Since 2007 I have followed CORE Education's research and innovation 'Ten Trends'
"Each year, CORE Education’s experienced staff of researchers, educators, and digital technology experts pool their expertise and combine their understanding and evidence of the ways that digital technologies are influencing all aspects of education. The result is CORE’s list of the ten trends that are expected to make a growing impact upon education in New Zealand in the coming year."
I will use the 2018 Ten Trends model to direct and support my reflection.
Step 2 (So What): As stated within the Ten Trends resource "The critical thing about STEM education is that it is intended to be an interdisciplinary curriculum. Rather than teach these four disciplines as separate and discrete subjects, STEM integrates into “interdependent” learning units based on real-world applications". In a Makerspace the lines often blur within a challenge station, for example I run 4 or 5 challenge stations in every session, where the students choose their station but rather than these just being standalone Science, Technology, Engineering, Art or Maths, they may in fact be a Science station with an Art infusion or an Engineering station where building and mathematics play an integral role.
See below for an example of a Science experiment adapted to produce stunning pieces of Art that while producing, students not only learnt the concept of 'change and reaction' but also took it to another level by gaining an awareness and understanding that art is a process of exploring ideas and using a variety of skills, techniques and media while persevering to create a quality finished product for an audience to appreciate.
http://www.takpmakerspace.co.nz/blog
The newly introduced Digital Technologies Curriculum (2017) will go someway to addressing the infusion of technology into the classroom but I believe this still needs to be adapted to address this trend. It is important that educators in New Zealand working with and in environments fostering STEM and STEAM share their knowledge, experiences and resources to better equip our own teachers and as a result better prepare our students for their futures.
References
Core Education. Ten Trends 2018. Retrieved 11 March, 2018. http://core-ed.org/research-and-innovation/ten-trends/2017/
Fraser, D., & Deane, P. (2010). Making a difference: Agents of change through curriculum integration. set: Research Information for Teachers, 3, 10–14.
Jamieson, P. (2017). Whare Waihanga - Makerspace. Website http://www.takpmakerspace.co.nz/blog
Minstry of Education. (2017). Digital Technologies. Retrieved 11 March, 2018. https://education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Ministry/consultations/DT-consultation/DTCP1701-Digital-Technologies-Hangarau-Matihiko-ENG.pdf
Roffey, Sverko and Therien (2016). The Making of a Makerspace: Pedagogical and Physical Transformations of teaching and Learning. Retrieved, 4 February, 2018. http://www.makerspaceforeducation.com/uploads/4/1/6/4/41640463/makerspace_for_education_curriculum_guide.pdf
Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) Critical Reflection Model. Retrieved from: https://my.cumbria.ac.uk/media/MyCumbria/Documents/ReflectiveModelRolfe.pdf