Science & Art Integration Silk Batiks

Here are the Final Products of the Science & Art-Integration Unit from last fall in the Science and Art Methods I courses. I used this integration unit as my Masters Plan B project. It is quite remarkable to see the beautiful work that can come out of a collaboration from two fields.

There Needs to Be More Integration!

Teachers, you have the power to make this happen!

Are you inspired?

I know I am!

STEAM

TheChristyBel

A Microscopic Image of a Snowflake

Microscopic Imaging of Bacteria

Silk Batik of a Sheep's Eye

The Surface Film of a Soap Bubble

The Xylem of a Plant

A Natural Science Master

As of 3:00pm MST today, I shook the hand of my committee chair, Dr. Andrea Burrows, and was congratulated by my committee on successfully passing my Masters of Science in Natural Science Defense Presentation.

Presenting my findings and work on STEM Integration with Art: A Renewed Reason for STEAM to my committee, SMTC colleagues, and friends was really terrifying and nerve-wrecking. Not only was this defense nerve-wrecking to present, but I was the first of my cohort that came here to UW to present. Such pressure! Let me just say, I was more anxious presenting for 45-minutes than performing in front of thousands of audience members in the University of Dayton arena! I'm ridiculous, I know. 

However, I have never felt more proud and accomplished of myself. It was a very challenging experience and journey, but I am so grateful for the knowledge and experience I have gained from this project I had the opportunity to work on. I am truly grateful for the guidance of my committee, their insight and feedback, and their willingness to make me feel supported no matter what. This project has also blossomed more questions and a desire to learn more about how the arts can influence and affect the sciences. If only there was more time...

...just no more writing, please! :)

My graduate school journey is slowly coming to the close and the two last things that I need to do are: 1.) edit and turn in my final paper and 2.) trim it down, again, to submit to a journal!

What a Ride!

Thank you!

TheChristyBel

My Supportive Committee
(From Left to Right: Dr. Adam Myers, Dr. Andrea Burrows, theChristyBel, Wendy Bredehoft)
Missing Dr. Joy Johnson
Photo Credit: Ana Houseal

Celebrating with My Science Methods Family!
Couldn't have asked for a better group to celebrate this wonderful moment with!

Defense Time Announced!

The moment has finally arrived, well, it has been announced, the date of my defense.

Here is my announcement that has gone on the UW's SMTC website.

STEM Integration with Arts: A Renewed Reason for STEAM

MS in Natural Science Education

Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Wyoming Hall 445

For many years, the arts and sciences have been taught in separate silos. However, with the current push for the United States' students to be at the top of the world in STEM disciplines, the arts are being marginalized and pushed out of the classroom. In addition to the limited availability of the arts being taught in schools, there has been a debate that the arts and STEM fields are disconnected from each other. This research bridges the gap in the literature that the arts and sciences are similar in many ways and speak of how STEM can become STEAM in the classroom. In a mission to transition classrooms from STEM to STEAM, how does this process occur? It starts with the educators themselves in providing them with knowledge, ideas, and confidence to be able to teach multiple disciplines in the same classroom. A case study of secondary pre-service teachers (n=58) participating in a Science and Art-integration unit, explored how a silk batik art activity could capture scientific and artistic concepts in the same unit over 5 university class sessions for a three-year time period. The research under study aims to answer the follow research questions: 1.) how have the secondary pre-service teachers’ perspectives about this Science and Art-integration unit changed over a three-year period; and 2.) how has the silk batik activity influenced pre-service teachers’ perspectives of science and art in their future classroom? This study used a mixed methods research approach gathering changes in confidence in knowledge, skills, experiences, and perceptions of science and art. Findings are presented in quantitative and qualitative data that support increased awareness and confidence in pre-service teachers’ perceptions of how science and art can be incorporated into the same classroom, recognition of similarities between the two disciplines, and common themes that are significant in teaching science and art disciplines together. Conclusions include that the Science and Art-integration unit not only serves to promote appreciation and learning for each discipline, but also helps to develop skills and creative perspectives needed beyond the classroom in STEM and other careers.

I have never been so nervous in my life.

Sure I can dance in front of thousands of people and not have any back of my mind worry, but to speak in front of my committee and any other individual that magically shows up....

I ... AM ... TERRIFIED.

TheChristyBel

Getting a Push on My Plan B - Art & Science Integration

My Satellite Image: I Think I Have Vegetated Mountains!

Using a Lens View Finder, I've Narrowed Down My Design

Advanced Topics in Pedagogy course has begun our Art and Science Integration unit. This unit is really fun. The Science Methods students (my class) will work in collaboration with the Art Methods students in an art project.  How perfect is this activity? Completely perfect for what I wanted to focus my Masters' Plan B on.

I'd like to thank Professor Dr. Kate Welsh for informing me of this course and connecting me with Dr. Andrea Burrows. Being able to work with her about letting me take this course and to also use this activity in conjunction with my Plan B is incredibly awesome! I'm already conducting research. So I feel I am definitely ahead of this whole Plan B thing! I'll get into my Plan B and that research later...

But back to Science and Art: today, we learned about the scope of this project: silk batik painting with a scientific focus. We were introduced to satellite imagery. We learned that satellite images are able to give us interesting perspectives of a landscape based on the reflected light off objects and the landscape. So for example, plants absorb red light and so that is the color you would see through a satellite image.

My Final Piece

We were given photos of satellite images that were taken of the geographic landscape. By choosing a satellite image and using a view-finder lens, we were to choose a specific area in the photograph to focus our silk batik painting on.

Then we were taught how to paint on silk! So cool! You first create a design plan and outline your images on the silk with this plastic resin. After it dries you are able to apply paint. You have to mix colors in order to make new ones (using the information you gained from your art methods' group members. Along with painting, you can use salt, vinegar, and alcohol to create different textures and designs in the paint.

What a fun project. Hopefully this can be a great addition to my Plan B!

TheChristyBel

Woah!

STEM vs. STEAM

This is why we need ART back into schools. I am totally writing my Plan B for my masters on this!

I'd like to thank my friend Cheryl for introducing me to this website! Click here for the link!

University of Florida’s Online Master of Arts in Art Education