Full STEAM ahead for St George's School in Whanganui as curriculum updated

St George's School has updated its curriculum with STEM and STEAM and has already got stuck into it with a seed dispersal task. Photo / File

STEM and STEAM have come to St George's School in Whanganui, as part of an updated curriculum for all years in 2018.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEAM stands for the aforementioned subjects as well as art.

The programmes teach students to think critically, using engineering or technology in creative ways to solve real-world problems.

Recently, the students were tasked with creating a mechanism for dispersing seeds, which in their scenario were represented by ping pong balls.

They learned about the lifecycle of a plant and different methods of seed dispersal such as wind, burr attachment and explosion.

The students spent the rest of the lesson working individually or in teams designing and building a method for dispersing their seed.

St George's deputy head Sam Michau said every student was engaged in lessons like this.

"The problem-solving, collaboration and practical skills involved mean each individual can contribute something to the outcome," she said.

"I am always impressed by the creativity and resourcefulness of the students."

Evidence-based research supports the approach STEM and STEAM take to learning.

The learning in these lessons can be complex and it gets the learner questioning and reflecting at a higher level.

Just as important, the lessons are fun, engaging and support deep thinking, discovery and lots of great discussion.

"With our seed dispersal task, natural designs inspired some really innovative ways to use the limited range of materials available," Michau said.

"The students just think they are having fun and flinging ping-pong balls across the room, whereas, in fact, they are applying their learning in a real-life context."