STEAM by Another Name: Interdisciplinary Practice in Art and Design Education

• In Event: 26.049 - Gathering STEAM: The Integration of Arts-Based Educational Projects Into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Curricula

Abstract

Objectives
This paper gives an example of the development of integrated art and STEM curricula and learning experiences to help students bridge disciplinary silos.

Theoretical Overview
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education has received increased attention in past decades, primarily around the challenges of improving student performance and interest in these domains in schools and universities.

Modes of Inquiry
This educational research project introduced a studio arts approach into an existing environmental engineering curriculum (Walther, Kellam, Constantino, & Cramond, 2010).

Evidence
The goal was to help students gain deeper understandings of the humanistic issues associated with engineering through integrating engineering, the social sciences, and humanities.

Results
The results will focus on the nature of studio practice and how it can promote transdisciplinary learning in engineering and arts education.

Scholarly Significance
Research methodologies such as phenomenology will be used to investigate interdisciplinary/STEAM outcomes will be presented and discussed for future investigations.

Author

• Tracie E. Costantino, Rhode Island School of Design