STEAM Collaborates with STEM

After a lesson in his SPA-101 class on why and where to place accent marks in written Spanish, Jason Armstrong went to the Fab Lab at the Manassas Campus to create.  Prof. Cristina Sparks-Early told her students that these rules were important to memorize, as they apply to every vocabulary word and verb tense they will learn throughout the language learning process. 

Jason, a dual-enrolled student, went to the Fab Lab and created a keychain with the three rules, ready to be studied and reviewed when needed. Prof. Sparks-Early can envision these available for purchase in any bookstore, much like SparkCharts and CliffsNotes.

Jason is considering a degree in either computer science or engineering. When asked why he is taking a world language, Jason responded that he likes learning how to approach things with a different perspective and way of thinking. A candidate in either field that can communicate in a language other than English will be more valuable to an employer than a monolinguist. 

According to LinkedIn, “pursuing a degree with a focus in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) produces a well-rounded student, able to use critical-thinking skills to create, visualize and communicate. By integrating the arts into STEM, STEAM-focused curricula incorporate the study of the humanities, language arts, dance, drama, music, visual arts, design, new media and more. Students who explore and master any of these subjects can make themselves more marketable in today’s workforce, as 57 percent of senior leaders value soft skills more than hard skills (LinkedIn, 2018).  

Submitted by:
Cristina Sparks-Early, MA-Comm. Tech, Social Sci., CSparks@nvcc.edu