St. Mary’s is committed to creating transformative educational experiences with creative learning opportunities. Opportunities designed to solve real-world problems, to explore different ideas, and to inspire flexible and persistent problem-solvers. This is at the heart of STEAM.
STEAM is an educational approach connecting the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. These disciplines serve as access points for learning, guiding student inquiry and promoting creative and critical thinking, the foundation of an International Baccalaureate education.
Each STEAM experience is a rich, meaningful task that begins with a challenge or driving question. How can we create carnival games featuring simple machines? or What polyhedrons make beautiful lanterns? Applying the skills found within each of the disciplines - for example, scientific discovery, artistic creativity, and mathematical reasoning - to their work in an integrated approach allows students to understand learning extends beyond a single classroom, book, or course.
STEAM projects are hands-on and experiential, and the students work through the IB design cycle to find possible solutions. The IB design cycle structures the inquiry and analysis of these real-world problems. It allows students opportunities to focus on the process of and purpose for their learning, taking thoughtful risks as they develop, create, test, and analyze their solutions. Solutions may take the form of a model, prototype, product or system. Students drive their own learning, considering their responsibilities when making decisions and taking action - core principles of an internationally-minded student.
By giving our students opportunities to find possible solutions to real-world problems through STEAM experiences, we have the power to not only revolutionize what our students learn, but how they view their impact on the world. They see themselves as leaders and innovators. At St. Mary’s, our students don’t have to wait to change the world, they can start today.