STEAM-Powered Learning

HOW CAN WE STOP OUR PLANET FROM WARMING? Address racial inequality? Bridge political divides? Stop deadly germs from circling the globe?

In 2019, Loyola launched a new STEAM learning initiative to help Ramblers think more broadly about the complex issues that the world’s citizens will be facing in the years ahead—and give them the skills and tools they’ll need to address some of the most pressing and intractable problems of our time.

The initiative began with the opening of a new STEAM lab made possible by a leadership gift from graduate parents Susanne M. and Timothy P. Sullivan; the construction of a STEAM makerspace for communal, hands-on, project-based learning; and the development of Introduction to Engineering Design, a new STEAM elective designed to encourage Ramblers to think like engineers as they develop engineering skills through problem-based learning.

What exactly is STEAM-powered learning? STEAM takes STEM learning to the next level by adding art to the mix. But the “A” in STEAM goes well beyond the visual and performing arts. Interpreted more broadly, it can include liberal arts subjects such as language arts and social studies, as well as disciplines at the intersection of art and technology, such as architecture, filmmaking and product design.

“STEAM, or cross-disciplinary, learning gives students a more holistic understanding of how the world works,” explains Loyola Academy Principal Charles W. Heintz. “It teaches students how to use the skills and processes gained through the study of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics to think deeply, ask questions and solve complex problems.”

In Fiscal 2020, we developed the STEAM courses on the opposite page to open up new opportunities for Ramblers to make connections across disciplines, think critically, work collaboratively, interpret data confidently, communicate effectively and solve problems creatively.

"STEAM, or cross-disciplinary, learning gives students a more holistic understanding of how the world works." Charles W. Heintz, Principal, Loyola Academy

Earth and Space Science

In this introduction to the earth systems that shape our daily lives and the science of the larger universe, Ramblers learn about topics such as the geological forces that shape the Earth, global climate change, the life and death of stars, the formation of the solar system and the Big Bang Theory as they collect and analyze data and consider the moral and environmental implications of sustainability and climate change.

Maker Technology

This project-based, hands-on course introduces students to the convergence of science, technology and creativity as they develop a working knowledge of the principles and practices of coding, mechanics and electronics; learn how to use solid modeling and 3D printing to create parts for their projects; and use engineering practices to design and build circuits and code microprocessors to create an interactive user experience.

Filmmaking

Over the course of a full year, Ramblers learn about the art and science of filmmaking as they delve into the history of filmmaking; learn how to tell stories on film; gain hands-on experience in preproduction, as well as editing, sound mixing and other postproduction tasks; and explore the science that makes nearly every aspect of filmmaking possible—from lighting design and acoustics to film-editing technologies. This collaboration between our fine arts and science departments culminates in a year-end film festival showcasing the cinematic talents of our student filmmakers.

Honors Anatomy and Physiology

In this in-depth exploration of the interactions of body systems, Ramblers will investigate the structures and functions of the human body, use models to illustrate body processes, build organs and tissues on a skeletal mannequin and experience science in action as they think like biomedical professionals to work through realworld medical cases.

Introduction to Robotics

Robots have become an essential part of 21st-century life, from the robots working alongside human employees at Amazon warehouses to robotic surgeries in hospitals to the robotic vacuums cleaning our homes. In this hands-on course, Ramblers engage in collaborative, projectbased learning as they learn how to use engineering and other STEAM practices—as well as basic coding skills—to build, control and program their own robots.

Digital Electronics

This course—which puts the “T” (technology) in STEAM—familiarizes Ramblers with the fundamental concepts of digital technology and logic that apply to computers, calculators and other digital electronic devices. Students learn about binary number systems, Boolean algebra, logic operations and logic gates—and then use this knowledge to build a progressively more complex series of devices culminating in the design of a single-digit calculator.

Forensic Science

Through experiential learning and hands-on investigations, students learn how to secure a crime scene, collect and analyze evidence, compare hair and fibers via microscopy, interpret blood-spatter patterns and formulate conclusions in a written police-report format. Throughout the course, Ramblers review convictions and exonerations involving forensic evidence and reflect on the social-justice impact of forensic science in the criminal justice system. At the end of the semester, our “forensic team” investigates a simulated crime scene.

Biotechnology

This laboratory-based course introduces students to genetic-based biotechnology concepts and laboratory skills. Through experiential learning and real, hands-on science, our budding biotechnologists gain an understanding of the content and lab work associated with human genetics, biotechnology and genetic engineering, as well as the bioethical issues raised by cloning, CRISPR, gene therapy, genetic testing, DNA identification and other procedures made possible by 21st-century advances in biotechnology.

Educating Innovation-Ready Ramblers

IN HIS BOOK, Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World, Learning Policy Institute Senior Research Fellow Tony Wagner states that every high school graduate in the 21st century should be “innovation ready”—prepared “to solve problems creatively or bring new possibilities to life.”

“Young people who are intrinsically motivated—curious, persistent and willing to take risks—will learn new knowledge and skills continuously,” writes Wagner. “They will be able to find new opportunities or create their own—a disposition that will be increasingly important as many traditional careers disappear.”

The mindset described by Wagner is at the heart of Entrepreneurship, a new social studies course developed in Fiscal 2020. Launched at the start of the 2020–21 academic year, the course examines the crucial role that entrepreneurship plays in creating a healthy economy, with a focus on business innovation, capital formation, business growth, vision and hard work. Guest speakers bring these concepts to life as they share their real-world entrepreneurial experiences, and Ramblers put their knowledge into action as they create business plans for entrepreneurial endeavors inspired by Loyola’s Jesuit values.