‘They seem extremely engaged’: Sen. Franken speaks highly of I.J. Holton, STEAM approach
Published 10:23 am Thursday, May 29, 2014
Catrina Herr shows Sen. Al Franken her power point for a “Cause and Effect” video that the students were working on. Franken visited I.J. Holton on Wednesday to look at the school’s STEAM curriculum approach. — Photos by Jenae Peterson/jenae.peterson@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s I.J. Holton Intermediate School’s STEAM program is gaining attention.
U.S. Sen. Al Franken toured I.J. Holton on Wednesday to learn about the new school and see how its Science, Technology, Education, Fine Arts and Mathematics, or STEAM, program, which is intended to teach children critical thinking skills.
“Just the feel of the school and the feel of the kids, they seemed extremely engaged,” Franken said. “That is to me always the number one piece of evidence that kids are learning, if they’re engaged.”
The STEAM program is designed to implement each of these subjects in a hands-on way versus simple memorization. Since I.J. Holton was designed as a STEAM school and opened Sept. 3, 2013, Franken is excited to see what the future holds for the program, but the most important aspect to him is that the kids are engaged in what they’re learning. He also liked that the program covers all aspects of learning.
Physical science teacher Carley Seifert talks with Franken about what she teaches her sixth-grade students.
“We need people to be in the fields that require STEAM skills, and we know future jobs are going to be there,” Franken said.
Franken liked the school’s open and engaging design. He also liked that all future students in Austin Public Schools will attend the fifth- and sixth-grade school and, that it wasn’t a “magnet” school — specialized schools often intended to draw students from other districts or schools — yet it had similar, engaging curriculums.
“To me, since every kid in Austin is doing that, I think that’s great,” Franken said.
Franken is interested in seeing how and when the assessments for the school take place.
Franken, who serves on the Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pensions, is seeking re-election this fall, and if he wins he plans to look at early childhood education, college affordability, the STEAM program and post-secondary curriculums.
“I’m interested in every phase of every age, but I think we’ve underinvested in pre-k and early childhood,” Franken said.
