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Why 21st Century Learning Must Go Beyond STEAM

5/18/2017

 
As the workplace has evolved, the skills kids need to succeed have changed as well. It’s no longer enough for students to just learn about science, technology, engineering and math—they must also have the ability to think creatively and adapt their thinking to a fast-changing world.
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Today, educators talk about STEAM education, which includes teaching children about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. At Whitby School, however, we believe that education needs to go beyond STEAM to truly prepare students to succeed in the 21st century.

First, What is STEAM?

Originally known as “STEM,” this educational acronym sprang into wide usage around 2010, when President Obama prioritized educational initiatives designed to help educate a rising class of students to meet the increasing need for professionals in the sciences and mathematics fields.
The concept of STEAM arose in 2012 when the Rhode Island School of Design began championing “innovation that comes with combining the mind of a scientist or technologist with that of an artist or designer.”

STEM by itself is extremely powerful. Its scale is amazing. But that alone doesn’t create warmth and humanity and connection. For instance, a thing like an MP3 Player is a STEM technology. But until Apple came along, it didn’t become desirable. It was a STEAM technology that made it a part of our everyday lives.
- John Maeda, President, Rhode Island School of Design

Today schools talk about the importance of STEAM in helping prepare students to be the innovators and entrepreneurs of the future—but we argue that it’s not enough.

Why Schools Must Go Beyond STEAM​

At Whitby, we believe that it’s important to prepare students to thrive in the real world. We want to help students become lifelong learners, critical thinkers, action-takers and global citizens. To do that, we believe that education must be broad, balanced and relevant to a student’s life.
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At Whitby, STEAM is not a new idea. The IB program emphasizes teaching students to become knowledgeable across a range of disciplines. And the Montessori education has long taught the value of art in helping students learn to think in creative ways.

Yet we also believe STEAM is not enough—especially since it doesn’t include critical subjects such as English and the humanities. Nor do schools teaching STEAM always tie those subjects together in a way that helps students amplify their knowledge by understanding how it applies to the real world.

21st Century Learning Is Transdisciplinary

Instead of approaching STEAM areas as separate subjects, we believe it’s important for students to discover how different disciplines interweave in the real world. For example, instead of just exploring the science of weather, we want students to learn how data is collected, practice interpreting the data and discover how to make weather predictions based on actual data. Those exercises turn a science unit into something that is bigger than data collection.
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As another example, we also look for opportunities to bring subjects together. Two years ago, we had a farmer come in as a guest speaker during a plant science unit. He talked about how understanding plant science helped him make the right decisions as a small business owner. It was a chance for students to see how the ideas from their economics and plant science units came together in the running of a farm.

By using this transdisciplinary approach, our educators mimic the experience of being in the real world. When students engage in different disciplines simultaneously, they learn to look at issues from a variety of different perspectives. This approach prepares students for the true challenges of our increasingly complex world.

How We Go Beyond STEAM at Whitby

Our focus on interconnectedness between subject areas begins in Whitby's private elementary school. During the six different units of inquiry, Lower School students create opportunities for students to make meaningful connections between science, social studies, language, mathematics, PE and the arts.

In our private middle school, educators come together as grade level teams in a Teacher Work Week every fall and continue these conversations throughout the year. Every Upper School subject shares their Year in a Glance curriculum and then the teachers brainstorm ideas for interdisciplinary learning opportunities.

Recently our Lower School students had a unit of inquiry focused on how cultures use performance and light to tell stories. To help students learn, their teacher collaborated with our physical education teacher to challenge students to tell a story through creating a dance. Students not only learned storytelling, they discovered how to use light and movement to create patterns and how to use their bodies to create a desired visual effect. Learn more about this project on the IBO blog.

Our sixth grade students completed a unit on sound that connected both science and music. Instead of just learning about sound conceptually, students were challenged to create and play their own instruments. This hands-on experiment helped them learn how sound is made and how an instrument’s shape can change the pitch of a sound. At the end of the unit, they presented their instruments to the class and explained the choices they made to create their desired sound.
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​In eighth grade, we use a transdisciplinary unit to help prepare students for the secondary school admissions process. Instead of just Whitby counsellors teaching students to how to do admissions interviews, a team of teachers helped students understand
what it takes to interview well. In English class, students studied the power of the spoken word by discussing famous speeches and podcasts. Meanwhile in their theatre class, eighth graders learned how to hold their body and use their voices confidently. Then students bring it all together by creating a podcast where they practice speaking their beliefs. As a result, when students head off to their interviews, they feel confident that they’ll be able to do a good job.

Learning for the Real World

The recent push to have students learn about art in addition to technical subjects is a step in the right direction—but it’s not enough. Students not only need to learn creativity, they need to learn how everything they study is connected. After all, no one subject exists in a vacuum in the real world.

For true 21st century learning, it’s important for educators to teach students to hold multiple ideas and perspective at once, and encourage students to develop knowledge and understanding about real life issues through a variety of lenses.

To learn more about how Whitby prepares students for the future by helping them build bridges from one subject area to another, schedule a tour of our International Baccalaureate and Montessori school.

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This Mother's Day I am Celebrating Thanksgiving

5/13/2017

 
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Mother's Day is a wonderful way to honor all of the mothers who tirelessly put everyone else first. Mothers teach us, care for us, listen to us, dry our tears, talk us up and love us unconditionally. But what is the true meaning behind Mother's Day and how can you enjoy it as a mom yourself? Is it to have a "day off"? A day of indulgence? A day all about you? A day with your children? A day with your mother? A day helping others?

Some of us are faced with disappointing circumstances that can make the day stressful or emotionally charged. Desperately wanting to be with your own mom but you can't. Experiencing a difficult time with your spouse or other family member. Being forced into doing something that is not what you wanted to do that day. Not having the means to celebrate the way you would like. High expectations that simply are not met.
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We all can shift focus and remember what this day is really all about and spend it simply feeling thankful (not that a massage and flowers aren't a well-deserved, great thing). This year I am celebrating Thanksgiving (sans the turkey and the sides). My favorite holiday, Thanksgiving is a time of small expectations, indulgence, absent of religion. It is all about appreciation and being thankful.

What am I thankful for? 
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I am thankful to be a mother. We are part of an elite group. It's nothing to take lightly. Not everyone has the privilege. For those of us who had a hard time getting pregnant I wanted to share with you one of my favorite moments as a humble reminder of how extraordinarily lucky we are to have children. As most of us probably know, Beyoncé famously went through an emotional struggle to become pregnant and revealed in her HBO documentary, "Life Is But A Dream," that she suffered a miscarriage. She revealed that was pregnant for the first time live on the VMAs in 2011 by singing her heart out to the "Love growing inside of her." Six years later she is now pregnant with twins.
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I am thankful for my children. Who drive me crazy at times and seem to never not need me and only me. I am thankful for their giggles and hugs. I am thankful that they earned me the position of "Best Mom in the World." And I am thankful that they are finally reaching an age where they can make something for me that I can keep for eternity (a flowerpot this year).  I am so fortunate to have them. Sometimes I wake up exhausted from the roller coaster ride of #moming it and I listen to this song and it reminds me of how wonderful it is that they are here.
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I am thankful for my family. After several years as a stay-at-home mom I decided to go back to work. It was a tough decision and one that I am so grateful for. The incredible challenge of getting my young children up, dressed, fed and transported to where they need to go each morning and make it to work can be overwhelming at times. Not to mention the reverse with getting dinner on the table, bath, bed after a full day at work. I am thankful for the support of my husband who always has my back, is my partner in crime and goes the extra mile when I need it. I am thankful for my parents, siblings, in-laws, cousins and entire extended family for being there and making our family strong. 
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I am thankful for my mom tribe. The moms who listen, tell you how to get through whatever it is that day you need to get through, who get it, who make you laugh, who make you realize you are not alone in this crazy thing they call motherhood. These women can make all of the difference. They are your support system, your sounding board, your social life and your lifeboat.  They make you laugh, they tell you about things like the "NoseFrida" that can pretty much change your life. They pick up your kids when you are running late, they give you a place to stay when you need one and are the perfect companion at any mom class, establishment or event. They are geniuses, superheroes and everything in between. 
I am thankful for my mother. For being there throughout my life no matter what. For always listening to me. For being there for my children. For saving all of the things I made growing up. For giving me the incredible opportunities I received. For teaching me well. For helping me grow into the woman and mother I have become. For celebrating holidays and special occasions with me. For letting me say whatever I want and never judging me. For being an amazing grandmother. Until I became a mother myself I could not fully appreciate and understand what you have done for me and continue to do for me.

This Mother's Day be thankful. Dance with your children (might I suggest the Trolls soundtrack). Hug them tight. Love your family, your mom tribe, your friends, your world. Don't take it for granted. Drop the expectations and be thankful for all of the wonderful things being a mother means. 

Need some more ideas? Check out what these moms are thankful for.

Wishing all the moms, step moms, foster moms, single moms, first time moms, expecting moms, grandmothers, mother in-laws, nannies, babysitters and anyone else who #momsit a Happy Mother's Day. This is your day, be thankful!
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iPic Multiplex Theater Grand Opening, Dobbs Ferry May 5th

5/1/2017

 
     
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Get excited because a totally new movie experience is coming to Westchester this week! Lay back, dine-in, drink up and enjoy the show!

iPic Theaters, the nation’s fastest-growing affordable luxury movie-going experience is opening at Rivertowns Square, Dobbs Ferry. The Grand opening week takes place Friday, May 5th through Thursday, May 11th. 

iPic is different than other theaters. Boasting impressive amenities such as reserved, luxurious, reclining seats with table service, a full bar and restaurant, this is not your typical movie experience. Depending on your ticket choice, you can have food delivered to your seat or dine before or after the movie at the restaurant. Or just indulge in your choice of wine, beer or cocktails from the bar. It's perfect for date night or a fun afternoon with the kids (sans the cocktails!). iPic Entertainment’s mission is to provide visionary night-out entertainment escapes, presenting high-quality, chef-driven culinary and mixology in unique destinations that include premium movie theaters, restaurants and lounges.

The eight-screen, 580-seat theater's opening movie lineup will include Guardians of the Galaxy 2, The Circle, Fate of the Furious and Boss Baby. Tickets are available for purchase at www.iPic.com or through the iPic app. 

Introductory Offer

As part of the Grand Opening, iPic is offering one FREE Premium movie ticket and FREE 3 months’ introductory access to iPic’s acclaimed Sapphire membership program. Offer expires May 10, 2017. Details include:
  • Free 3-month access into iPic’s $29/yearly Sapphire level membership
  • (1) free iPic Premium movie ticket valid for use 7 days a week at iPic Dobb’s Ferry for films playing on 5/11/17 through 6/28/17
  • Priority ticket purchases throughout the year
  • (1) free Premium ticket on your birthday
  • Free dessert on your anniversary
  • Exclusive member perks and benefits
  • Earn points on all tickets, food, and non-alcoholic beverages redeemable for free tickets
Sign Up
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Experience it for yourself!
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iPic Dobbs Ferry at Rivertowns Square
1 Livingstone Ave., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

(914) 348-7002

iPictheaters.com

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