4 minute read
Imagination Abounds at the Allen ISD STEAM Center
Dalane Bouillion, Ed.D., Principal of Educational Planning
Some environments naturally lend themselves to student agency. The other night at dinner, seated outdoors, I watched a brother and sister methodically working a rock bed that existed just beyond the dining tables. Carefully examining the rock choices before them, they made selections to accomplish their mission. They exchanged rocks as they also engaged in dialogue during the process. They assembled a nice strong pile based on the parameters they set for themselves as determinants for quality, analyzing each to ensure they met their expectations. The final outcome of the rock selection is unknown to me, as I did not want to intrude, or disrupt their learning. What I observed were two self-driven young learners diligently working to meet self-initiated unwritten goals. They exhibited student agency in a lesson they designed for themselves. Learning at the Allen ISD STEAM Center exemplifies student agency. Students selfinitiate outdoors learning in pursuit of goals driven by their interests and set under the guidance of teachers to ensure standards alignment. The district mission “Allen ISD cultivates innovation in education that empowers every learner to realize his or her full potential” implies that student agency is expected. Due to the intentional visioning journey for the multitude of learning environments that exist at the Allen ISD STEAM Center, student agency is realized daily, especially at the man-made pond, which serves as a “living laboratory for students to experience multiple unique habitats associated with permanent water. It is designed for amphibious animals, small fish, and aquatic plants. Pond edge planting also helps with erosion control and acts as a barrier, teaching students about prevention of erosion and sediment filtration” indicated Jennifer Wilhelm, Assistant Superintendent of Learner Services. When students interact with this environment, they internalize the importance of habitat and how it affects their lives. They demonstrate curiosity, and are fearless with inquiry.
Students at the Allen ISD STEAM Center are allowed autonomy, voice and choice, which are critical to student agency. These attributes are vital to the learning process when working in a variety of environments that support both experiential and mastery learning. Students can easily enact these critical attributes of agency and student-centered learning in spaces within the building such as the Workshop, which functions at the Makerspace. Students have the opportunity to develop their own intended outcomes grounded in their interests and based on classroom instruction while applying personal integrity to their work, and demonstrating efficacy when sharing their learning results. They are also able to impressively articulate the process they used to help navigate successes, and failures that led to additional successes in the Workshop. The Allen ISD STEAM Center welcomes Kindergarten through 8th grade students to STEAM Studios located on the upper level on a regular basis. This environment affords the district a powerful opportunity for younger students to explore STEAM-related content, exposing them to important career prospects, and facilitating increased likelihood of student agency. From the upper level, younger students are able to view high school students below as they take chosen courses to fulfill their graduation requirements, as well as fuel their academic interests.
Like the child observations with the rock bed, many have witnessed a multitude of examples of student agency when visiting this unique facility. When asked about his thoughts and observations regarding student agency, Mr. Larry Labue, Allen ISD STEAM Center Executive Director shared, “Allen ISD STEAM Center is a unique one of a kind facility that provides our students and staff with real world tools and flexible learning spaces to bring about creativity, innovation and problem solving. Students are immersed in STEAM and environmental experiences that help them develop future-ready skills. At the Allen ISD STEAM Center, students are only limited by their own imaginations.”
Mr. Larry Labue, Allen ISD STEAM Center Executive Director
STEAM Center, Allen ISD
The Pavilion, STEAM Center, Allen ISD
