STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Some programs adopt the term STEAM instead, which also adds arts into the curriculum.
At its core, STEM curriculum offers students blended, and often project-based, learning opportunities rooted in science. STEM education integrates concepts that are usually taught as separate subjects in different classes and emphasizes the application of knowledge to real-life situations. STEM spaces can encompass a variety of learning environments, such as classrooms, makerspaces, laboratories, and outdoor learning areas.
Design principles that can apply to any STEM-focused area include:
- Flexibility: Used for a many different types of activities and supports a range of needs
- Mobility: Easy to move, able to be easily reconfigured on the fly throughout the day
- Adaptable: Ability to accommodate both lab work and direct instruction
- Outdoor Connection: Natural light, easy access to outside, greenhouse space, access to natural features such as ponds, native plants, etc.
- Collaborative: Works for small group work and integrated with technology
- Multi-Use Storage: Organized storage for supplies and in-progress projects
- Connected: Readily available power and wireless connectivity for quick access to the tools without having to leave the room
Incorporating STEM-related programs into school curriculum will be more important than ever before as the prospective job market anticipates a growing need for talented workers in STEM-related fields. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows employment in STEM occupations has grown 79 percent in the past three decades alone, and estimates that STEM jobs are projected to grow an additional 11 percent from 2020 to 2030.
STEM learning does not need to be siloed in science labs or STEM-only classrooms, however. STEM designed activities can be applied across programs to encourage a love for lifelong learning, support career development, and create inclusive learning opportunities for all. The key to designing successful STEM experiences are to make them student-centered, relevant, and empathy-driven, says an article featured in Edutopia written by a middle school STEAM instructor.
Comstock Public School’s New STEM Academy Set to Inspire Students
As part of a larger bond program, Comstock Public Schools will begin construction of a new K-8 STEM Academy this summer to replace a 75-year-old facility with a purpose-built STEM school. The new school will feature intentional design that celebrates the future of STEM and ensures that the programming is thoughtful, inclusive, and relevant to today’s technology and resources. The project team held a design workshop with multiple stakeholder and community groups to develop a functional and flexible design that evolves and adapts to the changing needs of students.
Current STEM Academy students participate in a variety of hands-on, enriching science projects. For example, a flagship program for the third-grade class is the Maple Tree Tapping Unit, which teaches students the entire process of creating maple syrup – from tapping the trees and boiling the sap, to enjoying the final product. The new academy will even feature an on-site sugar maple grove for this specific program, truly integrating the program’s curriculum into the school design. Extended learning areas throughout the school and outdoor areas will put learning on display and encapsulate the innovation happening within the academy.
The new STEM Academy is set to become the area’s go-to facility for STEM education. The academy offers 8th grade students the opportunity to earn high school credit, accelerating their future ability enroll in dual enrollment and earn free college credit courses. Offering STEM-specific education in a district with a historically underserved student population has increased enrollment and retention for the district. Comstock’s STEM Academy is even the highest performing school in Kalamazoo County.
STEM Principles Connect Programs Across Grandville’s New Middle School
Grandville Public School’s new middle school features more than 200,000 square feet of teaching and learning space that is flexible and student focused, giving students a variety of specialized spaces for a well-rounded educational experience. Collaborative spaces throughout the school and ample transparency into learning spaces supports curiosity and connects students across programs, like STEM. The middle school’s dedicated STEM education for the 7th grade students courses focus on hands-on activities surrounding planes, cars, 3-D printing, and robots; while the 8th grade level focuses on project-based Applied Construction and the Science of Speed.
The design for the middle school also included a significant upgrade in facilities for the district’s signature extracurricular robotics program, the Grandville Robodawgs. The new specialized robotics arena can host a variety of competitions and includes an adjacent gymnasium and woodshop area. The venue can be used for FIRST Robotics Competitions (FRC), VEX Robotics, Lego League and even aerial drones with multiple competition fields and pits for up to 120 teams. Robotics exemplify STEM principles and teach students programming, safety, and engineering skills to get them college or career ready. STEM concepts also allow students to learn lifelong skills in teamwork, leadership, and communications. These programs span multiple grade levels and even give elementary-aged students, and students from neighboring districts, exposure to robotics.
“The whole school is connected to academics – from robotics, STEM, traditional classrooms – we want to connect the concepts and ideas to real world application,” says Grandville Superintendent Roger Bearup.
