Human Centered Design of Biotechnology

Rationale and School Profile

The classroom is one of the few environments where social justice and equity can exist. As an inner city, Pittsburgh public school educator I am morally obligated to advocate for the students who are underserved. At Brashear High School, where the student population is approximately 42% Black, 36% White, 11% Asian, 5% Hispanic, & 6% two or more races, it is important that students have a voice and a choice on how they are receiving their education. In 2014, I was part of the two-year DEbT-M (Designing for Equity by Thinking in and about Mathematics) cohort where educators address racially based inequities in secondary mathematics education in the United States. We spent two years building an understanding of the opportunity gaps and the inequitable teaching practices. We became empowered as change agents to disrupt these inequitable practices and improve mathematics teaching and learning in ways that provide students of color with more equitable opportunities in mathematics. As a mathematics teacher at Brashear high school’s STEAM academy, we have the distinct opportunity of using 90 minutes during our block scheduling to implement project-based learning. Ever since our insightful principal, Ms. Kimberly Safran, presented the documentary “Most Likely to Succeed” back in 2015 to the entire staff, we have been exploring compelling new approaches that aim to reimagining education as we know it. Brashear has developed a STEAM Academy within its curriculum offerings that consists of ten dedicated educators and approximately 250 (out of approximately 1,300) inspiring students that desire to revolutionize what education can achieve through inquiry-based learning or learning by doing. The STEAM movement has been around for about 16 years. The arts may seem like an unacceptable or illogical addition to the sensible grouping of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics but the point of STEAM is to suggest that teaching the sciences in a way that integrates the arts is more beneficial to students.  Creative activities can relieve stress, aid communication, and help arrest cognitive decline.³  After a crazy and tumultuous year, we all could use some art therapy.