Committed to 21st-century education, Garland ISD launched a science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) initiative last fall. Cultivating this rigorous culture, STEAM-fueled activities, challenges and events have been occurring across the district all year.
At Kimberlin Academy for Excellence, students started practicing a skill they would not typically encounter until high school. Fifth-grade bilingual teacher Bonnie Martinez introduced her class to coding.
“I think it is great how she is integrating innovation with her kids,” said GISD Elementary Technology Integration Facilitator Brian Dean.
Coding, or the process of creating programming language that runs everything from software to mobile apps, is essential to computer science. And, with the current nationwide need for engineers and scientists, teaching coding at the elementary level might arm students with skills for a successful future.
Southgate Elementary School is also focusing on the careers of tomorrow. The campus recently hosted an interactive hallway exhibit, inviting every student to learn more about college and STEM.
“The exhibit defined what STEM is and what the jobs of the 21st-century look like. We are trying to help these kids see the future through words of excitement and things they will remember,” said Counselor Virginia Schafroth. “We know that college is important for our kids and that the more information they get at a young age, the more excited they are about going to college.”
Southgate’s eight-station exhibit featured critical thinking activities, goal-oriented endeavors and technology-driven items. From February-March, students in every class were given 3-7 minutes to visit each station in groups of four or five.
“It was about your college, career and education,” said fourth-grader Yvette Rosales. “The further you go [in school], the better you get and the more you will learn. It was really fun because you get to do teamwork and learn at the same time.”
Some of Rosales’ older peers were also able to work in teams and expand their knowledge at a STEM event outside of GISD. Students from Jackson Technology Center for Math & Science participated in Southern Methodist University’s Visioneering 2015 in February, earning high honors in the competition.
“Morris Goldade asked our seventh and eighth-grade students–who wanted to learn more about engineering–if they were interested in participating,” said Jackson Campus Technology Assistant Linda Marzolf. “A team was formed, and the adventure began as they started to work on communication skills and learn from each other in preparation for the event.”
Visioneering invites students from the region to solve a real-world problem using engineering concepts.
“The students were tasked with bringing water from a distant river to a Ugandan town with a population that is quickly increasing,” the event’s website states. “They needed to design a treatment facility and the distribution system to bring water to town.”
Jackson’s team faced 70 others during the competition and won one of just six awards up for grabs—the Smart Solutions Award presented by Bell Helicopter.
The district has presented some of its own STEAM honors as well. Seven students were named Elementary Regional Science Fair winners, including Pearson Elementary School students Madi Lindsey, Sarah Mayes and Shelby Chesier. The trio won first-place in the fifth-grade engineering category for their project titled, “How Do We Save Humpty Dumpty?”
Embracing the Maker Creator stage of GISD’s four-phase STEAM initiative, Bussey Middle School held an invention convention.
“What I like about Maker Creator is the fact that it gives my students more options than just the science fair,” said Bussey science teacher Bethanie Robinson. “Last year, we had kids who were making things and just told me about them. I thought I would throw the idea of Maker Creator to my students and get feedback from them. The ideas for projects just started flowing in—even more than what was proposed on the STEAM initiative potential creation list. It was awesome.”
In the end, students crafted everything from a smartphone holder to a new sports drink flavor to a dog collar.
And though the 2014-15 year is nearing its end, the STEAM buzz is not over yet. All these efforts will culminate in the district’s one-day STEAMposium, May 16 at the Curtis Culwell Center. The mega affair will showcase projects from all four phases and award a STEAMLY Cup to one winning school area.
For more information, visit the Curriculum and Instruction Department’s website.