BUILDING STEAM 4 ALL
Each letter in STEAM represents a unique discipline – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. STEAM education provides tools to think critically across subjects, while delivering valuable real-world skills. Each one… of these subjects is important on its own, but together they are even more powerful.
The Beaverton Education Foundation recognizes the importance of integrated STEAM education and has funded a wide variety of successful projects through our Building STEAM 4 All program. Launched in 2008 with 9 projects, Building STEAM 4 All has grown to provide support for the integration of STEAM topics in schools across the District.
Together with our generous donors, AHS Go Warriors! Opportunity Fund, Dave Gettling Technology Fund, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Genentech Foundation, Intel, NW Natural, PGE Foundation, Portland Business Alliance, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Vernier Software & Technology and the Timothy B Campbell Memorial Scholarship Foundation, we are making an immediate impact on the educational experiences our students have today, tomorrow and far into the future.
Barnes Elementary’s successful Beaverton’s Choice project, Bring Coding to Life, funded updated technology to teach advanced coding, cooperation, problem solving, flexibility and perseverance to more than 250 third through fifth graders.
Project lead, Megan Simpson, explained that students first used the upgraded technology to program and download code, then they learned about circuits and how to install working lights. After that, students wired circuits to create robots that moved and lit up. Lastly, students used everything they learned to create animals that could move, light up and flash, adding “They did amazing work!”
Meadow Park Middle School transformed their temporary audio and video production lab into a permanent space for students to use for years to come. Their project, Amplify Meadow Park Technology Students Voice and Vision, funded dedicated monitors, microphones and teleprompter rigs to create podcasts, digital songs and newscast videos. In choir, students used the microphones for composition.
“This absolutely made a difference in my classroom,” said Jim Gent, Meadow Park vocal music teacher. “These students wouldn’t been able to do these projects, a key component of their curriculum, without BEF’s support.”
Gent further explained, he had seven students who did not work on anything else – they were so excited to break out the microphones and lay down a spoken word poem. “This was critical to getting them interested in technology and building a connection to their interests and possible application.”
Each academic year, BEF mobilizes community resources and strives to fund classroom projects at all 54 Beaverton public schools and to impact every student’s education through our after school and summer cornerstone programs. Funds donated pay for programs and projects not mandated or funded by the state, but ones parents and dedicated educators consider necessary for a quality education.
See how donors like you have made a difference throughout the district.