Social media has proven important in facilitating our STEAM
Studio as well as our technology goals to produce selfsufficient, digitally responsible, life-long learners. Once our
grant was funded and equipment was being ordered the
realization that we would have to learn to use the
equipment began to sink in! Personal Learning Networks via
Twitter came to the rescue! Finding people with the same
mindset and similar experiences proved valuable in learning
how to use the equipment as well as how to plan for
student use. There was simply not enough time to attend
training necessary to learn the needed skills to run the
STEAM Studio.
Promoting student accomplishments in a visual way via social media has gained local and global
recognition. Artists, engineers, teachers and many others in education are taking note of our student’s
accomplishments. This recognition has brought a sense of excitement to our studio as students are
asked to show off their skills and experiences. Art students were asked to participate in edCampglobal,
a world-wide live streaming event held in January of 2016, to show off their STEAM Studio experience.
This experience has led to many others including a collaborations with local community organizations,
business’, and several school tours.
In addition, our students
have utilized the STEAM
Studio to create for
competitions. For example,
state level of VASE (Visual
Arts Scholastic event) held
here in Texas and winning
3rd place in the Edible Car
contest hosted by Texas
Women’s College. Currently,
we have another team
working on an aviation
simulation competition
hosted by GAMA (General
Aviation Manufacturers
Association.).
This May our campus is hosting a “STEAM Carnival,” a student led interactive exposition that will allow
time for students to communicate to parents and the community the experiences of creating,
designing, implementing STEAM activities from start to finish using skills gained during the process. We
welcome you to join us live on Periscope @smARTisteacher or find us on YouTube afterwards!
STEAMed Magazine
31
April 2016 Edition