In STEAM Learning, students use:

• Engineering Practices
• Content Knowledge
• Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Attributes

...to deepen their learning and POG growth.

Engineering Practices

STEAM builds engineering practices* to prepare students for academic and career success.

• Students define a problem and apply computational thinking to iteratively design and optimize solutions.
• Throughout this user-centered, inclusive design process, students ask questions and carry out investigations.
• They use data, evaluate information, and develop models to make their thinking visible and communicate.
• Students collaborate with peers to critique and refine ideas and deepen understanding.

*The Virginia Department of Education Science Standards include engineering practices in all grade levels.

Content Knowledge

STEAM integration across subjects empowers students to explore real world problems and see themselves in STEAM careers.

• Students apply science concepts to define and solve problems.
• Technology and computer science help optimize solutions and bring ideas to reality.
• Engineering practices are used across content areas to design and test ideas.
• Arts practices and creative expression enhance designs.
• Math is used to understand the problem, make predictions, and design solutions.

Portrait of a Graduate

STEAM experiences accelerate the development of Portrait of a Graduate attributes.

• Students collaborate in groups, ask questions, think critically, and communicate their thinking.
• Students persist through challenges to develop resilience and goal directed skills.
• Students develop creative solutions to benefit the community.
• In the process, they explore STEAM careers and develop as ethical and global citizens.