STEAM adds Art to the 4 traditional STEM disciplines. Those four disciplines - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math have traditionally been viewed as rigid, non creative fields. This could not be further from the truth. All 4 disciplines are centered around problem solving which, by its nature, requires creativity. Art is an important part of solutions within many stem fields, whether it's writing, drawing, designing, or building, art is fundamentally tied to STEM solutions. 

STEAM at OMS is about developing problem solving skills through the Science, Technology, Computer Science, and Math standards. We use the engineering process as a framework for all of our projects and learning. This allows flexibility for all learners and cultivates an environment that encourages exploration without the fear of failure. 

The semester will begin with class-wide projects where all the students will work on the same project. This will give them insight and understanding of how project-based learning works and gives them experience in a topic they might have otherwise overlooked. They will then select from a menu of projects that I have created, allowing them to draw from their interests and develop a passion for learning.

In addition to the standards, my hope is that students will leave with the confidence and ability to be self-directed learners. They can pose a question about something they want to learn or do and work through the process to figure it out. They will understand that making mistakes is part of the engineering process AND the learning process which will help them persevere as life-long learners.