VIRTUAL: Applying Education

Abstract

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) knowledge is a growing requirement for anyone entering the workforce. For the United States to compete in a global economy, we must produce more STEM ready workers. A STEM – ready workforce creates opportunity for better jobs and increased prosperity across our country, especially for traditionally underrepresented youth. Despite the growing need for a STEM-ready workforce in our country, the U.S. Department of Education reports “persistent inequities in access, participation, and success in STEM subjects exist along racial, socioeconomic, gender, and geographic lines, as well as among students with disabilities.” To address the need for increased STEM exposure to young students, especially traditionally underrepresented students in STEM education, we have designed an integrated music, mathematics, and computational thinking curriculum that teachers can implement in inclusive classrooms of cognitively, linguistically, and culturally diverse students. Our novel integrated curriculum called Young Academic Music (YAM) and Computational Thinking begins with guided musical play activities to stimulate natural curiosity and exploration in the areas of mathematics, music, and computational thinking. Research suggests that strong math skills and computational thinking in young children are a powerful predictor of future academic success, we focus on developing early mathematics skills with music and gradually move toward computational thinking. By starting with music and play, we have created a less intimidating environment that is more accessible to all learners, including students with disabilities, English learners, or other youth who have struggled in more traditional classroom settings to participate in a STEM curriculum.