The building blocks for a successful STEAM camp: How to utilize learning blocks to make engagement happen (evaluation)

Abstract

The challenge to setting up the first STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) camp can be very daunting to newcomers to the game; you know what you want to teach and even the learning outcomes but you're having a huge challenge in how to formalize that into an actual agenda, schedule, camp, or even a single class. These are all questions that we had when we went to setup our first camp called Tech-E. From that setup experience and with refinement we have created a more formal process in which you merely string together what we call learning blocks to create a simple formula to setup STEAM camps. This same strategy can be utilized to setup classes in a more formal K-12 classroom setting as well. We will look at how the concept of learning blocks was created, refined, and utilized in our most recent two Tech-E camps. We discuss a hands-on approach and how project-based learning (PBL) takes the center stage in this strategy. We assert that building a camp or even a lesson plan from learning blocks creates a totally immersive and engaging environment for the learner and makes it much more plug-and-play for the designer/instructor. Our paper will also focus on implementing these learning blocks in a K-12 mixed environment (all grade levels, male and female participants) versus a much more homogenous cohort (all high school, all female) type of camp. A showcase of student products (from reflective pieces to actual creations) will be discussed along with how "check-ins" are built into the learning block challenges; the latter as a means to embed assessment into the project workflows dynamically and strategically without obstruction to achievement and/or engagement.