By Joëlle Walls
Published in GoSTEAM's A Program in Review 2018-2024
GoSTEAM, a multidimensional, school-based initiative, began as a seed of an idea and has grown into a sustainable model that empowers teachers through collaborative thinking spaces in STEAM.
“GoSTEAM has transformed the way we approach education by integrating the arts into STEM subjects, creating a more holistic and engaging learning experience for students,” said CEISMC Program Director Sabrina Grossman. “This initiative has not only empowered teachers with innovative tools and collaborative spaces but has also paved the way for a future where education is more inclusive, dynamic, and reflective of real-world challenges.”
The GoSTEAM model was developed around having an innovation team set up at each school. The team includes technology and/or STEM teachers interacting with art and/or music teachers to create STEAM-focused projects using a project-based learning framework. CEISMC staff serve as coaches who check in on a recurring basis, but the linchpin to the implementation of plans comes from part-time innovators-in-residence, local community members or Georgia Tech students with STEAM backgrounds.
In six years, GoSTEAM impacted 13 schools in three school districts, involving 70 teachers and more than 5,000 K-12 students. Over 700 students have toured STEAM-inspired spaces at Georgia Tech. Annual STEAM Innovation Days, hosted on campus to coincide with Tech’s Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, brought more than 500 students and teachers.
The following vignettes illustrate how GoSTEAM has empowered students and educators to push the boundaries of learning and imagination.
GWINNETT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Engineering
CLAYTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Computer Science and Information Technology
ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Invention and Entrepreneurship
