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How the pandemic shaped the future of STEAM education in schools - Education Middle East
The pandemic put an immediate break to physical and in-person schooling,
thereby severely hampering the hands-on approach of STEAM programmes. As
most schools moved to distance learning starting March 2019, STEAM lessons
continued through virtual simulation, DIY and digital activities.

Moving online was not an easy task.
Muna Ali, Dean of Student Life, High
School Biology Teacher and AP
Biology, GEMS American Academy –
Qatar admits that it was difficult going
fully online with STEAM and even with
blended learning, face-to-face time
was cut so much that many students
missed entire units in previous

Muna Ali, Dean of Student Life, High School grades.
Biology Teacher and AP Biology, GEMS
American Academy, Qatar The biggest loss during the initial
phase was in the area of learning skills
such as grit, collaboration and group reasoning.

“The time taken to teach individual objectives from STEAM lessons taught in
isolation and the depth of understanding without the STEAM-based real-world
learning have led to gaps in learning across STEAM topics,” says Steven Kay,
Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning, Director of STEAM, GEMS Wellington
Academy – Al Khail,

According to him, the biggest gaps were often not in the factual knowledge
gained by the children but in the learning skills that they possess.

One of the significant casualties of remote
teaching of STEAM was lack of student
engagement and schools have been exploring
possible technological solutions that can address
the problem. “Perhaps the biggest trend seen
across all schools is in how digital technologies
have been adapted to promote STEAM and allow it
to continue in a positive and effective manner.”
Steven Kay, Assistant says Kay.
Principal, Teaching and
Learning, Director of STEAM, As the COVID situation eased and the UAE schools
GEMS Wellington Academy,
Al Khail adopted a hybrid model in 2020-21, schools with
their own dedicated labs continued with STEAM
lessons, maintaining safety protocols.

Educators are using technology to enhance both STEAM and wider learning.
“We have increased the number of physical spaces available to carry out STEAM
lessons and research so that classes can be made smaller to allow all children

access to engage in STEAM learning,” says Kay.

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