steamlearninginstitute.com

What It Is

STEAM Learning Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Burlingame, California. It positions itself as a collaborative research and educator-training initiative centered on Liberatory STEAM Education. Rather than offering traditional coding, robotics, or science competition classes for students, it primarily serves K-12 teachers, school leaders, and education communities, helping them design STEAM learning environments that are safer, more equitable, more inclusive, and more rooted in belonging.

Core Courses and Delivery Format

Courses shown on the website include “Turn On Your Senses,” “Picture Science: Learning to see through nature journaling,” and “Beyond Belonging: Cultivate Thriving Spaces in STEAM.” The content focuses on nature observation, scientific illustration, STEAM identity, culturally responsive teaching, anti-racist curriculum, and liberatory design. The organization also offers workshops, on-site/online training, experiential courses, Makerspace creation, engineering education, educational field trips, and community resources. However, the pages do not clearly state whether courses are live, recorded, small-group, or 1-on-1, and they also lack details such as course duration, assignment feedback, and learning pathways.

Faculty and Organizational Background

The organization’s strengths lie in its educational philosophy and team background. Founder Dr. Imène Ghernati has more than 30 years of experience in education, was previously a veterinarian and scientist, and has spent 15 years working in urban education in the Bay Area, including projects related to Gateway Schools, University of San Francisco, and Makerspace development. The team also includes members with experience in DEI, human resources, organizational development, STEAM education, and community empowerment. The website emphasizes that the team consists of BIWOC stewards, with values centered on being nature-based, heart-centered, science-based, centering the margins, place-based, and multidimensional.

Pricing and Certificates

The currently available content does not disclose course pricing, payment models, scholarships, or group purchasing criteria. It is also unclear whether participants receive certificates, continuing education credits, or recognized credentials upon completion. Schools or teachers planning to procure these services will need to contact the organization directly to confirm quotes, registration methods, payment channels, and deliverables.

Pros and Cons

The main advantages are its clear positioning and strong emphasis on equity, belonging, cultural relevance, and practice-oriented curriculum design, making it suitable for educators who want to systematically transform the culture of STEAM classrooms. It also provides a free Starter Guide and a monthly resource subscription, lowering the barrier to initial exploration. The drawbacks are that its commercial information is incomplete, with limited transparency around delivery format, pricing, certification, and support services. Its content is also highly grounded in the U.S. K-12 and DEI education context, so Chinese schools would need to localize it before direct adoption.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is better suited to international schools, bilingual schools, STEAM teacher-training leads, curriculum designers, and school administrators focused on educational equity. It is less suitable as a fast-track skills course for students. The website does not explain access, payment, or registration experience from China, so these remain unknown. If internet access or payment is inconvenient, alternatives could include STEAM teacher courses from ISTE, NSTA, Edutopia, Coursera/edX, or STEAM training offered by continuing education and teacher development centers at Chinese universities.