DocAndersen
As a VR/AR fan, I was talking to a friend via IM the other evening. He mentioned the wonderful potential of VR in education. We talked a little (he is a Middle School Science teacher) about the Astro Reality planetary. He was shocked. I ended up ordering him a set for his classroom. It did get me thinking about the reality of STEAM. STEAM is the explanation of the original STEM concept. STEM represents the merging of Science TechnologyEngineering and Math into a unified educational process. STEAM is that carried one step further adding the A of Art. STEAM allows teachers to both deliver critical information and skills, but it also helps them present the information in a fun manner.
He and I both backed a crowdfunded astral projector (mine is for my bedroom and helping me relax and sleep. His is for the classroom!)
Kids love science, at least they do if the teacher does!
For me, the Science piece is something I grew up with an enjoy. The technology and Engineering pieces are my chosen career. The last piece of the puzzle now is the art and math. Both of them impact the first three. Art is the expression of ideas in non-traditional ways. Math is the expression of ideas as numbers. There are many components of the technology world that do use all of the components of STEAM.
Educators are often the last to get new technology, making it harder to deliver STEAM, 3d printers are something I think every school should have. Transactive Energy systems, at least to power the science labs should be in every school. The building, optimizing and delivering energy via the wind, sun, water or geothermal is great additional engineering add for schools to consider.
The internet of things is another area where I see STEAM impacting education and classrooms. There are a number of interesting kits for IoT creation. All can be used to integrate the full SteamStack.
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Question of
Are you familar with the new term STEAM and what it means for education?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Do you believe the global education system supports all students equally?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
should the global education system support all students equally?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Do you think schools should move to electronic text books?
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Yes
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No
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also, the students would have just one ebook to lug around, the district wouldn’t have to store textbooks and more benefits besides…
Globally I’ve seen UNESCO numbers of 100 million US Dollars saved a year. The kids wouldn’t even have to lug them around. Install the cheap readers as part of the desk with a kill switch at the teachers desk.
Then give every student access to books, at home with an ereader they carry.
kill switch is a good idea, hadn’t thought of that
That is the beauty of the art of the possible. Fill as many holes as you can now!
Better living through advanced technology
I hope! I have been playing with Robotics for the past year or so (mostly because it is a trend that a number of US Federal Agencies are considering). I am slowly evolving my thoughts on the actual delivery of content.
For example, one of the interesting things I see is the WIP process you use with your artwork. You have created an interactive process, I wonder if that type of approach wouldn’t be used in schools.
Some classes need more structure, but a class that could effectively decide their curriculum would surely benefit
That is an exceptional point and well taken. It is not a one size fits all. There is something about clutching a book of poetry as you sit under a tree conversing with your classmates about what Langston Hughes meant with specific lines he wrote.
The value of a system is always the application.
“The value of a system is always the application” is important to remember. Concepts don’t have an innate value
Interesting point, concepts do have some value, but you are right the application and driving of the concept to reality has actual or realized value. Conceptual solutions have a “potential” value.
Exactly, they only have a potential value but no innate or actual value in a financial sense. Of course they can have value on other levels…
How kind of you to purchase this gift for your teacher friend. I agree with your questions except for the last one. Technology is moving fast enough. Most kids cannot even write in cursive. I know the books will be replaced by electronic ones soon enough. But I hope they stay around as long as possible.
Just replacing textbooks with electronic books, however. That one thing alone would save schools around the world more than 100 million US dollars. Just that one thing. Not all books, just textbooks!
I agree it would save much needed money. I saw a news report here where some schools cannot afford to have crossing guards. Are you kidding me!
Keep the tradition library for now, plus the traditional books. Get every student in the US an ereader (cheaper) and away we go!