Science Education and Art Education: The Perfect Pair

A watercolor depiction of the 4-H Environmental Science Education Center, completed in 2008 (Wikipedia)

by Helen G Gibson

After years of touting the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) educational programs, many teachers are discovering that by adding an "A" - for ART - student learning will pick up STEAM!

This latest understanding of how students learn is changing science education by adding Art education back into the mix.

This integrated education approach is developing a proven track record and being incorporated into public, private and homeschool education.

At its inception, the STEM bill authorized over 150 million to help students earn a bachelor's degrees and teaching credentials. It also provided millions in additional money to help align kindergarten through grade 12 math and science curricula to better prepare students for college.

Now years later, people are asking questions like: Why are math and science viewed as standalone modalities? Why have so many schools dropped Arts education from their curriculum?

For too long, we have wrongly believed that Science and Art education were separate disciplines that demanded different teaching methods. However, now we know that Science and Art, as well as Math and Music are intrinsically related!

Educational researchers are recognizing that it is important to integrate all modalities into STEM lessons.

By broadly using an integrated education curriculum, students are able to see how science education is important to aspects of everyday life. Integrated education also affords the opportunity for real-world application of the math and science education knowledge.

The use of Art as the glue that bonds these modalities shows students how form and function are guiding principles. Art is not merely illustrative or decorative, but represents an essential part of the process of inquiry, such as problem finding, problem solving, and communication.

The fervor that propels people to excel at mathematics and science education or engineering and art education are driven by the same desire: the desire to discover the intricacies and beauty in one's world and chosen work.

Furthermore, Art is also integrated into technologies such as engineering in the "form and function" debate. Does form follow function or does function follow form? Either way the two are fundamentally linked.

Cars are a perfect example: From the Model-T Ford to the latest concept car, we have seen that the evolution of technology is as much about aesthetics (form) of the product as it is about functionality.

Many of the fundamental concepts of form and function are the same. Line, shape, color, structure/function relationships as well as perspective, patterning, and sequencing are the language of art and science education.

Students create "an artistic representation of their ideas and solutions is a valuable way to make learning personal. This allows for a clear understanding of the underpinnings of science principles and how these principles can be extrapolated to solve existing problems.

It has been proven that students who previously had difficulty in STEM classes are picking up STEAM quickly!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_G_Gibson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Science-Education-and-Art-Education:-The-Perfect-Pair&id=7966995

How to Stay Focused on Studying: One-Item-To-Do-List

Focus (Photo credit: Michael Dales)

by Mark Abella

Students continuously ask me how to stay focused on studying. The first step is to expect distractions.

Let's use this article for practice and act now before distractions appear.

Write on a piece of paper, "Finish focus article." Then write the date.

When you finish reading this article, draw a line through what you wrote and a check mark. Doing this exercise proves to yourself you can focus on studying.

If you haven't written down "Finish focus article" yet, do it now to get the full benefit of your time with me. We will return to this One-Item-To-Do-List towards the end of this article.

When we study something new, our focus is on something unfamiliar. This lack of familiarity makes us feel uncomfortable. When an area is unfamiliar and uncomfortable, we generally want to avoid that area. It's at that point we can make anything into a distraction. Seriously, anything.

For example, I was studying to take a test used for entrance into graduate programs (GMAT). It was getting late. I began rubbing my neck and noticed some facial hair. It didn't bother me before. While studying, it became an annoying distraction. "How is a man supposed to study with neck facial hair!" I could have shaved but then it would have just grown back. So I decided to stop studying and pull out the tweezers.

To further prove we can make anything into a distraction, go ahead and pick anything ("anything" referring to a person, place, or thing, that is real or imaginary). Now make it into a distraction.

If creating a distraction out of thin air was easy for you, don't worry most of us do it all the time to avoid areas that are different, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable like studying new subjects.

Now let's explore areas where people can focus well. These areas can give us clues on how to improve our focus while studying.

When my brother and I used to play video games, our eyes would turn red from staring at the screen for so long. When we closed out eyes, they would burn like sand paper. The trick is: don't blink.

Our grandpa would boil water and the pot would whistle, "Woot!" And it would keep whistling. It was literally 10 feet away from us. Once it whistled so long, it ran out of water.

So this is the extreme focus. We were so focused distractions didn't matter. This is the kind of concentration most would like have while studying (with more attention on health and safety than my brother and I).

Ever get into a trance state with where it's like the whole world disappears? It happens when you are watching good movie or lost in your favorite music (all you have is that moment).

This is a cool state to be in when you're doing something productive. Many feel this way when they are doing something they love.

Think back to the last time you were doing something productive and could say, "I could do this forever." You might have been totally passionate about that activity. Maybe nothing could faze you. Distractions came and then they went. They came and then they went and you kept on going.

All new areas begin as different, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable. With time and practice you may be able to reach a trance-like state in that area. With the right tools you can get there more quickly and easily.

The tool we used to practice our focus while you read this article is called the "One-Item-To-Do-List." You can pull that out now and draw a line through "Finish focus article." Congratulations!

If you read (or skimmed) this article online, distractions were just a click away. You were able to stay focused and finish. You exercised your focus muscles.

If you took action and wrote down that one to-do item, you did something different. That is also worth celebrating. To change the results in our lives, we have to do something different. Use this technique to help you concentrate and complete your next task.

If you would like more tips how to stay focused on studying, check out the study skills webinar. Get 5 proven game changing tips to help you get higher scores more quickly and easily at http://www.FastStudySkills.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Abella
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Stay-Focused-on-Studying:-One-Item-To-Do-List&id=7947756