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STEAM

Bison on top of the word STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathmatics)

What to expect from our HPS STEAM program

HIGH PLAINS STAFF BELIEVE:

  • …strong relationships create a healthy community and support successful learning outcomes.
  • …in the development of the whole child and supports social-emotional learning.
  • …Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports and Restorative Practices promote positive student behavior and decision-making skills
  • …Problem Based Learning is a core component of HPS programming that spurs curiosity, authentic and integrated learning, and requires collaboration to explore and solve relevant, current problems in our community and world.
  • …learning doesn’t only take place in the classroom. The world is our classroom and teachers utilize all environments.
  • …the arts improve the quality of our lives, serve as a vehicle for communication, and support creative solutions to complex problems.
  • …technology is a tool, not a means to an end. 

Real world, relevant, and responsive

Schools that use a STEAM framework to develop instruction are intentionally designing units and lessons to integrate concepts from science, math, history, and the arts. Students learn the skills and knowledge in these content areas to support their reading, writing, and communication skills but then take that knowledge to an application level in an effort to help them understand why they are learning what they are learning. Technology and the engineering design process are taught to and used by students to apply their content learning in real-world, relevant, and meaningful ways through a problem based learning approach. Students create and design new products or experiences to solve relevant, real-world problems. Through this problem based approach students develop their critical thinking skills, local and global awareness, and communication and collaborative skills. A STEAM framework and problem based learning approach sparks students’ creativity and helps them develop character traits such as perseverance, responsibility, and citizenship that will serve them well throughout their life.