The Final Iteration of My Presentation

 After some more additions of pictures, videos my presentation is done. I have added a rubric and connections to standards at the end. My hope is to use this slide show or parts of it to introduce students and or teachers to STEAM projects we can do together.

I keep struggling with the idea of standards and parameters. I know for myself as a student I need some boundaries, but also the option to go beyond the proverbial box.  This question has been weighing heavily as I wrestle with it for my research project on creativity. Time is of the essence in a student's day and teachers have to justify how they spend every minute, so the idea of just tinkering and playing to see where you end up is a tough sell. Looking for teacher's willing to have a genius hour once a week in school where kids choose what they want to explore or a problem they want to solve is the best option I can come up with. There is of course potential to integrate STEAM into everyday learning in small ways that tap into this type of creative thinking. The carry over in how students approach problems and solving them is a lifelong lesson. I believe strongly in integrating with the arts as I have done this for years and now to have the STEAM component is just a logical addition.
Our students need to know how to read, write and know the importance of math skills, but unless we can connect these things to their real world we are on a road that keeps getting steeper and longer. Integrating when done well can connect all of these things at one time and still be meaningful for all content be covered. I see it as the only way we can meet the standards and demands of the future without turning our kids into standardized test taking zombies that only know one right answer!
Click here for a link to my final CML project. Full STEAM Ahead!