STEAM in Visual Arts
Infusing STEAM elements into Visual Arts courses is an effective way to provide students with a well-rounded education in creative expression. Visual Arts courses can become much more engaging and empowering for students while also helping them develop vital skills for survival in today’s ever-changing technological world.
CCA Courses with STEAM Elements
ART3169
Design for Living
Course Synopsis
This course requires students to examine and understand the historical, cultural and environmental contexts which influence the design of daily products. Students will conduct design case studies, and engage in hands-on product design activities in the studio. They will learn to apply design concepts and problem-solving skills to produce mock-ups of products based on art/design concepts and data collected from visual and literature research. Besides learning the basics of marketing associated with the design of a new product, students will initiate product design learning activities for incorporation into school curriculums.
CAC2022
Cultural Perspectives in Creative Arts Synopsis
Course Synopsis
This course provides an overview of the major cultural and creative arts forms, making reference to the key developments at selected periods and contexts. It enables students to explore how factors such as different cultures, social and political systems, philosophies and religions that may have affected or reflected in the creative arts. Students will be engaged to examine various social, historical, cultural and identity issues in the production and reception of creative arts. Current issues, inter-cultural relationships, and cultural factors affecting creative arts development in both Hong Kong and the international context will be challenged and addressed.
CAC3009
Art, Music, Media and Technology
Course Synopsis
This course exposes students to the workings of modern media, information and digital technology and their applications. Theoretical workings of major tools and applications (including generation, editing, manipulation and finalization of sound and visual materials) and their cultural influences will be studied in both Eastern and Western contexts. Students will gain an understanding of the importance of technology and media in the production of arts and culture. This knowledge will enable them to become better informed community-based artists.
About Our STEAM Courses
Sub-Projects
This STEAM workshop at Tai Po Old Market Public School (大埔舊墟公立學校) with students led by Miss Leung Yee Tak (梁懿德老師) aimed to use 3D printing technology to nurture students’ creativity and develop traditional studio art and digital design skills. The workshop consisted of two parts: (1) a lecture on the principles of printmaking and tutorials on 3D modeling (via Zoom), and (2) a hands-on printmaking workshop.
Each student created several 3D models to use as relief printing boards, and then the workshop organizers 3D-printed the models before the workshop. We used an open-source design file to 3D print mini printing press machines (https://openpressproject.com) and distributed them to the students. Each student had an opportunity to print their designs on paper during the workshop.
Lecturer’s name
Dr. Song Min Jeong
Aims
This project aimed to implement digital fabrication technologies for primary students to understand the relationship between 2D and 3D forms and how printmaking works.
Participants
15 Form 5-6 students from Tai Po Old Market Public School
Main Activities
- Teaching and learning theories pertaining to traditional printmaking methods (online synchronous lesson)
- Teaching and learning 2D digital imaging and 3D modeling skills using TinkerCad (online asynchronous lesson(video))
- Students’ self-practice and making on their own (3D model files submitted to the instructor for 3D printing)
- Printmaking demonstration in the classroom, students created prints with the 3D printed printing plates.
Outcomes
- The students acquired printmaking knowledge and skills and gained an understanding of 2D and 3D forms
- The students learned basic 3D modeling skills
- The students learned how to work with digital design and apply it to physical materials using traditional printmaking processes
- The students gained an understanding of open-source design and how to use it properly
- Each student produced prints using an open-source 3D-printed printing press and/or traditional printing press.
Comments
- Challenges in running sessions online： Checking whether students understood the course content was difficult. Many misunderstood the assignment(3D modeling) and had to revise the design several times. More spontaneous feedback and assistance from the instructor could resolve the issue.
- Language： Although the students can communicate and understand contents in English well, some of the art terminologies in English had to be re-explained in Cantonese.
- The students had never learned printmaking before; hence, the class duration seemed to be short for them to understand the printmaking process and creative application.
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my gratitude to Miss Leung Yee Tak (梁懿德老師) from the Tai Po Old Market Public School (大埔舊墟公立學校) and her students who participated in this STEAM activity.
2020
“Engaging students in Blended Learning Activities and Virtual Reality Experiences”
Dr Wong So Lan shared her experiences in teaching, namely “Paint in 3D space: Release students’ imagination”.
2020
An art-focused STEAM education
Dr Wong So Lan
EdUHK students: 14 (DDVA, SCI, ICT, MA and ECE)
- Online sharing and workshop
- STEAM education conference
2021
The Blended Learning for University Enhancement II (BLUE Phase II)
Dr Song Min Jeong shared her experiences in developing and delivering e-Learning packages, namely “VR application in Design Education”.
2021
FlipaClip Online Workshop
2021
STEAM Teaching Design and Achievements Exhibition
2022
Visualization and concretization of creative thinking through online STEAM teaching
Dr Wong So Lan
EdUHK students: 30 (GS, DDVA, ICT and MA)
Prof. Kylie Peppler
“Overall, I love this course. Thinking about the intersection of design and everyday objects is very provocative and rich for exploration. Additionally, the title and topics are right on point, so my questions below are mostly about bringing the course objectives to life.”