A St. Albert resident and Morinville teacher received an award from Canada’s prime minister this month for her work to bring science and technology to the classroom.
St. Albert resident and Four Winds Public School teacher Christina Dafoe received a Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa June 18. The award recognizes inspirational STEM teachers who excel at keeping students engaged with STEM learning and help develop the culture of innovation Canada needs.
Dafoe was recognized for her use of robotics, coding, graphic design, and real-world challenges in her classroom and for creating the STEAM (STEM plus Arts) Academy at Four Winds Public in 2020.
Nearly a third of the students at Four Winds are now enrolled in the STEAM Academy, and there’s a wait-list to get into it, said principal Dan Requa.
“Every kid loves to go to STEAM class,” he said.
“They never want to miss it.”
From club to academy
Dafoe said her interest in STEAM-based learning started about 10 years ago when she was a Grade 3 teacher at Sturgeon Heights School in St. Albert. Parents had asked her to give gifted students new experiences, so she set up a makerspace and had students use it to pursue projects they were passionate about during class (a concept called Genius Hour). The idea caught on with students, so she started a STEAM Club. STEAM-based education soon spread throughout the school district.
Dafoe said she brought the STEAM Club to Four Winds Public when it opened in 2019.
“There was a sports academy and a dance academy, but nothing for the kids who were hands-on creative thinkers or future engineers who love math and science,” she said.
“I had 100 kids registered for STEAM Club and they all were asking, ‘Could we have an academy?’”
Dafoe pitched the concept to administration, who authorized the academy’s creation in 2020. It started with 25 kids and has grown to about 120.
Dafoe said STEAM Academy classes typically start with a short lesson from her on a STEAM-related topic, such as programming a robot or using a 3D printer, followed by a hands-on challenge applying the lesson. Students might learn how to program a micro:bit mini-computer, for example, visit and learn about environmental issues at Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, and use the micro:bits to create devices to address those issues. The rest of the class goes toward Genius Hour, where students work on a STEAM-related project of their choice.
Grade 9 student Ethan Keller made a movie this year in STEAM Academy, for example. To do so, he had to learn to code, write a script, shoot video, design and print posters, and create sets and costumes.
“It really allows you to follow your passion,” he said of the class.
“Miss Dafoe has so much expertise in basically every subject that no matter what you want to do, she will be able to help you.”
Other students in the academy spent the year learning to throw cards, build robot dinosaurs, and create digital art. Some took part in regional STEAM-related competitions such as the STEAM Games and the Science Olympics.
Dafoe said STEAM gives students hands-on learning about subjects they love, and teaches them teamwork, technical, and creative skills which can all be applied in high school and the real world.
Dafoe has created a website with resources other teachers can use to start their own STEAM academies. She said the STEAM Academy concept has spread throughout Sturgeon Public and drawn interest from as far away as Grande Prairie.
Dafoe said it was overwhelming to receive her award from the prime minister and exciting to showcase Four Winds on the national stage.
“It was great to bring some light to Morinville.”
Dafoe said STEAM-based learning has been awesome for her students’ engagement and self-esteem.
“It’s just been a lot of fun.”
Visit bit.ly/4biaAu0 for more on the award.
