Unique Partnership Furthers STEAM Education

3/28/2017

"The collaboration of a geoscience department with a glass art studio to create a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) educational experience increased strong interest in learning about volcanoes by 40.7% and learning of volcanic concepts by up to 92% across four major topic areas."

GlassRoots knows that the learning that goes on in our studios is deep. Students learn about glass, yes, but also about science and math, about technology and engineering, and they learn important life skills necessary for success in life. Our curriculum engages and educates.

One of our newest programs is the Volcano Program, created in partnership with the Rutgers Newark Earth Science department and its chairman Dr. Alexander Gates. Together with Dr. Gates, GlassRoots created three hands-on demonstrations that show how heat and pressure underground move rocks and earth to build up volcanic mountains, and in some cases, cause them to literally blow their tops. Volcanoes continue to captivate young and old, but they are a complex feature of earth science. GlassRoots artists and Dr. Gates and his team work to clarify exactly how they work. This knowledge goes beyond casual intrigue or passing high school science; we believe a solid grounding in earth science will prepare students to understand and act on pressing societal issues such as climate change, oil exploration, pollution and species threatened with extinction, and hope to instill a desire in our inner-youth to stay in science classes in school, and to pursue science studies in higher education.

Hands-on, experiential education, here at GlassRoots. Read the evaluation report below to fully understand the impact our programs make. Contact our program director if you'd like your class to experience GlassRoots!