM education initiative is intended to highlight the extremely valuable role that engineering plays within the global economy while also highlighting the skills and problem-solving abilities that can be learned through engineering lessons and projects.

While it is not as established as mathematics or science as a standalone academic subject, its reliance on scientific and mathematical concepts, as well as its links to technology and the arts, make it ideal for integrated learning.

This article has been part of a short series on STEAM education where we have so far covered an introduction to STEAM, the importance of science, and the importance of technology. You can also visit our education solution page for more articles, resources, and insights surrounding modern education.

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The Importance of Engineering in STEAM Education - ViewSonic Library

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Engineering in STEAM education is of growing importance due to the sheer demand for engineers worldwide. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of engineering to STEAM education or visit the ViewSonic education solutions page for further insights into the modern classroom.

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Something like this might be fun to do. Students could collect plastic bags and complete the project. It would also meet cross-curricular goals as we could read the book together, create a Blooket quiz on the subject matter, write about ways to help the environment, and utilize math, art, and science, in creating and learning about the project?

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Students design, build, and test their own upcycled plastic bag bracelet. After they have completed their STEAM activity, there is time for reflection on what worked and what didn't.

After making their bracelets, students use the STEAM process to think of another way plastic bags can be repurposed. Finally, students write about ways they can recycle, reduce, and reuse in their own school and community.

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One Plastic Bag READ ALOUD STEAM Activity - Carly and Adam

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Students design, build, and test their own upcycled plastic bag bracelet. After they have completed their STEAM activity, there is time for reflection on what worked and what didn't. After making their bracelets, students use the STEAM process to think of another way plastic bags can be repurposed.

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Survey Results - STEAM PBL Group Project

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STEM projects focused on reducing plastic waste:

1. Plastic Bag Alternatives:

Research and explore alternative materials that can be used instead of plastic bags, such as fabric or biodegradable materials.

Design and create reusable bags using the alternative materials.

Test the strength and durability of the bags by carrying various objects.

Compare the environmental impact of the reusable bags to plastic bags and discuss the benefits of reducing plastic waste.

2. Plastic-Free Packaging:

Investigate different packaging materials that are eco-friendly and do not rely on plastic.

Design and create prototype packaging for a specific product using the alternative materials.

Test the packaging for functionality and protection of the product.

Compare the environmental impact of the plastic-free packaging to traditional plastic packaging.

3. Plastic Waste Sorting Robot:

Research and learn about automated systems used for waste sorting.

Design and build a simple robot or model that can sort different types of plastic waste based on color or shape.

Program the robot using basic coding concepts or create a mechanical system for sorting.

Test and improve the robot's efficiency in sorting plastic waste, and discuss the potential impact on recycling efforts.

4. Biodegradable Plastic Experiments:

Collect different types of biodegradable plastics or materials from local stores or online sources.

Conduct experiments to test the decomposition rate of these materials compared to traditional plastic.

Set up controlled environments, such as compost bins or water samples, and monitor the breakdown of the materials over time.

Analyze and discuss the results, emphasizing the benefits of using biodegradable plastics to reduce long-term waste.

5. Plastic Waste Awareness Campaign:

Research and understand the impact of plastic waste on the environment and marine life.

Brainstorm and create an awareness campaign to educate others about the issue.

Develop posters, brochures, or videos that communicate the importance of reducing plastic waste and offer practical tips for individuals and communities.

Present the campaign to the school or local community, raising awareness and inspiring action.

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STEAM+Project based learning: real solutions from driving questions

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STEAM+Project based learning: real solutions from driving questions

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I am still trying to understand the assignment properly. I will share some videos I watched and found helpful to get the idea of what it will be like.

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STEAM + Project-Based Learning: Real Solutions From Driving Questions

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5 Keys to Rigorous Project-Based Learning

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Project-Based Learning and Arts: Empowering Students to Craft Beautiful Work

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Designing our web page- Here is my take on the assingnment- Lisa

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Designing our web page- Here is my take on the assingnment- Lisa

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1. Project Theme and Goals- One of us works on this and provides a basic overview of our theme and the goals of our STEAM project.

2. Cross-curricular goals- Someone creates a section on the web page talking about how this project will be cross-curricular

3. Description of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) components used in the project (at least 4 out of 5 components)- Someone creates a section on the web page that defines STEAM

4. Student use of specific 21st Century skills (this can be edited next week)- This is where someone will apply the 21st Century skills to the STEAM project/theme/goals.

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Our theme is plastic reduction. Whatever project is chosen to do needs to incorporate and utilize STEAM- Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. When she said we only need to do four, it means we can skip one area (science, tech, engineering, art, math). If we did a project on plastic reduction where we collect plastic in order to design a project, we would make sure that we can learn about that project in language arts, writing, science, and math. Whatever subjects you teach in a normal day. We read a book about pollution, watch videos, do a writing assignment, a math assignment. This is done in a way that incorporates PBL. So student centered and meaningful projects. Then the actual STEAM project is completed - building a maze out of collected plastic, making plastic bags in to plastic yarn for bracelets, making found plastic into art, etc.