You don’t need a special space or time to do this, either. You can transform any classroom into a studio/lab
environment, simply by reframing how you think about teaching skills and processes of your content area. So
whether you are teaching an arts lesson, a reading lesson or a science lesson, this approach will highlight the
essential processes of both creativity and analysis.
How to set up a studio/lab environment in your class:
Studio Time.
Select the specific skills/processes/techniques you want your students to use. Set aside time during your class for
students to explore these elements without fear of failure. This is the time to take risks and see what happens.
Students will learn from their failures and are encouraged to keep trying and modifying until they reach a level of
success.
Transition.
Build in time to switch over to the lab environment. Provide students with a specific problem or question and ask
them to think about how they might use the skills/techniques they just learned to help develop a solution or new
solution to the problem/question.
Lab Time.
This is a time when students can work alone or with others to merge their ideas with their skills/techniques and
apply it to the problem/question you have set up. Once they develop a proposed solution, they can present it to
their peers, receive feedback and revise their original idea to make it better.
You can embed Studio/Lab time in any class, at any time. As with most other integration strategies, I always
recommend that you start small. Try it with one class or for a specific period of time. Reflect on what works for
your students and modify it to fit your needs. You’re an artist after all!
Susan M. Riley is an arts integration specialist and founder of EducationCloset.com, a leading
online resource for Arts Integration and STEAM. Susan has been featured in over 20 publications,
numerous conferences and events. She is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider
University and holds a Master of Science in Education Administration and Supervision from
McDaniel College. Her latest book, No Permission Required: Bringing STEAM to Life in K-12
Schools, is a top-rated resource on STEAM education. You can contact Susan at
[email protected] or reach her on Twitter @susanrileyphoto.
STEAMed Magazine
50
October 2016 Edition