An exploration of the value of artwork in an integrated STEAM competition

With the integration of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics, or iSTEAM for short) education, there has been an increase in the number of related competitions. This study takes as an example the iSTEAM—PowerTech competition that has been conducted annually in Taiwan for approximately 25 years, in which students work in teams to create a wooden bionic miniature model on site and compete in terms of modeling aesthetics and speed. This study examined the essentiality of art in STEM after adding artwork to students' creation of miniature models. A qualitative study was conducted to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret relevant data through observation, interviews, and document analysis by selecting five student representatives and five instructors who won the Artwork Award in iSTEAM—PowerTech. The results found that when art was added to STEM: (1) The fit between the artwork and the body was key, and the artwork's size, weight, symmetry, balance, and stability affected the miniature model's mobility; (2) Students' interest in learning, creative thinking, and aesthetic literacy increased when making miniature models for the speed competition (e.g., relay racing), and they believed artwork was able to promote their STEM knowledge learning; and (3) Students thought they encountered more difficulties and problems when creating artwork for miniature models, because it required systematic thinking and continuous revision to integrate arts with STEM.