STEM Embraces All The Colors of the Rainbow

STEM Embraces All The Colors of the Rainbow
William Jackson, M.Ed.
STREAM Educator and WordPress Content Developer

Science Technology Engineering Math – STEM
Science Technology Engineering Arts Math – STEAM
Science Technology Reading Engineering Arts Math – STREAM

Just as the very words are dripping with diversity in the
learning process along with innovative thinking, creativity and
bonding the learning process with hands-on learning through
project based application and instruction that embraces the
intellectual and innovative thinking of students in Duval County
Public Schools.

I’m proud to say that in my classrooms, there is a representation
of over 30 global countries. Using the alphabet some countries
that are represented Albania, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Ghana, Haiti, Portugal, Syria, Uruguay, Venezuela, and others.

I’m humbled and determined to prepare youth, teens and young
adults for future careers that are being birthed by industry,
commerce, global collaborations and the formation of partnerships
that build global organizations and foundations to further study
the world that we live on and how we will one day sail
through the stars as it is depicted in Star Trek, Star Wars, Star Gate,
Space 1999 and other shows. Even though these television and
movies showed worlds where Artificial technologies, Voice tech,
Nano technologies, Virtual Realties coexist and allow man to move
forward in his evolutionary journeys away from the planet Earth.
There are still many challenges here on earth that must be faced
that our children will have to deal with and be prepared with solid
foundational learning.

STEM and other formats are being used in classrooms across the
nation and around the world. Where students are being taught to
be engineers, where students are being encouraged to think like
Artists, where the Arts are brought into the learning of students.
There are endless possibilities of the need to explore and that it
is ok to be a Blerd, Geek, Nerd and thinking outside of the box is
expected and celebrated.

Being a STEM / STEAM teacher in Duval County Public Schools
is not just throw students on the computer it is a strategic, planned
and coordinated educational process that builds students to learn
new ways to think, rationalize, understand, process information,
collaborate and branding of knowledge. STEM / STEAM / STREAM
educators are facilitators of learning, we are not lecturers, we are
not play education implementers and we are not gaming avenues
of mindless gaming experiences.

Since the beginning of the school year student learning is guided
by allowing the students to have creative thought in how to complete
projects. They are given the problem, provided the parameters of the
projects and then the teacher is the facilitator of learning by guiding
through the design process on paper, applying a one dimensional
process into a digital arena that is solved in a process of
multi-dimensional engagement and finally building the project to
complete the tasks necessary.

Allowing students with different learning modalities to use their best
tools to make something awesomely wonderful and expand their
knowledge and skills to be future problem solvers. This process
prepares students for the potential of future careers in STEM
and STEAM. To tailor learning for the individual
student in an environment of learning diversity and innovation.

Student that can learn visually have that, students that learn
auditorally have that, students that learn with more than one
sense have that also. It is built into the fabric of creativity and
innovation. 80% of future careers will demand some level of
technology abilities, vision, implementation, creativity and
innovation.

To prepare students to be future thought leaders schools,
even during a global pandemic must prepare their students to
be the problem solvers, the creatives, the innovators to not
just think out of the box, but not to be constrained by a
box at all. Students must be given free reign sometimes
to explore, build, make, tear down, collaborate, cooperate,
argue, fuss and rebuild.

The future is not perfect, it is not defined in a box of
instructions, the future is unpredictable and un-scalable
to a point. No one saw the pandemic coming, not warning,
no visions, no evidence, but it is here and now. How are youth,
teens and young adults in schools being prepared for
future events?

Learning in my classroom requires students to think, create,
focus, build, draw, plan, execute, talk, struggle, learn,
challenge their minds, make things hard sometimes and
build collaborations. I and other educators during the
past several years are building the thought leaders this
nation and the world will need to face the future either in
space, in oceans, in the atmosphere, inside the human
body and ecologically.

Parents, schools, businesses and organization must provide
learning chances that are supportive and empowering
now before the future sets the bars so high that not only
will thousands die, but millions will potentially perish
because we as a human race are not ready to work
together, collaborate together, grow together and
prepare together.

Please watch the videos to see how the blending of learning
elements that helps students from all walks of life prepare
for the coming evolution and revolution of digital skills,
styles and actions. This is just a small piece of the learning
that is ongoing in Duval County Public Schools in the
STEM, STEAM and STREAM classes of elementary, middle
and high schools.