A Case Study of a Middle School's STEAM Practices to Promote 21st-Century Skills

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: Designing Effective Learning Environments I

Abstract

Educators, researchers, and educational associations agree that schools should foster student development of 21st Century Skills (21CS). In this field study, middle school STEAM team (a form of STEM education) teachers, were observed to describe how they incorporated a transdisciplinary co-teaching approach in their school to enhance student learning and align curriculum with 21CS guidelines. Integrating transdisciplinary project-based learning, corporate resources, flexible time schedules, and multiple space uses, the STEAM team strived to promote 21CS practice in 8th grade students. A variety of pedagogical techniques, resources, and support mechanisms are described, all being flexibly applied in multiple was to support teaching and student learning. Obstacles and affordances to this approach are summarized and discussed.

Authors

• Jiaming Cheng, Syracuse University

• Yufei Wu, Syracuse University

• Tiffany A. Koszalka, Syracuse University