STEAM Academy students collaborate in project-based learning.
Photo by Justin Bathon
skills to succeed in whatever endeavors they pursue.
A student who is engaged in sharpening life skills, not
just academic competence, while still in high school
is more likely to succeed in college and careers,”
said Dr. Justin Bathon, an associate professor in the
college’s Department of Educational Leadership
Studies and director of Innovative School Models.
Dr. Laurie Henry, associate professor of literacy in
the College of Education, was on the initial advisory
group for STEAM. She works with the STEAM
instructors to help with curriculum mapping and
designing project-based instruction for design
challenges the students will be doing.
“We’re really looking at how schools can be very
community based and help students understand the
community they’re learning in,” Henry said. “Having
students go out into the community and learn more
about the development projects going on, and
connecting that back to the curriculum in the school
is one of the big elements of this.”
UK College of Education Dean Mary John O’Hair
says the STEAM Academy accelerates learning and
opportunities not just for the students, but all entities
involved.
“From the UK perspective, it helps us connect
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Photo by Amanda Nelson
STEAM Academy students helped to welcome
new College of Education students during K-Week
(orientation week at UK) in August 2015.
the theory and practice that we talk about in our
classrooms to the real world. With the schools
and the community, it’s an opportunity for them
to have the latest research and turn that research
into innovation — into their daily practices and
into benefits for the community. It is rare to find a
university, school district and community working
together in this kind of collaboration.”