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.  STEM alone misses several key components that many employers, educators, and parents have voiced as critical for our children to thrive in the present and rapidly approaching future.”(2021, February 5).

“A” is for Art! Art integration does take place at Concordia Shanghai within the art room itself. The art department is very proud of its accomplishments of authentic art integration and boasts that every unit has some form of integration to academic subject matters, including Science, Social Studies, Technology, Engineering, and Math. There are also components of the art curriculum which enable valid connections to be made with Literacy, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and English Language Learner(ELL) and Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), as well. ​

My favorite phrase is “Everything has the potential of becoming art!’ As art has the unique ability to encompass all things and be a guiding force in creating, innovating, engineering, and prototyping!

Recent research shows that STEAM is a promising approach to positively impacting student achievement and teacher efficacy. In a 2016 study, researchers investigated the impact of STEAM lessons on physical science learning in grades 3 to 5 in high poverty elementary schools in an urban district. Findings indicated that students who received just nine hours of STEAM instruction made improvements in their science achievement (Brouillette, L., & Graham, N. J.)

“There is no greater integrity, no greater goal achieved, than an idea articulately expressed through something made with your hands. We call this constant dialogue between eye, mind, and hand "critical thinking -- critical making." (2012)