Educators across the world are thinking S.T.E.A.M…. with the “Arts” playing a critical role. Traditionally the trendy S.T.E.M. catch phrase has represented the academic areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Recent studies have led educators nationwide to the conclusion that it is crucial to provide our students with an interdisciplinary education that brings the arts and sciences together, especially at an early age. And so the term S.T.E.A.M. has become the latest educational focus. The concept of S.T.E.A.M. (and not just S.T.E.M.) is becoming a household catch phrase, as more parents and educators are learning the importance of nurturing both sides of the brain, and creating the critical-thinking skills our youth will need in their economy.
Problem-solving seems to have a new definition, as students are encouraged to look at a problem through different perspectives and find a solution through varying means. Parents across the country have expressed agreement that our students understanding the growing “creative and innovative” economy represents America’s future.
The abundance of S.T.E.A.M. Summer Camps being offered by early adopters also signals an increased role for the Arts in education and an opportunity for cutting-edge educational companies like Omega Learning® Center to lead its competitors in this educational trend! It is apparent that our students are challenged with a rapidly developing world of technology and in order for American students to stay competitive in a global environment; S.T.E.A.M. skills will certainly need to be strengthened. More and more teachers are promoting project-based learning as the norm, as opposed to the “exception” and so the S.T.E.A.M. camp idea becomes a great place to start.
The numerous types of S.T.E.A.M. summer camps represent a totally new approach to learning this curriculum. “K-12 education is being reinvented through the integration of sciences and arts, creating a stronger, more intuitive foundation for our students,” says Kimberly Smith, Omega Learning® Center Co-Founder and CEO. With tutoring centers across the US, Omega Learning® Center partners with 5-15 public and private schools per franchise territory and sees first-hand the challenges facing our schools, teachers, students and communities. “Today, students need to think more creatively, express themselves with confidence, and understand the real-world application of the math and reading concepts they are learning in school,” Kimberly Smith continues.
Omega Learning® Center is launching S.T.E.A.M. Summer Camps in 2018 to help students jump start their education for the school year. Omega’s summer S.T.E.A.M. Camps will provide fun, hands-on learning activities in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Students will develop new skills, expand creative thinking, foster team building, and meet new friends. In Omega’s AdvancED® accredited learning environment summer camp students benefit from small-group instruction led by certified teachers.
Depending on the student’s grade in school, activities may include Math Games, Hands-On Science Activities, Art Projects, Speech/Presentation, Creative Problem Solving, as well as learning about Robotics and Computer Technology. Omega campers are divided into like-minded grade clusters to better tailor activities, instruction, and curriculum content for a more engaging and fun experience! And upon completion, each student will be presented with a certificate for the successful completion of the Omega Learning® Center S.T.E.A.M. Summer Camp, building confidence for a lifetime of success! Visit OmegaLearning.com to find a center near you.
We need S.T.E.A.M. based education. S.T.E.A.M.-based education explores emerging concepts like “divergent thinking skills” and “intuitive instructional plans.” Both terms promote more creativity from both teacher and student. Environments that promote such learning include tutoring centers, small-group classrooms, hybrid schools, and academic camps. It is believed by many that our global competitive edge and our ability to solve real world problems will emerge from the proficiency of our students in developing these S.T.E.A.M.-based skills.
Omega Learning® Center believes this “different” way of teaching and learning is an inherent part of the company’s mission statement, “to provide customized instruction that achieves each family’s educational goals.” Leading this educational trend since 2005, Omega Learning Center has promoted curriculum that is enrichment-based, the instructional materials that are multi-sensory, educational programs that develop intuitively, and progress that can be measured. “A child’s experience is limited, yet their abilities are vast,” says Kimberly Smith. “At Omega Learning® Center students thrive when they are given the tools and encouragement to think creatively. When you combine that with the fact that our tutors are provided the flexibility to creative an intuitive instructional path the possibilities are limitless.”
“A modern education is rigorous, but takes the “whole” student into context in development. A student may simultaneously, as opposed to solely, be a scholar, athlete, artist, and public speaker,” Kimberly Smith adds. “In addition to seeing a trend towards project-based learning in public schools, the problems themselves are beginning to revolve around the context of S.T.EA.M. to provide a broader, more meaningful learning experience.” Omega Learning® Center is AdvancED accredited nationwide and provides tutoring and test preparation for grades K-12. To find a center near you, visit OmegaLearning.com.