STEAM includes the subjects science, technology, arts, engineering and mathematics. The STEM to STEAM movement has been taking root over the past several years and is surging forward as a positive mode of action to truly meet the needs of a 21st century economy. STEAM is a way to take the benefits of STEM and complete the package by integrating these principles in and through the arts. STEAM takes STEM to the next level: it allows students to connect their learning in these critical areas together with arts practices, elements, design principles, and standards to provide the whole pallet of learning at their disposal. STEAM removes limitations and replaces them with wonder, critique, inquiry, and innovation.
We love STEAM in the GFM! It underpins our daily lives, drives economic growth, plays a critical role in addressing major global challenges and helps ensure our readiness for the future, from providing a sustainable supply of food, water and clean energy, to advancing healthcare, supporting our mobility, connecting us digitally and keeping us safe and secure. Some GFM learners will be the engineering innovators of the future. Therefore, we commit curriculum time to STEAM for our Y7 and Y8 learners. We plan enrichment opportunities too e.g. the QinetiQ Boat challenge.
The use of EHoM (featured centrally on the diagram) has been identified, through research from the Centre for Real-World Learning and The Royal Academy of Engineering as being able to increase fluency in habits of mind such as problem-solving and collaboration; the development of ‘growth mindsets’; improvements in literacy, numeracy and oracy; enhanced self-management skills; plus a better understanding of engineering. We will show progression in the ‘habits’ across the Phases and aim to align these to Gosport Futures (featured externally on the diagram) too.
The pedagogy underpinning our project based learning is this 8 stage model. With thanks to David Hill from Portsmouth University for providing us with this to help guide our learning and teaching.
