Photo: Child exploring electrical circuits at the San Francisco Exploratorium. |
STEAM Resources |
STEAM projects, short for "Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math," use hands-on, engaging activities to encourage people to explore science, technology, and the arts. Because I teach and research in STEAM-related areas, teachers and parents often ask me for resource suggestions. This brief list emphasizes ones that I've found particularly useful. (Note that I am emphasizing their educational value and not endorsing their commercial operations.) Please let me know about your experiences exploring STEAM topics by clicking my name for contact information.
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The San Francisco Exploratorium is a superb resource for hands-on learning. Visit if you can. If you can't, use their explore site and try their apps. Educators, look at these resources. Hacker/maker members often partner up with local communities to share their enthusiam for science, technology, and the arts; for example, the Las Vegas SYN shop has partnered with local libraries to host STEAM workshops. The Kid Should See This blog has entertaining videos for "curious minds." These are for kids and adults of all ages. DIY.org is a social, gamified space for kids to share and compare how they make things and explore new hobbies.They've adopted a "badge" system (with real badges) to create a STEAM version of the scouting movement. Instructables is also worth exploring. Make magazine features do-it-yourself projects at all levels, helps organize "Maker Faires" around the world, and sells kits and tools. Educators should look at the Maker Educational Initiative. Several companies provide excellent educational resources along with interesting kits and components. These include Sparkfun's tutorials, Adafruit's excellent learning resources, and ServoCity's project center. |
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