2014 STEM Summit Virtual Exhibit: Blending STEM, Arts and Music in the High School Classroom

Purpose of the STEM Summit

The 2014 Maine STEM Summit presents an exciting opportunity to gain an appreciation of the role STEM education plays in all careers and everyday life, as well as the challenging issues at all levels of education. In order to be part of the solution, we need to appreciate these issues and work across all sectors. The summit also provides an opportunity to share STEM education success stories from K-12, public and private higher education institutions and industry including in-class and out-of-class activities, curriculum development, internships, mentoring, and teacher preparation, among others. For more information and to register visit mmsa.org

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Blending STEM, Arts and Music in the High School Classroom

The National movement to incorporate STEM into public education is doing well in Maine. Noble High School teachers David Parker (physics/robotics/engineering) and Chad McCormack (math) are combining a STEM project with the Arts and Music to create a rich learning environment that students thrive in.

Now in its second year, students are able to take a one-semester course for science credit in which they invest 45 class hours to assemble fully operational electric guitars. Begun as an after school elective, the program has become a focal point of interest at Noble, which has a state-of-the-art wood working facility ideal for this effort.

This is the first time that a class has been offered for students to build their own musical instrument at a Maine high school. But this is only the first step. Noble will host a regional NSF sponsored guitar building workshop during the summer of 2015 with the objective of training more educators in this program, establishing the curriculum in more public schools, and offering this opportunity to more Maine students.

Funded by a Perloff Family Foundation STEM4ME grant, students use math and physics to calculate and understand fret placement and harmonics, and technology in adjusting and tuning their guitars. The painting technique is supported by a chemistry curriculum. The student’s sense of ownership and pride in workmanship make this learning experience unique.

For additional information please contact:

David Parker, Noble High School, North Berwick, Maine: david.parker@msad60.org

David Perloff, Director, Perloff Family Foundation: daveperloff@gmail.com