Partnership for Innovation in Education Receives ArtsWave Grant for “Build a Better Ballet Shoe” Case Learning Opportunity
STEAM Program Encourages Critical Thinking in Cincinnati Public Schools
CINCINNATI – (Aug. 12, 2015) How would you build a better ballet shoe? Cincinnati Public School students at Hays Porter Elementary School in the West End will get the opportunity to use their problem-solving and decision-making skills to design an ergonomically better ballet shoe through a new STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math) case learning opportunity. The program was developed by Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE) along with its case partners: the Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Dancewear, Wellington Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine, Stages for Youth and Cincinnati Public Schools. ArtsWave has awarded PIE a $10,975.00 grant to help fund the development and implementation of this innovative program.
As part of “Build a Better Ballet Shoe,” students will study the anatomy of the leg, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) modeling and the relationship to a dancer’s technique and movement to develop a ballet shoe designed to provide more comfort and help prevent physical stress and injury.
“ArtsWave is pleased to support PIE in this innovative project that leverages the power of the arts to inspire creative problem-solving. STEAM projects that connect local artists and educators help students get excited about learning and use critical-thinking skills to develop an original solution to a real-life challenge,” said Alecia Kintner, President and CEO, ArtsWave.
The “Build a Better Ballet Shoe” project features the use of the Socratic Learning Method, which is typically used in graduate and undergraduate programs. It allows arts, business and community executives to serve as in-classroom mentors as students solve a “real life” simulation, which the organization is currently facing.
The Cincinnati Ballet will serve as an in-classroom mentor, and the students will learn about the Ballet’s history, business strategy, regional growth, accomplishments, dancers, choreographers and musicians. The program will feature Stages of Youth student videographers who will create a six-minute film documenting the success of in-classroom, hands-on learning with authentic community partners. The deliverables of the project will allow students to design a new ballet shoe with ergonomic, fashion and product durability enhancements using engineering, math, technology and science concepts.
“We are excited to work alongside the students to see how they will use their creativity and inventive thinking to develop a better ballet shoe. We hope to invigorate the students’ interest in engineering, entrepreneurship and the arts through this program,” said Victoria Morgan, Artistic Director and CEO of the Cincinnati Ballet.
Cincinnati-based PIE works with students and educators to develop transformational educational tools to accelerate academic achievement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects, especially among girls and minorities. With 25 percent of PIE partners representing arts and music industries, this STEAM project shows how using the arts in the science and math classroom allows students to become more creative innovators and entrepreneurs.
The “Build a Better Ballet Shoe” program spans the 2015-2016 academic year.
“The program is designed to improve students’ problem-solving, critical thinking, open-ended inquiry and whole brain decision-making,” said Mary Welsh Schlueter, CEO for PIE. “’Build a Better Ballet Shoe’ will not only help the students gain 21st century career skills in a real-world setting, but it will enhance their awareness and appreciation for the arts.”
About PIE
Partnership For Innovation In Education (PIE) develops transformational educational tools preparing the 21st century workforce for success in the global marketplace. PIE features first-ever mentoring alliances with education, business and arts organizations, providing hands-on simulations in the K-12 classroom. PIE is a 501c3 nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, awarded the GuideStar Nonprofit “Gold Exchange” Ranking. For more information, visit www.piemedia.org or follow @PIE_Innovation on Twitter.