What is
STEAM EDUCATION?
STEAM education is an exciting, hands-on, experiential style of learning that combines the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. It engages students in rich, authentic, real-world investigations that build the diverse skills that will be most valued in the future. From flexible and creative problem-solving to critical thinking and reflection, students have the opportunity to grow as they ask questions, take intellectual risks and collaborate with their peers.
Welcome to learning in the 21st century!
STEAM vs STEM
The shift from STEM to STEAM has taken root over the past several years with many educators recognising the limitations of a purely STEM-based approach. While future economic prosperity may hinge on the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM education sorely neglects the creativity, innovation and design that are required to bring any vision to life.
And thus, STEAM was born.
A STEAM approach allows educators to stimulate and nurture the essential creative brain while still preparing students for an ever-changing and highly competitive job market. By teaching STEM disciplines in and through the arts, students are provided with the whole pallet of learning..
Why is STEAM education important?
Did you know that 65% of current school students will work in jobs that don’t exist yet?
With technology evolving so rapidly, almost every aspect of society is changing. For this reason, there has been a shift in thinking around education. Where once the focus was on memorising facts and mastering the three Rs, educators and employers are now valuing a new set of skills that are likely to help students (and businesses) succeed in a modern world.
Rather than teaching cold, hard facts or rote learning, STEAM education focuses on the thinking and communicating processes that are required to solve a problem. These are the skills that make students adaptable, creative, resilient, inventive, reflective and collaborative.
These are the skills that the future will need. It won’t be about the amount of information students can retain (we have Google for that). It will be about how well young people can negotiate the shifting nature of the job market, their role, their team, their responsibilities, even their location.
While such a rapidly changing world may seem a little alarming, or at least intimidating, with STEAM education, our children will be well-equipped to face this future and thrive.
HOME PROJECTS
Here are some exciting activities and resources that will not only keep your kids entertained but will fill them with wonder (and won’t require you to be an expert coder or STEAM specialist)
The Perfect Egg Drop by Lemon Lime Adventures
Overnight Crystal Gardens by Babble Dabble Do
Light Drum by The Oakland Toy Lab
Light Drum by The Oakland Toy Lab
Overnight Crystal Gardens by Babble Dabble Do
Force & Motion
Refraction Drawings by Go Science Girls
Music You Can See by The Oakland Toy Lab
Colour Changing Clock by Left Brain Craft Brain
Fibonacci Art Project by What Do We Do All Day
Circuit Bugs by Steam Powered Family
Scrap Robots by Adventure-in-a-Box
Build A Heart by STEAM Powered Family
Crime Scene Science Lab by Teach Beside Me
Newspaper Eiffel Tower by Edventures With Kids
Zoetrope Animation by Share It! Science
Flextangles by Babble Dabble Do
How to Make a 3D Book by De Tout Et De Rien
Tiny Dancers by Babble Dabble Do
Design Thinking for Kids by Meri Cherry
Homemade Harmonograph by The Oakland Toy Lab
Tensile Bubbles by Babble Dabble Do
STEAM VIDEO TUTORIALS
Building Dragsters by PhySciManics
Classes
Happy Kids
Incursions
Rolls of masking tape
Cool STEAM Websites
Cool Australia – STEAM Made Simple
If you’ve been experimenting with STEAM at home but are looking for something meatier, or if you’re just looking for something fresh and different, a Build-A-Mind workshop is the perfect solution!
PRoduct Links
At Build-A-Mind, we use a diverse range of tools and toys to stimulate young minds. If you’re looking to continue the creativity at home, here are some of the most popular products we use and where you can find them at a competitive price.
Having said that, never underestimate the fun you and your child can have with toilet rolls, sticky tape, paddle pop sticks and a bit of string!
Here are some of the favourites…
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LEGO® Classic Bricks |
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LEGO® Mindstorms EV3 |
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UBTECH Jimu BuzzBot & MuttBot Robotics Kit |
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K’nex Creation Zone 50 Model Building Set |
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Fisher-Price Code and Learn Code-a-Pillar |
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Code and Go Robot Mouse |
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Robot Turtles – The Game for Little Programmers |
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Scratch Jr – Coding for Young Children |
FREE at the app store or Google play |
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2 Wheel Drive Ultrasonic Arduino Robot Kit |
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Raspberry Pi Basic Starter Pack |
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Kapla Wooden Building Blocks – 280 piece set |
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Hue Animation Studio |
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Edison Robot VV2.0 |
Policies
Refund policy
By enrolling in our classes, you are committing to a service contract for a complete term. We do not offer refunds if there is an issue with the service that is outside of our control. i.e – a change of mind. We offer a FREE TRIAL to ensure that our customers are satisfied with our program prior to enrolling.
Timetable changes
All workshops are subject to change. While Build-A-Mind uses its best efforts to operate classes as per the timetable published on this website, in some instances changes are required due to fluctuations in demand. No guarantee is made that classes will run per the timetable. Any changes required will be communicated to those affected prior to the date classes commence.
Make-up class policy
Due to the nature of our classes, it is not possible to provide a make-up session. We will always support children to catch up on what they missed.
Photography
From time to time your child may be photographed or filmed whilst undertaking a Build-A-Mind workshop. Such media might be used for promotional purposes, including but not limited to reproduction on the Build-A-Mind social media platform. When enrolling in the Build-A-Mind program you can opt out of photography being used for marketing purposes.