STEAM is an educational discipline that aims to create a love of the arts and sciences in students. Science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math all involve creativity, inquiry, investigation, and problem solving. STEAM creates opportunities for collaborative and project-based learning, and engages students with relevant technologies to help prepare them for an ever-evolving world. Through STEAM, teachers are empowered to take a more holistic approach to instruction and foster inclusive learning environments across all five disciplines.
march 16, 5-7 pm ET
STEAM IS EVERYWHERE
SPHERO BOLT AND ELECTRONICS
In this Live Event, we will focus on two activities: Sphero BOLT™, an interactive, hand-sized programming robot; and an introduction to electronics in classrooms designed for deaf and hard of hearing students. We will show video clips of students doing independent projects using programming to make their robots navigate through a maze and provide explanations related to them. Additionally, a brief demonstration and sample lesson will show how to teach basic electronics with materials that are available in most STEAM classrooms.
March 30, 5-7 pm ET
engineering can be fun
FORCE AND MOTION
In this Live Event, we will focus on the concept of force and motion for kindergarten through fifth grade students who are deaf or hard of hearing. We will highlight activities during which students will see how the texture, gravity, incline, and some simple machines can change throughout the process. We will have a read aloud, demonstrate how to implement a hands-on activity, and conduct a wrap-up discussion.
STEAM Teachers
Amy Aillon
Amy Aillon, MS, grew up in Illinois. She attended mainstream school until third grade and then transferred to the Illinois School for the Deaf. Aillon earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and her master’s degree in deaf education from McDaniel College in Maryland. Previously, she worked as After School Program (ASP) staff and as a long-term substitute teacher at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, in Washington, D.C., before becoming a teacher in the K-2 department. Aillon has taught in both pre-kindergarten (one year) and kindergarten (six years) classrooms.
Randee Bickford
Randee Bickford, MS, is a proud New Englander. Although she was born in Spain, she grew up in Massachusetts. She comes from a hearing family and attended both deaf and mainstream schools as a child. Bickford earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and sociology from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts and her master’s degree in deaf education from McDaniel College in Maryland. Previously, she worked at the American School for the Deaf teaching third through sixth grade and at the Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) teaching third to fifth grade. After 13 years at MSD, she began her current job at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School in Washington, D.C., first as a middle school math teacher and now as an administrator. Currently, Bickford is in the process of earning her second master’s degree in STEAM education from the University of San Diego.
Jie Ma
Jie Ma, MS, was born to a warm and loving Deaf family and raised in China. She graduated from Tianjin University of Technology in China with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and then earned her master’s degree in deaf education from McDaniel College in Maryland. Ma has taught for four years and is currently teaching Algebra 2 and STEAM classes at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. Math and technology are very much her passion.
