STEAM Week Celebrated at Big Tech
Story by A’Reyon Cunningham. Photo by Tech Prep staff.
At Tech Prep, teachers and students recognized the week of April 26th as STEAM week. STEAM stands for, “Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.” Scholars participated in STEAM week by volunteering at the Annual Academy of Urban Ecology’s (AUE) clean up of Anacostia Park and marketplace preparation at Martha’s Table. Students also wore earth colors such as green on Earth Day, and planted new garden plants and food in the school outdoor garden. We recognize STEAM week because it gives students a new way of problem-solving, showing what they can do, and how they can be creative.
During the “Science” day, students spoke to a bone doctor, Dr. Otto Carl Wilson, who discussed possible solutions to bone diseases. During the “Technology and Engineering” day, students spoke to David L. Jackson, from the Digital Promise VILS Verizon Program, and learned how engineering majors structured their capstone projects to complete their engineering degrees. During the “Art” day, students heard a special presentation from Ms. Rouse about Music, Mentorship, and Technology Enrichment experts who showed them how to use new tech to create music for up and coming artists. And, finally for the “Math” day, students spoke to Mrs. Aneesah Williams, Branch Chief at the US Census Bureau who discussed necessary life skills that help us have a better understanding of math.
We interviewed Cherice Greene, the academy lead of Urban Ecology. She mentioned that she believes that the STEAM week was a huge success for scholars, because they were able to hear from professionals about why they need to learn content in schools and how it can be applied to real-world experiences. She also mentioned that she is proud of bringing professionals to meet the scholars that looked like, and had had some of the same experiences they did.
Overall, STEAM resulted in scholars meeting professionals who are in the STEAM field, and who helped them develop practical skills, to be used in their futures.
A’Reyon Cunningham is a freshman at Friendship Tech Prep High School.