Educators are constantly looking for ways to equip their students with the tools they need to be successful in today’s workforce.
And that’s where STEAM comes in.
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Agriculture, and Math.
It is a learning approach that encourages students to make connections and engage in critical thinking on topics that they encounter in everyday life.
“When people think about STEM education, and I see this first hand, they associate it with technology and engineering. Meaning you’ve got to be an architect, a mechanical engineer, a civil engineer- you’re going to school for a long period of time to get into these career fields. And that’s just not the case. Every single day everyone in their positions is implementing some portion of STEM or STEAM education,” explained Youth development science educator Twila Parish-Short.
She recently joined the University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension Program to help create STEAM opportunities for First State students.
Parish-Short believes students need STEAM now more than ever.
In an increasingly technology-driven world, students are learning differently.
They’re constantly being bombarded with information. STEAM education can help them learn to make sense of it all.
“So I think that there’s a big picture here that we need to be opening up our eyes to in regard to creating effective lessons for students to be able to connect all career fields to STEM and STEAM education. Because I do believe that no matter if you’re in a math, science, language, history class- you can connect it to STEM/STEAM education,” said Parish-Short.
The educator recently launched the STEAM team - a youth ambassador program that teaches interested students current topics in STEAM.
They meet once a month over Zoom and learn about things like GMOs, renewable energy, and starlight satellites.
Students then take that information back to their classroom and teach it to other students from their perspective.
It’s a way to disseminate information in a way that allows students to take leadership roles and bring their own voices to the table.
The Udel STEAM team is new, but Parish-Short hopes to see it expand- setting up STEAM teams at schools statewide.
Her role as an education extension agent in UD’s Cooperative Extension Program doesn’t end with the STEAM team.
She aims to act as a resource and support to educators who are already overwhelmed with a heavy curriculum.
“Right now the classrooms are packed with a lot of things, and I don't want to be just another thing for teachers to have to do,” she said. “I want to be looked at as a resource for them, somebody that could bring a field trip into the classroom, or bring a field trip outside the school walls on the property.”
Parish-Short began her role in July and will continue to work with 4-H leaders, teachers, after-school program leaders, and other educators to provide them with the resources they need to bring STEAM to their students.
