It is no doubt STEAM approach makes lessons more interesting and students feel more involved when doing their parts in the project. It is the Engineering Design Process that keeps important role in bringing seamless process in teaching and learning. It is the life of STEAM.
The steps, I usually involve in my Project based ICT class, are:
1. ASK, at this stage, students learn about their learning and project objectives. They need to understand its importance and relationship with their world. They also need to know the problem they’re supposed to solve when making this project.
2. IMAGINE, this is the earliest stage of planning, before they plan, they need to enrich themselves with relevant knowledge and start collaborating with people involved. Brainstorming is the best way to get best idea to be implemented in making the project.
3. PLAN, this is where students start jotting down from their first draft to their final draft of planning. They also need to prepare all the materials and resources required in making this project. Timeline takes important part in the planning, too, as it will determine the time when project should have been submitted.
4. CREATE, at this stage, students have to start working everything they have put in their plan. Time to test out everything they have learned and planned. Important reminder, such as “stick to the plan”, sometimes needs to be given regularly especially to students who like to improvise. Timeline and time limit have to be an important focus as we do not want our students to submit their project late.
5. REVISE, this is when after they presented their works and found some things to be fixed and mended. It is important for us, teachers, to give them our honest inputs for them to grow, develop and deliver their final product in the best shape they can give. In my version, this fifth step includes COMMUNICATION, as they presented and received inputs from the teachers.
These 5 steps need to be executed fervently and there should be no room for negotiations. Students needs to be monitored and encouraged especially when we first start implementing STEAM approach in our class.
Remember, Necessity maybe the mother of investion but Play is certainly the father đđ Good luck in implementing STEAM approach in your class!
