STREAM educates students for their future.
The idea of emphasizing the subject areas of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math has been driven by the business community to prepare a more agile, educated workforce for our country's future. However, in recent years, it has been increasingly evident that our economy is truly driven by innovation and the creativity and communication nurtured through the "Arts" is an essential component to innovation and worthy of emphasis as well. Rooted in our faith as Catholic schools, "Religion" is woven throughout all subjects and completes the picture for a holistic approach to education. STREAM schools use an interdisciplinary approach to bridge subject areas. It is important to note that that STREAM Education is not a new curriculum, but a philosophical framework for delivering excellence in Catholic education for 21st century learners!
STREAM Education makes learning relevant.
STREAM Education allows academic concepts to be coupled with increased real life application in all the disciplines. Students become involved in hands-on projects where problem solving, collaboration, and the results of their efforts make lessons more relevant than a textbook alone. Increased technology to enhance learning is emphasized, and career connections as well as exposure to working professionals further relates students to their own learning and their futures! It helps answer the "Why are we learning this?" question.
STREAM Education emphasizes interdisciplinary connections.
STREAM intentionally connects disciplines to drive instruction. In the real world, content knowledge is interwoven, layered and sophisticated, not experienced in isolation. STREAM Education promotes the coordination of topics around central themes, and encourages the exploration of concepts in relation to one another. While disciplines are essential, STREAM asks where does my subject area blend with yours. This framework promotes deeper understanding and the transference of knowledge outside specific disciplines.
It takes a village.
STREAM Education recognizes that not only are we are to prepare young people for their future, but for the strong economic future found in our own backyard. It empowers local diocesan schools to target an increase in 21st century education resources by creating partnerships with local businesses. Authentic educational opportunities and platforms for learning about areas rich with career opportunities spanning all STREAM disciplines will be sought within our community businesses, academic institutions, and cultural centers.