By Joëlle Walls
Published in GoSTEAM's A Program in Review 2018-2024
Georgia Tech computer science alumnus Jed Paz first heard about GoSTEAM when the team was hiring the initial cohort of innovators-in-residence for fall 2019. “I considered a job as an innovator because it felt like the next step, closely related to my work at a local after school program,” he said. “The role offered the freedom to explore diverse projects, and I wanted a space where I could merge my expertise in computer science with my passion for the arts, like music.”
Serving as an innovator at Eddie White Middle Academy, Paz noted that the “Paper Piano” activity was a recurring project each semester, illustrating the fusion of computer science, technology and music. He collaborated with computer science teacher Macoyia Bates to improve the activity every year. Students constructed paper pianos and used an interactive microcontroller and code to add basic musical scales.
“Many middle school students have a deep interest in music, often seen with their headphones on. However, they lack opportunities to engage with music creatively because they are either not in band class, don’t own a musical instrument, or don’t know how to play,” he explained. “Projects like the ‘Paper Piano’ and remixing music via EarSketch give them a chance to explore their musical ideas, discover their talents, and engage with music on a deeper level.”
Another impact project was the school garden, which became the primary focus for integrating life science with the arts and technology from 2022 onward. The school’s GoSTEAM Club took the lead in transforming a courtyard into a sustainable vegetable garden. Paz and science teacher Brigitte Warde advised students as they researched and selected plants for the garden beds. The students took charge of the care and maintenance, documenting their work extensively in the first year to ensure future students could continue and help the garden thrive. “Giving students more input on the aesthetics and layout of these green spaces was a top priority,” he said. “This idea gained strong administrative support because it engaged students in maintaining and improving the spaces.”
Over the last couple of years, Paz transitioned into a full-time position as a STEAM Innovation Facilitator at CEISMC, where his role expanded as a GoSTEAM coach. “The GoSTEAM program has allowed me to grow significantly in education and learning. Working closely with teachers and the GoSTEAM team in this space has helped me discover my passions,” he said. “The experience of collaborating with teachers and students in this unique way has shaped my interests, both professionally and creatively.”
Pamela Hill, a sixth-grade earth science teacher who has been with GoSTEAM for the last three years, summarized the initiative’s impact. “STEAM education is a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to learning that combines science with other content areas,” she said. “I believe students benefit from exposure to STEAM education as it will build creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills students will need in the 21st-century workforce.”
