MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023, STEM AND STEAM

 MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023 STEM AND STEAM

In the 1950s, the United States faced the reality that the USSR (aka “Russia”) put a man into space. There was almost an instant rush to increase our math and science curriculum.  In the last two decades, there has been an effect to add or increase science, technology, engineering, and math (aka “STEM”).  

“In 2012, the United States National Research Council proposed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) as a new form of teaching K-12 science education, seeking to promote curricular integration between science, technology, engineering,”

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Years ago, there was research into left-brain and right-brain aspects.  The most recent view is that the left brain controls the right side of the body (so, as a right-handed person, my left brain is probably stronger.  The research suggests that left-brained people are stronger in logic, science, time, language, and mathematics.  And then the right brain is supposed to be stronger in creativity, arts, intuition, and imagination.  

The concept from the National Research Council was that encouraging integration across brain functions is positive.

Scenario:

Max is an introverted computer programmer.  He loves math and science.  He majored in computer science with a minor in math.  He likes to do Sudoku and Logic puzzles.  He is most likely a left-brain person.

June is a fiction writing author.  She loves being creative in her characters and plots.  She plays with a string quintet (as a cello player).  Her apartment has copies of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, and Renoir’s Afternoon Party of the Boaters.  She is most likely a right-brain person.

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The first approach was STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  In our world today, technology seemingly is the driver of innovation.  Computing seems to be at the bottom of more new developments - autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, databases, and even 5G communication.  Having a background in the sciences and math, then coupled with technology and engineering we can produce a lot of exciting and beneficial products and services for business.  

In order to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s, STEM became a priority.  The science of escaping Earth’s gravitational pull, getting into an orbit around the moon, and then being pulled down to the moon and land was significant.  But, maybe more significant was the science involved to launch off the moon, hook up with the spacecraft that was circling the moon, and then get back to the Earth.  (If we had to leave a man on the moon to die, that would have been unthinkable).

There were many technology steps, suborbital flights, flights around the Earth, unmanned spacecraft to the moon, and more.  How much thrust and lift was needed to escape Earth’s gravity?  

And, then engineering - precision engineering.  A disaster happened when a simple “O ring” failed on a mission because of the cold.  Murphy’s Law suggests that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.

And, science, technology, and engineering were based on a particular language - mathematics - including the binary mathematics of computers.

That was STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  

First, as a student, I learned math, science, and technology.  (I didn’t do any direct engineering).  Then I got to teach math.  

I liked math - so I was largely a left-brained individual.

I remember my first college math course, I knew it down cold.  I aced the tests and was the top student in the class.  Left-brained - logical skills.

But, someplace along the line, I picked up some (gasp) right-brain skills.

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My parents wanted me to be well-rounded.  In elementary school, I was in the church children’s choir and the school choir.  I took piano lessons, and by fifth grade started to play the trumpet (and in seventh grade, the tuba).  Throughout junior high school and high school, I was in both band and choir.  

I got active in plays and drama.  Thinking back I was still a little “stiff” in my acting - as a math/left-brain person might act out a part.  

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In college, I was a double major - with math as my first major and social science/history as my second major.  I also developed a strong left brain (technical and mathematical), but with some right brain balance (creativity, imagination).

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For the next two days, I’m going to look more at the left and right brain concepts - especially between STEM, and STEAM (basically STEM with artistic overtones).  I will take a detour on Thursday with Groundhog Day, and Friday with American Heart Association’s heart health issues. 

At times, having some balance has been a blessing, and at times, that right side of creativity has gotten in the way of the logical, mathematical left side!!!.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

LOVE IS A RIGHT BRAIN ACTIVITY

LOVE IS ALSO A LEFT-BRAIN ACTIVITY

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, JANUARY 30, 2023