Kutztown integrates STEAM into everyday classroom
District initiative includes science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics
The Kutztown Area School District unveiled a new STEAM initiative on Feb. 16 at the Kutztown Middle School.
This launch event showcased the district’s efforts and commitment to the integration of STEAM into the everyday classroom. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
The night consisted of the launch of various new initiatives, including the brandnew curriculum and programs for the upcoming school year, the DaVinci Media Arts Studio, and the new STEAM resource library. Also showcased during the night was the annual fifth grade science fair, interactive design experiences, and music provided by the middle school jazz band.
Kutztown Area School District Director of Educational Technology Scott Hand spoke on how he believes this event is important and impactful to students, parents, and faculty of the district.
“This type of event is able to show the community and show teachers as well as students how we are blending in science, technology, and engineering, and how they all cross over. Traditionally, they were all isolated in separate classrooms but we want to show that it’s immersive and hands-on learning and be able to give people that experience.”
Hand also specified how this new STEAM initiative is focused on benefitting the students, and how the initiative will be implemented directly inside the classroom.
“We’re going to look at our computer coding that’s starting as early as kindergarten, so we have students that are able to do coding and computational thinking from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade,” said Hand. “The events are going to be happening in the classroom. We hope to showcase more of what the students are doing inside of their classrooms and they’ll see that on an ongoing basis.”
Zachary Rudy, a technology and engineering teacher at Kutztown, also described new ways STEAM will be integrated into his classroom.
“We are going to launch a new class next year called Introduction to Engineering design. It is a Project Lead the Way course, so it’s a nationally accredited course and it will teach students an introduction or overview of things that are done in engineering,” Rudy said. “It allows students who are interested in engineering a chance to experience that prior to college and learn some of those things that will help them be better prepared.”
Rudy believes the key to getting more students involved in STEAM is displaying to students how STEAM is relevant in everyday life.
“If you can link those things to real life and understand how they work instead of just thinking of them in a theoretical type of situation, I think it makes a big difference and things are going to make a lot more sense.”
With students being the main focus for the new STEAM initiative, Zachary Schell, 18, a senior at Kutztown High, offered his perspective on how STEAM is able to benefit all students.
“This event is important to the kids by allowing them to showcase their abilities and what they are able to do when they get to the middle school and high school. Students are not going to join these hands-on classes and get good learning opportunities if they do not know they are available, and the STEAM event helps students know what is available for them.”
Hand plans on having an annual event inviting the community to have insight on how STEAM initiatives are benefitting students in the district. He also plans on using other mediums such as the district website and social media to show off and showcase what is happening every single day inside of the classroom.