Gaining STEAM!
We embrace ideas for change and support novel approaches to nurture holistic development of children and youth from vulnerable backgrounds. This includes actively drawing upon research and observations to shape, test and refine approaches based on feedback.
We are excited to work with Playeum to pilot a series of STEAM workshops as an after-school developmental programme for children from lower-income families in collaboration with a primary school.
Quantedge Foundation has worked with Playeum and Clementi Primary School to run an after-school experiential and developmental programme, Gaining STEAM, for around 40 primary school children. Each run of the programme consists of 6 sessions of facilitated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (“STEAM”) workshops, coupled with time for unstructured play.
Through creative use of technology, the Gaining STEAM programme engages children from marginalised backgrounds through play and arts, making STEM concepts learnt in the classroom come alive. The children also have an opportunity to try their hand at coding and robotics, to develop skills that are essential in this digital age. In addition, the games, artistic expressions in the maker space and unstructured play at Playeum also enables the children to develop deeper 21st Century competencies, such as collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving, while building their self-confidence and resilience.
Detailed notes of the children’s progress during the 6 sessions were compiled by Playeum facilitators. These included observations on how they interacted with their peers and with the maker space, how they communicated their ideas and emotions, as well as other observations on their executive functioning. The insights gleaned were shared with the school for reference and used to refine the programme execution for future runs.
Through creative use of technology, the Gaining STEAM programme engages children from marginalised backgrounds through play and arts, making STEM concepts learnt in the classroom come alive. The children also have an opportunity to try their hand at coding and robotics, to develop skills that are essential in this digital age. In addition, the games, artistic expressions in the maker space and unstructured play at Playeum also enables the children to develop deeper 21st Century competencies, such as collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving, while building their self-confidence and resilience.
Detailed notes of the children’s progress during the 6 sessions were compiled by Playeum facilitators. These included observations on how they interacted with their peers and with the maker space, how they communicated their ideas and emotions, as well as other observations on their executive functioning. The insights gleaned were shared with the school for reference and used to refine the programme execution for future runs.
Outcomes:
Based on pre-/post-surveys completed by the children and in-depth observations by programme facilitators, the children have an increased interest in STEAM domains and shown improvements in their social and emotional learning skills. School teachers have also observed improvements in the children’s behaviours and motivation at school.
To sustain the impact of the programme, Clementi Primary School plans to follow-through with similar activities in school and will be setting up a maker space where students from the Gaining STEAM programme will have an opportunity to play an active role as playmakers and facilitators. Playeum has also given the school teachers resource recommendations to support similar activities back in school.
Based on pre-/post-surveys completed by the children and in-depth observations by programme facilitators, the children have an increased interest in STEAM domains and shown improvements in their social and emotional learning skills. School teachers have also observed improvements in the children’s behaviours and motivation at school.
To sustain the impact of the programme, Clementi Primary School plans to follow-through with similar activities in school and will be setting up a maker space where students from the Gaining STEAM programme will have an opportunity to play an active role as playmakers and facilitators. Playeum has also given the school teachers resource recommendations to support similar activities back in school.
