STEM Learning
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SAM Academy and STEM Ambassador Programs Aim to Provide Students Innovative Ways of Learning |
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According to the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning at WestEd, “on the national level, the Presidents' Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) concluded that the U.S. response to the challenges of the 21st century will be determined...by the effectiveness of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education." Two Valley STEM-focused programs, SAM Academy and STEM Ambassadors, are making strides to incorporate these academic areas into K-12 afterschool learning.
SAM (science, art, and music) Academy is a nonprofit organization and traveling classroom that visits schools, libraries, carnivals and festivals, integrating art and music into STEM learning. Currently, SAM participates in afterschool programs in Sanger and Parlier, Ca. SAM focuses on underserved youth.
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New Central Valley STEM Collaborative Forming |
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 A new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Collaborative is forming to further STEM learning in rural and underserved schools in the region.
Participants have included representatives from Central Valley Afterschool Foundation, Fresno County Office of Education, Educational Resource Consultants, California Teaching Fellows Foundation, California State University Fresno, and the Center for Advanced Research and Technology.
While still in the early stages of development, the group has been discussing ways to mobilize fun, hands-on learning opportunities for youth afterschool in such areas as robotics, agricultural education and water conservation.
Integrated STEM, where STEM learning is integrated into other classes--math learning in cooking classes or artistic science representation in arts classes, for example--is another opportunity to creatively infuse STEM into existing programs.
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Lawrence Hall of Science Program Makes Reading and Science Child's Play at Fresno Unified |
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 Children say, “It’s cool.” Afterschool staff is having fun learning too. Principals are impressed at how students are responding. What is all the fuss about? Ten thousand Fresno Unified School District elementary students cannot wait to dig into reading and science activities afterschool.
This year, Fresno Unified adapted the Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading curriculum for 58 elementary programs, addressing the need to provide additional expository reading and writing experiences afterschool.
The integrated science-literacy program was developed by leaders from the UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science, in partnership with the university’s Graduate School of Education. A National Science Foundation grant made the development of the research-based curriculum possible.
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The Arts Find an Innovative Place in STEM Learning |
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 STEM learning is critical. We get it now. Two presidents have declared its importance. Our nation’s modest global rankings are unacceptable. And we are working diligently to engage our youth in hands-on science, technology, engineering and math curriculum during school and afterschool.
Now STEM has picked up innovative “STEAM” by adding the arts. If one of the goals of STEM learning is to increase innovation in America, then it makes perfect sense to include design, artistic expression, storytelling, and multi-sensory appeal in the mix.
Using the arts to demonstrate science and math understanding is a brilliant way to increase student participation and engagement in STEM. Certainly, afterschool is uniquely positioned to champion this integrated STEM delivery system called STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math).
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Exciting advances are opening young minds to infinite possibilities in the way of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). And, afterschool programs throughout the Central Valley offer a distinct way of complementing regular school-day curriculum. One profound way programs across the nation are giving STEM learning a boost is through robotics programs–specifically through the For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology (FIRST) programs.
When Kent Delperdang from the Walmart Distribution Center in Porterville was asked by a CVAF volunteer if he would participate in the Canstruction® Competition and Exhibit, the answer was a resounding yes. 
