2017-2018 School Year

Panther STEAM TEAM Model

West Jackson Middle School

What is STEAM education?

STEAM education is an avenue for formally teaching the interrelationships of
how subjects relate in real-life. STEAM education is the idea of using
Science and Technology interpreted through Engineering and the Arts, all based
in Mathematical elements. In particularly, the A stands for the broad spectrum of the arts going well beyond
aesthetics; it includes the liberal arts, formally folding in Language Arts, Social Studies, Physical Arts, Fine
Arts & Music that each shape developments in STEM fields.The framework is engaging, hands-on and
reality-based with many extensions to draw education, industry, government and the community together
for the common good of bettering public education while still meeting the Georgia Standards of
Excellence, the Jackson County guidelines, and STEM related goals. Our team will be a new model used
by West Jackson Middle School to help move towards a more engaging model of education for our
students. Please check out the following site for more information on the STEAM education model.
https://steamedu.com

What will our schedule look like?

Our team will be a two man team model with multiple collaboration
partners. We will be teaming the subjects of Social Studies and
Language Arts along with Math and Science to create an all inclusive
model. We will be using the STEAM model to create thematic units to
increase engagement, productivity, and outcomes for our students.
Our team will be collaborating with our WJMS connection classes to
incorporate the standards addressed. Students will participate in a
flexible schedule model that will best provide outside opportunities for
connecting subjects to real life situations.

DIFFERENTIATION MODEL
Differentiation is the idea of providing instruction that is targeted to meet the learning needs and learning
styles of all students. Our team will be using differentiated instruction to provide flexible grouping and
academic diversity within each assignment and unit. We will be using pre-tests to determine prior knowledge
and multi-tiered lessons to provided the just right instructional needs of students. Students will be working on
differentiated tasks that have the same objective(s) in mind.

Our team will also be using student surveys to better understand the learning styles and learning profiles of
each student. Learning styles are defined as educational conditions under which a student is most likely to
learn. A few examples of learning styles are auditory, visual, and tactile. Our team of teachers will use these
learning styles to help differentiate the learning experiences of our students. If you would like more information
on learning styles please check out the following website. http://www.educationplanner.org

Overall, our team of teachers want to create the most engaging lessons that achieve academic rigor and true
student engagement. Through differentiated instruction our team of teachers can include engaging elements
for all students through all subject areas.

Take the survey to find out your learning style! http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-

assessments/kind-of-student.shtml

High Quality Instruction

A high quality curriculum is one that encompasses all students in the learning environment. High quality
curriculum is driven by teachers to relinquish the labels we place on students and move towards motivating
based on student interests. Curriculum is a guideline for instruction and should be developed, molded, and
created to show the most rigorous level a student possesses. Our team assignments will be planned and
developed to encompass the STEAM model. The core mission of the Jackson County School System is to
provide and support challenging and rigorous educational opportunities to ensure academic excellence for all
students in a safe and caring learning environment. Our WJMS team is committed to this pursuit of excellence
through highly researched model approaches.

Planning for the Future

Students will complete the required individual graduation plan through the STEAM model of integration. Our
team of teachers and students will be using classroom assessments as well as district level assessments to
make goals and track the progress of learning through our STEAM based units. Students will also complete the
MAP assessment three times a year to measure individual growth. The data will then be used by both students
and teachers create individualized goals to maintain momentum in reaching their personal aptitude. Our team
 of teachers will monitor and use the MAP data to build our
instruction on the needs of each individual student.

Student Selection
The STEAM model WJMS will be implementing will
be one structured to best support students who may
not fit the general education model. Many students at
WJMS show abilities that would be best served in an
environment catered to the STEAM educational
model.

Students will be recommended based on the

following criteria:

Problem-solversable to frame problems as puzzles and then able to apply understanding and learning to these
novel situations (argument and evidence)
Inventors- recognize the needs of the world and creatively design and implement solutions
Self-reliant and motivated- able to set own agendas, develop and gain self-confidence and work within time
specified time frames
Logical Thinkers/ Innovators
Technologically literateunderstand the nature of the technology, master the skills needed and apply it
appropriately

Resources
Want to learn more about STEAM education? https://steamedu.com/

http://educationcloset.com/

http://stemtosteam.org/
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What are the benefits of STEAM education?

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/stem-to-steam-strengthens-economy-john-maeda

http://www.csai-online.org/collection/2810

Parent Guides

https://kithub.cc/2016/03/steam-quick-guide-parents/

http://www.nea.org/home/ParentPartnershipResources.html

STEM Career Guide

https://careerswithstem.com/