By Joëlle Walls
Published in GoSTEAM's A Program in Review 2018-2024
Mechatronics teacher Stephen Cochran had always been interested in the intersection of engineering and other subjects, having earned a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Georgia Tech. The premise of the GoSTEAM program piqued his interest when Paul Duke STEM High School was invited to participate.
“I was interested in exploring how we might use mechatronics in relation to other fields. When the opportunity arose to combine mechatronics with another discipline and collaborate with an art teacher, I was excited about the potential for interdisciplinary studies,” Cochran said. “I actively seek applications outside of engineering, aiming to engage students who may not be traditional engineering students. These students are not solely interested in engineering but want to see its applications in various fields.”
With support from GoSTEAM, the school has developed a highly successful technical theater program that involves the teachers and students in engineering, video and film, dance and drama. For one of the productions, “A Ghost for Rosanda,” a student film documented the collaboration between departments and was named a finalist in the 2021 All American High School Film Festival in New York City. After successful collaborations with fine arts teachers over the past few years, Cochran began integrating the arts into his own classroom. He guided two students in constructing their own version of a beat organ, known as the chyme hammer, as a functioning mechanical object. The students demonstrated their unique instrument at the Guthman Music, Art, and Technology Fair during the 2023 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition. They were the only high school team participating and received enthusiastic feedback for their work.
“The students had a great time, and it changed their perspectives. After putting in a lot of effort and showing perseverance, they realized they could achieve great things,” Cochran said. “It was amazing to see them find their sense of self and value, knowing they can create impactful work.”
Visual arts teacher Payton Hirschmann collaborated with Cochran during the final year of the program. He assisted her in developing a lesson plan for a paper circuits project, where students integrated circuitry, specifically LED lights, into their artwork to create dynamic and interactive pieces. “The GoSTEAM mindset has been incredibly beneficial for me. By engaging with other content areas and connecting with local Atlanta artists, my understanding of art has broadened, making it easier to implement in the classroom,” she said.
Hirschmann also emphasized the importance of the interdisciplinary learning vision that GoSTEAM promotes for the future of education in the U.S. “As society progresses, the boundaries between art, science, writing, and technology have increasingly blurred,” she explained. “Many contemporary artists use technology and engineering in their artwork to such an extent that it is hard to separate the two. The professional world values creative problem-solvers, and an interdisciplinary teaching approach enhances students’ understanding of individual subjects and demonstrates how the real world operates. It makes learning personal, practical, and much more enjoyable.”
