Middletown school becomes second school in R.I. to complete training through RWU’s Center for Workforce and Professional Development

Fitzpatrick, Edward

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Roger Williams UniversityDOCS@RWUFeatured News Story The Week at Roger3-19-2018RWU School of Continuing Studies Recognizes AllSaints Academy as a STEAM AcademyEdward FitzpatrickRoger Williams UniversityFollow this and additional works at: https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_newsPart of the Higher Education Commons, and the Online and Distance Education CommonsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the The Week at Roger at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in FeaturedNews Story by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact mwu@rwu.edu.Recommended CitationFitzpatrick, Edward, "RWU School of Continuing Studies Recognizes All Saints Academy as a STEAM Academy" (2018). FeaturedNews Story. 94.https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_news/946/14/2018 RWU School of Continuing Studies Recognizes All Saints Academy as a STEAM Academy   | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/rwu-school-continuing-studies-recognizes-all-saints-academy-steam-academy 1/3 News ArchiveRWU School of Continuing Studies Recognizes AllSaints Academy as a STEAM Academy  Middletown school becomes second school in R.I. to complete training through RWU’sCenter for Workforce and Professional DevelopmentAll Saints Academy Principal Anita Brouse speaks fromthe podium during the announcement that the schoolhas been recognized as a STEAM Academy by RWU'sCenter for Workforce and Professional Development.Image Credit: (Mariela O'Neill/Roger WilliamsUniversity)March 19, 2018 Edward FitzpatrickMIDDLETOWN, R.I.  – The Roger Williams University School of Continuing Studies on March 15 recognized All SaintsAcademy, a Catholic school based in Middletown, R.I., as a STEAM Academy.STEAM is an initiative that incorporates the arts (the “A” in STEAM) into STEM (science, technology, engineering andmathematics) curriculum, instruction and assessment. The concept of STEAM has gained momentum in recent yearsin an e ort to boost student achievement in the STEM subjects through greater use of creative and higher-orderthinking activities.All Saints Academy represents just the second school in Rhode Island to be recognized as a STEAM Academy basedon training completed through the Center for the Workforce and Professional Development at RWU’s School ofContinuing Studies. The  rst was St. Thomas Regional School, in Providence.The process re ects the e orts of teachers, curriculum specialists and school administrators to create a set ofstandards for STEAM academies and to endorse a professional development program that prepares teachers todirect and supervise STEAM classroom instruction.Tom Pilecki, a RWU School of Continuing Studies instructor who co-authored a book titled “From STEM to STEAM,”explained that a national focus on STEM subjects failed to produce better test results. “What was missing from STEMwas creativity,” he said. “They were buying more math books but not teaching teachers how to teach creatively andhow to get students engaged.”6/14/2018 RWU School of Continuing Studies Recognizes All Saints Academy as a STEAM Academy   | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/rwu-school-continuing-studies-recognizes-all-saints-academy-steam-academy 2/3So now arts integration is providing the missing element, Pilecki said.“I have always felt kids need the arts to be creative,” he said. “The process of creating art teaches kids innately to havestick-to-it-tiveness; they are going to do it until they get it right. If we get kids to be creative and investigative, we aregoing to have creative scientists and engineers, who need to have more than one way to do what they need to do.”RWU President Donald J. Farish said, “Weaving art into STEM is a way to nurture curiosity in science and engineering.Both science and art involve hands-on learning, and most kids bene t from hands-on learning – rather than talkabout, you do it. The larger point is instituting experiential learning in elementary schools.”“It is a great day for All Saints STEAM Academy!” Principal Anita Brouse said. “Our recognition as a STEAM academymarks us as leading the way in education. And we are!”Brouse said the school strives to do three things: Imagine the design, dream the innovation and launch throughfabrication. “We do this every day when we observe our world, ask questions about problems, experiment and try to nd solutions,” she said. “Right now, our robotics team is presenting their innovation idea with teams around theworld that will provide clean water at a faster rate for people who need it a er storms. We are making the best of ourSTEAM education!”Pilecki said the RWU School of Continuing Studies has begun working on STEAM standards and training with schoolsin the Pawtucket school district. Any interested schools may contact Dawne Pezzuco, director of RWU’s Center forWorkforce and Professional Development, at dpezzuco@rwu.edu.SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIESShare This: REQUEST INFO VISIT CAMPUS APPLY MAKE A GIFTMap & DirectionsContact UsDirectoryNrwu.eduUndergraduate SiteGraduate SiteOne Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 028091-800-458-71446/14/2018 RWU School of Continuing Studies Recognizes All Saints Academy as a STEAM Academy   | Roger Williams Universityhttps://www.rwu.edu/news/news-archive/rwu-school-continuing-studies-recognizes-all-saints-academy-steam-academy 3/3NewsEventsAthleticsSchool of LawSchool of Continuing Studies    © 2018 Roger Williams University. All rights reserved.GMAIL AT RWU BRIDGES MY RWU IT HELP SITE POLICIES WORK AT RWU

RWU School of Continuing Studies Recognizes All Saints Academy as a STEAM Academy

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RWU School of Continuing Studies Recognizes All Saints Academy as a STEAM Academy

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