Learning that is Key to Future Success
Is your child’s school preparing students for the future? The 6Cs are skills children will need for success in the future: think critically, communicate clearly, work collaboratively, develop creativity, build good character, and appreciate community. Schools with strong STEM programs are incorporating the 6Cs. At Vanguard Gifted Academy, we offer STEM Plus. We incorporate Research and the Arts into our STEM program, which we call STREAM. These skills are so important that our students are engaged in STREAM every afternoon!
In STREAM, children learn to work across the domains of science, technology, research, engineering, the arts, and mathematics to create solutions to problems. The first step in problem-solving for mathematicians, scientists, and engineers is the creative process of brainstorming ‒‒ thinking outside the box to imagine potential possibilities to resolve a problem. Brainstorming can be done alone, but it doesn’t take long for children to realize the value of collaboration during brainstorming. The number of potential solutions increases exponentially as the number of people contributing to the process rises. Each person’s expertise, experience, and character will influence their vision for a solution. Once children start to share, they quickly utilize connections within the learning community to expand on each other’s ideas or trigger new ideas.
Once the brainstorming has offered a variety of solutions, it is time for research. Students engage in critical thinking skills as they gather information and analyze its value: Did it come from a quality source? Does it support or eliminate some of the brainstormed ideas? Does it confirm or dispute their prior knowledge? The use of mathematical data collection charts and Venn diagrams helps students organize and clearly communicate the information they find. Children are building character as they take responsibility for contributing quality information to the project. Once again, it is time to collaborate and come to a consensus on what solution or solutions should be pursued to resolve the problem.
The next step in creating a solution is to use critical thinking and collaboration to determine the process for moving forward and to identify the best person to complete each part of the project. It is also a good time to teach children about communicating strengths and connections in a way that demonstrates good character. Sharing in a way that is not offensive to the group and will allow the group to make the most efficient progress toward the solution. As students get to work on their parts of the project, they continue to develop a sense of community ‒‒ being a part of something more than what they can accomplish alone; appreciating the opportunity to learn with and/or from someone while trying to achieve a common goal. They also realize how their character, including work ethic, persistence, responsibility, and quality of work, impacts the community.
During the design process, students apply the foundational knowledge of measuring, calculation, mathematical formulas, and geometric features. They engage in scientific processes of experimentation and data collection. As they begin to create their prototypes, they are engineering and re-engineering with various materials, including technology applications. Prototypes also require the use of creative thinking and visual arts to create a pleasing design. In addition, their prototypes offer an alternate means to clearly communicate their solution. During this process, students’ character continues to grow as they face failures, develop persistence, and learn to rely on the strengths of each member of the community.
Once the solution is created, it must be presented to the audience using clear communication. At Vanguard, our students present in three different ways: presentations, interactives, and exhibits. This really engages them in the use of the arts! The dramatic arts teach students how to use a strong voice, body language, and dynamic verbal interpretation. The visual arts are included in the design of games, posters, and facades. Musical knowledge is included as students realize the impact of a musical style when used in conjunction with technology presentation tools. All of this aids in the clear communication of their design process as well as their final solution.
Throughout the STREAM experience, from brainstorming to the final presentation, children advance their conceptual understandings, apply foundational skills across various domains, overcome challenges to achieve authentic success and gain personal confidence. STREAM experiences enrich learning and are rooted in teaching children the 6 Cs, which will be key to their continued success in the future workforce.