Thursday, December 24, 2015

Making STEAM @ Ridgefield Library

You may have wondered about a colorful new logo on Library flyers and emails, incorporating the phrase “Making STEAM @ Ridgefield Library.”   This is our new initiative to offer activities and programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math to the community. Some may be familiar with the concept of STEM, which has been a hot topic in education and industry. It relates to developing proficiency in these closely-related disciplines to foster creativity and innovation.  More recently, there has been a movement to incorporate an element of art and design into this approach, thus STEAM.

With the opening of our new building and expansion of our technology infrastructure, the Ridgefield Library has been able to embrace the opportunities of this approach through a major expansion in the number and range of STEAM-based programs we can offer. Teens enjoy Crafternoons and Tech Thursdays each month; folks of all ages flock to 3D printing orientations; and programs like Science Scouts and a field trip to the World Maker Faire fill up quickly. Adopting the principle of “Making STEAM” allows us to provide context and connection among all these activities, promote them more effectively and stay abreast of current trends in both school-based education and lifelong learning.  Stay tuned for more STEAM as we move into the New Year.

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