Term
Spring 2019
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Vivian Johnson
Content Expert
Erin Synan
Abstract
The purpose of this capstone is to address the question what strategies does the research recommend for supporting social studies educators in integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) practices into their core content? STEAM education has been adopted by many American school districts to help prepare students to be successful in 21st century careers. With a focus on problem-based learning and critical thinking, STEAM education can teach students real world skills. The goals of social studies education include preparing young people to be empathetic, active members of society. When teachers are educated in the best methods of integrating STEAM and social studies, students benefit. My review of the research literature lead me to conclude that there is a lack of research and support for social studies teachers in this endeavor. Through this capstone, my goal is to create professional development sessions that are directed at middle school social studies educators with the objective of engaging them in the planning, creation, implementation, and evaluation of STEAM integrated lessons. The professional development series includes a two-hour session designed to inform middle school teachers on the research behind integration, teach skills and strategies for creating integrated lesson plans, and provide time for collaboration, reflection and feedback. Following the two-hour session there will be four, twenty-minute follow-up sessions for collaboration and reflection throughout the year. My interest in this project comes from my personal experiences both as a student and as a middle school social studies teacher. The long term goal is that through teacher education of purposeful integration, social studies teachers can find meaningful ways to integrate STEAM content and skills into social studies curriculum.
Project Type
Professional Development
Keywords
Curriculum, Leadership, Staff Development, Teachers/ Teaching
Recommended Citation
Penner, Anna, "Steam And Social Studies: Creating An Integrated Classroom" (2019). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 288.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/288
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects