The Genesis Approach to STEAM Education: Integrating Arts into STEM for Holistic Development

In the 21st century, where honing crucial skill sets has become a necessity for learners exploring diverse fields, the role of STEAM education in the school curriculum has taken center stage. There has been a growing emphasis on STEAM — the educational discipline that engages students around the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math. At Genesis, the mentors and young enthusiasts recognized the changing trends and incorporated aspects of STEAM into the existing curriculum to promote innovation and critical thinking in classrooms and beyond. This approach is becoming a hallmark of *boarding schools in Delhi* as they strive to provide a well-rounded education.

To be honest, the buzz was always around the word STEM, and a lot of project work and vacation assignments revolved around it without realizing the vast learning potential that integrating the Arts could add. The Arts were never to be treated in isolation and just added the right blend when it came to learners showing their creativity while solving real-life problems. The subjects contained within this field were able to teach people the value of creativity, innovation, communication, and contemplation. In addition, the arts can help to provide individuals with a greater appreciation for culture. The skills developed through the arts are often in high demand within the workforce, where creative solutions to problems may be needed and where different perspectives can be useful. The language arts are also vital for communication and, in the case of things like sign language, can help to provide people with greater accessibility. Many of the best boarding schools in Delhi NCR have recognized this and are incorporating similar methodologies.

Now, the question is how have we been able to incorporate this? To begin with, arts were used as a tool to facilitate the teaching of concepts in the classroom. A simple example could be making a car with the help of a balloon and a bottle, which works on Newton’s third law of action-reaction, thrusting in the forward direction as the air from the balloon comes out. Though a very cost-effective and simple demonstration, it challenges the learner to think beyond the textbook and, at the same time, look at the aerodynamics of the car from a practical perspective. A very simple way of teaching addition and subtraction to junior school learners through games engraved on the classroom or corridor floors in beautiful colors is a very basic example of how GGS puts STEAM into practice in real life. As they progress through grades, the complexity of problems adds layers to the STEAM curriculum, challenging young minds to innovate and flourish. During the pandemic, some of the learners even took to making PPE kits for the needy, depicting how situations created young innovators who were already equipped with skills to deliver when the need arose.

Several initiatives taken by the Science Committee of the school, including interschool events – Technokredible 1.0 and 2.0 – required learners to take up a coding challenge which eventually was linked to a real-life problem or designing a website where the main emphasis was laid on the presentation and ease of access. Apart from these, the numerous inter-department initiatives taken by mentors provide ample opportunities for young minds to go beyond. For instance, at a fest organized by the collective efforts of a few departments, a “Shark-Tank” like event was organized for the middle school learners by the senior grade learners, where the theme was sustainability, and learners had to design and pitch for a product which was not only eco-friendly but also had to be commercially viable – so the design and packaging really mattered. These innovative approaches are becoming more common in *boarding schools in Delhi* as they seek to offer holistic education.

With the changing landscape, job profiles that one could never think of have become increasingly popular these days. A lot of GGS learners have ventured out into these newly formed and unconventional profiles and become successful entrepreneurs. This innate ability to think out of the box and be explorative in the face of challenges is one important skill set that sets them apart from the rest. In a nutshell, GGS subtly provides a plethora of opportunities to its students, encouraging them to explore and innovate continuously. This holistic approach ensures that learners are not just equipped with academic knowledge but are also prepared to tackle real-world challenges creatively and effectively, making them well-rounded individuals ready to make a significant impact in their respective fields. This is why many consider GGS among the best boarding schools in Delhi NCR, setting a benchmark for others to follow.