STEM-A Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through Art

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STEM-AScience, Technology, Engineering and
Math through Art

• Jane Crayton
• http//stem-a.org

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Jane Crayton

• Artist, Inventor, Writer, Educator

STEM-A (Science Technology Engineering and Math
through Art) Founder http//stem-a.org RUST-E
(Radically Urban Sustainable Technology
Exploration) Founder, CEO http//rust-e.org
Dorkbot303 (People doing strange things with
electricity in Colorado) Founder Colorado
Chapter http//dorkbot.org/dorkbot303 Media
Production Consortium (University of Colorado
Student Group) President Live Interactive Dome
(Denver Museum of Nature and Science)  Catalyst,
Participant
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STEM-A Mission

• To facilitate growth and education in STEM-A
  (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
  through Art.)
•  
• STEM-A is a philosophy, and pedagogy style which
  implements experiential techniques of teaching
  art. STEM education is fostered by creating a
  space for students to explore and experiment in
  real-time learning situations, with hands on
  activities, that engage the student. Themes
  relating to culture, ethics and aesthetics are
  transformed into learning adventures in science,
  technology, engineering and math through art.

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Media Technology (vs) STEM
Gallup Poll (Oct.2004) on Teen Leisure Habits

• Math and science scores for 12th graders continue
  to decline, with less than 20 percent of high
  school graduates showing proficiency in science.
• A recent survey conducted by the Pew Internet
  American Life Project (Hitlin Rainie, 2005)
  found that roughly 21 million youth between the
  ages of 12 through 17approximately 87 percent of
  the entire age bracketuse the Internet.
• 45 of teens had a cell phone in 2004. Since that
  time, mobile phone use has climbed steadily among
  teens ages 12 to 17 to 63 in fall of 2006 to
  71 in early 2008.
• A new nationwide survey suggests that
  approximately 1 in 12 teens show signs of
  behavioral addiction to video games.
• In a recent study, the Los Angeles Times and
  Bloomberg found that nearly half of young teens
  ages 12 to 14 like to watch TV while they're
  doing homework, and almost 20 percent go online
  while hitting the books. Girls are more likely
  than boys to do other things during homework
  time, such as talking on the phone, watching a
  movie and text-messaging.

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Saturation Overload (ADT)
How can teachers compete with media and
technology entertainment?

• Studies are showing increasing rates of
  Attention Deficit type syndromes, for example
  technology is blamed for creating an epidemic of
  ADT (Attention Deficit Trait)
• Attention Deficit Trait (ADT) is this over
  stimulation and saturation which eventually
  creates this ADD like condition, where
  themulti-tasker is overwhelmed, and distracted
  by technology and all its nuances, As defined by
  wikipedia.

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Technology Gap

•  
• Recently reported by the American Electronics
  Association, "regrettably, the American K-12
  system is failing to provide the math and science
  skills necessary for kids to compete in the 21st
  century workforce, and the U.S. higher education
  system cannot produce enough scientists and
  engineers to support the growth of the high-tech
  industry that is so crucial to economic
  prosperity."

of Patents Filed
SOURCES Task Force on the Future of American
Innovation based on data from National Science
Foundation. Science andEngineering Indicators
2004, Appendix Table 6-11. Arlington APS Office
and Public Affairs. National Science Board.
Scienceand Engineering Indicators 2004. NSB
04-1. Arlington, VA National Science Foundation,
2004, Table 5-30.
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Consumers not Makers

• The National Science Board found that the United
  States is a net importer of high-technology
  products. Its trade balance in high-technology
  manufactured goods shifted from 54 billion in
  1990 to minus-50 billion in 2001.
• Are we too late to help America's teens reverse
  the sudden decline in scientific and technical
  leadership? 
• Will today's high school students be able to
  maintain the technological edge that has provided
  America's extraordinary standard of living? 
• Can they sustain the culture of innovation and
  scientific prowess that has given this nation the
  military and economic supremacy it has enjoyed
  for nearly a century?

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Inspiring youth in STEM

• Push the boundaries in technology exploration
• Help Students find a personal connection
• Ethics and Politics as a form of personal
  expression
• Allow for failure, and chaos
• Do it, hands on. DIY DIT
• Share, publish, twitter 

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STEM-A Classes

• Blogging "cyber tools"
• Circuit Bending
• Citrus and Circuits
• Digital Photography "art of techno-ecology"
• Digital/Eco Arts
• Flash animations for Video Mixing
• Live Broadcast Streaming
• Poetic Terrorism and Guerrilla Art
• Secrets of the Hive
• Theories in Video Mixing

Secrets of the Hive, provides practical
applications of STEM for youth, with emphasis on
ecological and biological sciences.  Sometimes
learning why not to fear, is the most valuable
lesson learned! Above Jane Crayton
(Instructor)Left Students from SOH 2009 at
Science Discovery.
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Lecture Series

• Blogging your digital identity
• Digital Narratives
• Ethical Technologist
• Poetic Terrorims and Guerrilla Art
• Re-appropriated Art and Collage
• STEM-A Philosophy in Pedagogy

"Experiential hands-on education is the key to
engaging students, especially today with media
saturation"     -Jane Crayton
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Why Arts to teach STEM?

• The creation of art helps to develop inventive
  behavior needed for RD in STEM.
• Art education helps students develop a personal
  connection, and an ethical relationship to their
  subject.
• Art allows the student an opportunity for
  failure, and the ability to practice technique in
  order to find success.
• Learning to understand art, teaches tolerance,
  and respect for cultural, religious, and even
  extreme thinking and creating.
• Arts allow the students to develop creative and
  unique identities and styles for thinking,
  living, learning and inventing.
• Balances the Gender Gap in STEM education,
  encouraging girls to learn traditionally "male
  subjects".

Students making paper with Sarah Chung at DAVA
for Citrus and Circuits Class.
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Digital Photography Art of "techno-ecology"
STEM-A Class Example 1
Students learn pratical skills in photography and
Photoshop, while creating narratives on
ecological ethics.
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STEM-A Class Example 2

• Students learn about the acidity of natural
  elements, alternative energy, and how to read,
  design and build simple electronics.

Students measure voltage of DIY lemon powered
batteries and build Lemon Powered LED Dream
Catchers
Citrus Circuits
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STEM-A Class Example 3
creative short-circuiting of electronic devices
such as low voltage, battery-powered
toys.   Hacked by experimental artists who aim to
re-appropriate lo-fi digital toys for electronic
manipulation, and use in live musical
performances.

• Circuit Bending, teaches practical skills in
  electronics. From soldering 1/4" audio jacks to
  reading multi-meters, students learn the basics
  of circuits, and the complex avante-guard
  concepts of circuit bending as an experimental
  electronic art.

Circuit Bending
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Circuit Bending Anti-theory/Hacking

• Phase 1 Introduction and Theory
• Participants will explore the anti-theory and
  practice of- History of circuit bending and
  re-appropriation of discarded electronic
  mediums- Technical aspects to circuit
  bending            Soldering (wires and
  connections on electronic boards)           
  Programming (chips and cards)           
  Engineering (how will it connect and be
  transmitted)- Resources for circuit bending-
  Circuit bending culture (Artists and
  perspectives)- Hacking your medium

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YouTube Videos as a tool for teaching art
concepts.
What is Circuit Bending?
Circuit Bending with Reed Ghazala
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Circuit Bending Gracefully altering the circuits
of your childhood

• Phase 2 Practical Experience
• Students find discarded electronic items from
  their childhood, in which to circuit bend.
  Working with the guide of the instructor they
  will seek to hack and reprogram their electronic
  device for use in a live demonstration or
  performance.
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• Body Bending
• Using exploratory tools
• Adding components
•     resistors
•     capacitors
•     potentiometers
•     knobs, sliders, switches
•  
•  

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Circuit Bending Performance Art

• Phase 3 Finishing Process and Perspectives
• An evaluation and feedback session will be held
  so participants can have an opportunity to
  improve in the future with regards to technique,
  skill, or style. A final performance of students
  playing their circuit bent instruments will
  complete the class.

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Special Thanks to our Partners, Supporters and
Affiliates
RUST-E