Reason 32 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

Looks like Kickstarter can add “reimagined” carnivals with “robots, fire, and lasers” to the list things that its users have crowdfunded.

Earlier today, an event called the STEAM Carnival, put together by a company called Two Bit Circus, reached its $100,000 Kickstarter goal. The initials are a twist on STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math — the A adds Art to the equation.

Here’s how the Kickstarter page outlines the vision:

CFT Resolution to Promote Equity for Dance and Theatre Arts Educators Adopted at CFT Convention

2013 California Federation of Teachers (CFT) Convention

Resolution 11--Promote Equity for Dance and Theatre as Arts Education and Support Comprehensive Visual and Performing Arts Education

Submitted by United Teachers Los Angeles, AFT 1021.

The CFT Professional Issues EC/K-12 Committee recommended concurrence with this Resolution and was adopted unanimously by the body of elected delegates to the 2013 CFT Convention.

Whereas, all California students deserve equal access to a balanced, comprehensive, high-quality
education including a robust offering of curriculum, instruction, and courses in the Visual and Performing
Arts (VAPA): Dance, Music, Theatre, and the Visual Arts; and

Whereas, access to and participation in a Visual and Performing Arts Education is an integral part of
every students’ intellectual, physical, social, emotional, creative, cultural, and civic development; and

National Core Standards for the Arts on the Horizon

A newly formed partnership of organizations and states will lead the development of new core arts standards for the United States.

The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS) plans to complete its work and release new, national voluntary arts education standards in early 2014. The standards will describe what students should know and be able to do as a result of a quality curricular arts education program.

The current National Standards for Arts Education have been adopted or adapted by forty-nine state departments of education, and have become the benchmark document by which K-12 arts learning is measured. Curriculum designers, teacher training programs, funders, and federal and state policy makers have relied on the original 1994 national arts standards and, more recently, the 2005 Standards for Learning and Teaching Dance in the Arts to help guide their decision-making.

NEA Fine Arts Caucus Agenda Sunday, June 2, 2013,

NEA Fine Arts Caucus Agenda

Sunday, June 2, 2013,

7:30 PM CST * 5:30 PST * 8:30 EST

I. Roll Call of Executive Board Members

• OFFICERS--Tom McLaughlin (IA), Chair; Jessica Fitzwater (MD), Vice-Chair; Rich Nicklay (IA), Secretary; Oscar Forsman (IL), Treasurer.
   
•  EXECUTIVE BOARD--Pam Gibberman (CA), Music; Sue Lemmo (PA), Visual Arts; Carlos Meikel (CO), Visual Art; Ginger Fox (CA), Dance; Carol Woodman (WA), Drama; Michael Gary (TX), Dance; Dawn Moretz (NC), Drama.
  

Reason 33 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

NASA Langley Partners With Va. STEAM Academy To Promote Education

PR Newswire – Tue, May 28, 2013

HAMPTON, Va., May 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

NASA Langley and the Virginia Science Technology Engineering and Applied Mathematics (STEAM) Academy have signed a partnership agreement to enhance STEAM teaching and learning in Virginia through research mentorships and sabbatical opportunities.

NASA Langley plans to dedicate 10 mentors to Virginia STEAM Academy students and faculty. Mentors

will provide face-to-face and online research and shadowing opportunities for students and faculty. In addition, NASA Langley will offer guidance on how to create hands-on learning experiences. Select Virginia STEAM Academy students will serve as ambassadors for NASA Langley's research and education programs.

If You Think Education is Expensive, Try Ignorance

 

 

Arne Duncan: Education is the best investment we can make

Cathy Finkler
2:42 PM on 05/29/2013

During an interview with NBC’s Andrea Mitchell at Tuesday’s Education Nation Summit, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan reaffirmed his belief that “education is the best investment we can make.”
“I think if you think education is expensive, try ignorance,” Duncan said. “I never say we should invest in the status quo, we have to invest in a vision of reform. But when you see art and dance and drama being eliminated…when those opportunities don’t exist—we’re cutting off our nose to spite the face.”

Reason 34 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

Science and technology education picks up steam

by David Wheeler for The Enterprise
Posted May 27, 2013 @ 09:59 PM

One of the hottest topics in education today is STEM – science, technology, engineering, and math. Everywhere I look, there are grants, professional development opportunities and symposiums designed to help schools teach more math and science. And plenty of folks are (correctly) looking to vocational schools to help encourage these much-needed skill sets.

Reason 35 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

Kerry Washington joins FLOTUS to showcase arts school

Maria Puente, USA TODAY 3:23 p.m. EDT May 24, 2013

Kerry Washington and Michelle Obama take the stage at an improving school in the nation's capital where the focus is on the arts.

Scandal star Kerry Washington joined first lady Michelle Obama at a Washington, D.C. school to showcase how a focus on the arts can dramatically reform under-performing schools.

Reason 36 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

During tough economic times, arts and music programs are often some of the first programs cut in schools. But at Wolf Trap's Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts , investing in arts education has been a priority for the past 31 years.

A study by the National Endowment for the Arts shows that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds who actively participated in the arts tended to score better in science and writing, and were more likely to aspire to college.

Reason 37 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

Black-Eyed Peas lead singer Will.I.Am, a passionate STE(A)M Advocate, will probably be heard right before we gavel in to this year's RA.  LET'S GET  IT STARTED will have delegates on their feet, clapping, beach balls will be spinning in the air and the NEA FAC will be preparing to ask for your vote on out STE(A)M Initiative.  Do me a favor?  Play LET'S GET IT STARTED and read this article on the STE(A)M Initiative because it's time and with your vote we can all say, "Let's Get It Started."

STEM to STEAM: Art Is Key to Building a Strong Economy
Jon Kamen and John Maeda
The Huffington Post
Nov 13, 2012

We recently had the pleasure of collaborating in Richard Saul Wurman's new improvisational conference WWW, which came to life for the first, and perhaps only, time in September. One of many powerful moments of conversation was when Will.i.am took the stage to talk about the importance of getting children involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math -- the STEM subjects. The lead singer of the Black Eyed Peas has become an impassioned spokesperson for how STEM will power the economy and lift neighborhoods from poverty, and for how we need to do more to get kids to pursue careers in the STEM fields.

Reason 38 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

Who better than Elmo or Cookie Monster or the Count or Ernie and Bert could make learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fun for kids?  One strong argument for the STE(A)M movement revolves around making these subjects more "user-friendly."

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/season43/about-the-show/curriculum/


STEM + A = STEAM
SESAME STREET EXPANDS IT'S EFFECTIVE STEAM CURRICULUM

When art meets science, technology, engineering and math.

In season 43 of Sesame Street, the show continues its focus on STEM education, adding the arts to the equation, creating STEAM. The cornerstone of the curriculum remains the connection between the four main domains: science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but the updated approach integrates the arts. This helps make learning STEM concepts relevant and enticing to young children by highlighting how artists use STEM knowledge to enhance their art or solve problems. It also provides context for the importance of STEM knowledge in careers in the arts (e.g. musician, painter, sculptor and dancer).

Reason 39 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-m-eger/steam-not-just-stem_b_751847.html

The recommendations of some pro-education, educational reform leaders asks us to rethink our hyper-focus on hard science without creativity, imagination and innovation playing a huge role in the student's education.  This article--almost three years old--is still relevant and offers some great commentary and arguments for what we need to do.

STEAM not just STEM

by John M. Eger, Director of the Creative Economy Initiative at San Diego State University (SDSU) is the Van Deerlin Endowed Chair of Communications and Public Policy, and teaches in the School of Journalism and Media Studies, and the SDSU Honors Program.

Harvey White, co-founder of both Qualcomm Inc. and Leap Wireless International Inc., knows something about the work force of the future.

Qualcomm's president since its earliest days, White was responsible for hiring thousands of engineers. Now, he says, they all need courses in art as well as science. Otherwise they will not be as creative and innovative as America needs to be in the new global economy.

Reason 40 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

Through a panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. held Sept. 12, 2012, Reading Is Fundamental launched its multi-year campaign focused on the intersection of early childhood literacy and science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The campaign is anchored by RIF's STEAM-based Multicultural Book Collection (www.rif.org/mbc), which includes free activity guides for parents, teachers and community volunteers.

Kicked off by RIF President and CEO Carol H. Rasco, the following panelists discussed the importance of STEAM education at the earliest opportunity in a child's life: Dr. Martin Storksdieck (moderator), Mr. Stephen Barkanic, Dr. Judy Cheatham and Dr. P. David Pearson. (The discussion is posted in four parts.)



Reading is Fundamental's (RIF's) FULL STEAM AHEAD Part II
Reading is Fundamental's (RIF's) FULL STEAM AHEAD Part III
Reading is Fundamental's (RIF's) FULL STEAM AHEAD Part IV

Reason 41 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

French physician Armand Trousseau agreed, “All science touches on art; all art has its scientific side. The worst scientist is he who is not an artist; the worst artist is he who is no scientist.

Sculptor Naum Gabo once wrote. “Every great scientist has experiences a moment when the artist in him saved the scientist.”

Various professions including medicine are beginning to recognize intuition as a necessary part of disciplinary thinking.  In SPARKS OF GENIUS (click on the title for a complete ABSTRACT), Robert Root-Berstein, a MIT Scientist and professor, shows us that "the ARTS" are integral to success in STEM.

Reason 42 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

Who's going to fix all those electric cars?  Is it ok to look inside that Furby?  What is Raspberry Pie?  OK...maybe the presenter  had too much coffee but if enthusiasm is contagious, we're glad this guy is on our team.

Reason 43 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

Corporate America realizes that there is a disconnect in fully implementing the current STEM movement.  Listen to one CEO break this conversation down into a one minute sound byte.  Please SHARE on Facebook and elsewhere.  We want our ASSOCIATION members talking about the merits of this going into the RA.  Only 43 days left.

Reason 44 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

How can we best implement American Innovation in a global economy?
What role does "creativity" play in our ability to "make a better mousetrap?"  Is it really the "secret sauce" that we're missing?  How might STE(A)M lead to more engaging teaching and learning?  The following PREZI--while a little wordy--breaks the ice on this discussion that the NEA FAC would like to advance in a NBI at this year's RA in Altanta.

Reason 45 of 45 in Our 45 Day Countdown to the NEA RA's Adoption of the NEA FINE ARTS CAUCUS STE(A)M New Business Item

What is STE(A)M?

RISD brought its uplifting STEAM message to Washington, DC on February 14, when President John Maeda and other representatives from campus co-hosted a Capitol Hill briefing to launch the new Congressional STEAM Caucus (view a video of the proceedings here). Co-chaired by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and CongressmanAaron Schock (R-IL), the bipartisan caucus is dedicated to furthering the incorporation of art and design into STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).