We all know that STEAM is the future of education. But what we don’t know is the answer to one common question—how can we incorporate STEAM principles across all subject areas?

Redesigning the Curriculum

To help answer that question, Teq created the Long Island STEAM Committee. The first meeting was held in mid-February and it was attended by STEAM-pioneering administrators from Baldwin, Hauppauge, and Hempstead, as well as a panel of Teq’s education technology experts. The group met to discuss a common issue that each was coming up against—how to carry a single STEAM story through each grade level.

Often times in schools, STEAM is an isolated program that is practiced in a single, separate “space.” If it were carried through each grade level, STEAM would be a focus and connected across core curriculum.

Take math, for example. At face value, math is basic computation or arithmetic. But if math were approached as a STEAM topic or story instead and applied to multiple subjects, students could learn reasoning skills, logic, and special awareness outside of the math classroom.

To accomplish the goal of carrying the STEAM story, the committee agreed it would require a redesign of the curriculum and a deeper understanding of STEAM subjects.

Relieving Time Constraints

At the end of the 2-hour meeting, everyone agreed—Long Island administrators and teachers just simply do not have the time to teach specific STEAM lessons. With state tests and strict 60/90-minute blocks for core subject areas, STEAM education can fall by the wayside.

But the committee discussed one possible solution to open the door to STEAM integration—relieve the rigid time constraints.

To do this, teachers would work with together on a shared cross-curriculum lesson that would support both subjects. For example, instead of focusing on an individual 60-minute ELA lesson and an individual 60-minute science lesson, educators could combine their time to conduct a science experiment and have the students write an article on their findings. This way, ELA would be incorporated directly into the science lesson.

Be a part of the team

To continue the mission of STEAM integration, the Long Island STEAM Committee will meet once a month, and is opening the door for more participants. The committee is looking for district administrators who are passionate about STEAM and would like to share their insight and expertise.

To learn more about the Long Island STEAM Committee and how to participate, email Emily Brenseke at emilybrenseke@teq.com.