Making STEAM Accessible for Inclusive Classroom

Abstract

Purpose: As the education world explores strategies to equip students with 21st-century skills so that they could evolve as innovators and creators, there has been a growing emphasis on STEAM — the educational discipline that focuses on the application of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through art and design. It is imperative for all to adapt to and embrace technology and scientific way of thinking, and the STEAM model is an interdisciplinary learning model to address this and make learning accessible and comprehensible for all.

However, the inclusion of children with special needs, children from marginalized sections, and girls in STEAM still seem to be a distant dream. A considerable amount of work has been initiated in the field of curriculum framework of STEAM to reach learners from marginalized sections, girls, and special education needs students to implement an inclusive STEAM model where every student gets a chance to thrive. The purpose of writing this paper is to explore the possibilities of Inclusive Education in STEAM by creating a STEAM model integrated with tested methodologies to address the learning needs of the students.

Design/ Methodology/ Approach: Based on the studies and available methodologies, the approach used to address STEAM education to make classrooms inclusive is STEAM curriculum infused with Universal Design for Learning, which addresses diverse learning needs of classrooms and enhances student engagement in STEAM learning. As this model is quite new in Indian scenario, a survey was done to understand how effectively it can be used in Indian classroom scenarios. The students surveyed were the students in the Inclusive Education setup, which included students with special needs, marginalized sections, and girls.

Findings: This paper discusses how STEAM infused into Universal Design for Learning (UDL) helps give all students an equal opportunity to succeed, which transforms the concept of equal education into an equitable education.

Originality/ Value: The STEAM approach with Universal Design for Learning and imparting education using tech tools have been quite new but have also been proven as effective and inclusive tools to address STEAM learning. The above-mentioned methodologies have been in use in western countries, but this concept is quite new in India. With the COVID pandemic, there has been an exponential advancement in the field of virtual learning and educational technology in India too. The STEAM education integrated with Universal Design for learning and education technology can be a turning point in the Indian Education System.

Paper Type: View Point