Crawford Grade 9 learners put their Steam skills to the test
LONEHILL – Acting principal at Crawford Lonehill Danielle Muller said that the continuing evolution from more traditional approaches towards a holistic interdisciplinary method such as Steam makes a lot of sense in a world facing a myriad of challenges and opportunities.
Grade 9 learners at Crawford College Lonehill have put their Steam (science, technology, engineering, liberal arts and mathematics) skills to the test over the past year, integrating the Steam disciplines into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications.
Acting principal at Crawford Lonehill, Danielle Muller explained that last year, the Grade 9 technology curriculum chose to pursue a Steam approach.
The 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals formed the basis of the learners’ projects. Muller explained that goals such as clean water and sanitation, no hunger, renewable energy, life below water etc. are meant to set the world on a path of peace, prosperity and opportunity for all on a healthy planet, preferably by 2030.
“Attention was given to developing the students’ IT skills, helping them to understand the design process and how to use a detailed rubric when tackling a brief,” explained Muller.
The 2020 Grade 9 learners were given a brief to create a machine that has at least two different ways of operating and has the potential to be of major benefit to the modern world.
Learners created a marketing poster for the exhibition of their invention as well as packaging for a target market. Muller said that the learners produced a detailed portfolio of work in keeping with the online nature of learning and a miniature prototype.
According to education writer Jeevan Vasagar, education is under pressure to respond to a changing world.
Muller explained, “As respective tasks are eroded by technology and outsourcing, the ability to solve novel problems has become increasingly vital.”
Muller said that the continuing evolution from more traditional approaches towards a holistic interdisciplinary method such as Steam makes a lot of sense in a world facing a myriad of challenges and opportunities. “We are delighted by the ability of the staff and students to adapt to the changing needs of education with enthusiasm and rigour,” concluded Muller.
