By Elaine J. Hom, Daisy Dobrijevic
published
STEM education, now also know as STEAM, is a multi-discipline approach to teaching.
Jump to:
- Importance of STEAM education
- STEAM blended learning
- Inequalities in STEAM
- Additional resources
- Bibliography
STEM education is a teaching approach that combines science, technology, engineering and math. Its recent successor, STEAM, also incorporates the arts, which have the "ability to expand the limits of STEM education and application," according to Stem Education Guide (opens in new tab). STEAM is designed to encourage discussions and problem-solving among students, developing both practical skills and appreciation for collaborations, according to the Institution for Art Integration and STEAM (opens in new tab).
Rather than teach the five disciplines as separate and discrete subjects, STEAM integrates them into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications.
According to the U.S. Department of Education (opens in new tab) "In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it's more important than ever that our nation's youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions."
In 2009, the Obama administration announced the "Educate to Innovate (opens in new tab)" campaign to motivate and inspire students to excel in STEAM subjects. This campaign also addresses the inadequate number of teachers skilled to educate in these subjects.
The Department of Education now offers a number of STEM-based programs (opens in new tab), including research programs with a STEAM emphasis, STEAM grant selection programs and general programs that support STEAM education.
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Education awarded $141 million in new grants and $437 million to continue existing STEAM projects a breakdown of grants can be seen in their investment report (opens in new tab).
The importance of STEM and STEAM education
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STEAM education is crucial to meet the needs of a changing world. According to an article from iD Tech (opens in new tab), millions of STEAM jobs remain unfilled in the U.S., therefore efforts to fill this skill gap are of great importance. According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (opens in new tab) there is a projected growth of STEAM-related occupations of 10.5% between 2020 and 2030 compared to 7.5% in non-STEAM-related occupations. The median wage in 2020 was also higher in STEAM occupations ($89,780) compared to non-STEAM occupations ($40,020).
Between 2014 and 2024, employment in computer occupations is projected to increase by 12.5 percent between 2014 and 2024, according to a STEAM occupation report (opens in new tab). With projected increases in STEAM-related occupations, there needs to be an equal increase in STEAM education efforts to encourage students into these fields otherwise the skill gap will continue to grow.
STEAM jobs do not all require higher education or even a college degree. Less than half of entry-level STEAM jobs require a bachelor's degree or higher, according to skills gap website Burning Glass Technologies (opens in new tab). However, a four-year degree is incredibly helpful with salary — the average advertised starting salary for entry-level STEAM jobs with a bachelor's requirement was 26 percent higher than jobs in the non-STEAM fields.. For every job posting for a bachelor's degree recipient in a non-STEAM field, there were 2.5 entry-level job postings for a bachelor's degree recipient in a STEAM field.
STEAM blended learning
What separates STEAM from traditional science and math education is the blended learning environment and showing students how the scientific method can be applied to everyday life. It teaches students computational thinking and focuses on the real-world applications of problem-solving. As mentioned before, STEAM education begins while students are very young:
Elementary school — STEAM education focuses on the introductory level STEAM courses, as well as awareness of the STEAM fields and occupations. This initial step provides standards-based structured inquiry-based and real-world problem-based learning, connecting all four of the STEAM subjects. The goal is to pique students' interest into them wanting to pursue the courses, not because they have to. There is also an emphasis placed on bridging in-school and out-of-school STEAM learning opportunities.
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Middle school — At this stage, the courses become more rigorous and challenging. Student awareness of STEAM fields and occupations is still pursued, as well as the academic requirements of such fields. Student exploration of STEAM-related careers begins at this level, particularly for underrepresented populations.
High school — The program of study focuses on the application of the subjects in a challenging and rigorous manner. Courses and pathways are now available in STEAM fields and occupations, as well as preparation for post-secondary education and employment. More emphasis is placed on bridging in-school and out-of-school STEAM opportunities.
Much of the STEAM curriculum is aimed toward attracting underrepresented populations. There is a significant disparity in the female to male ratio when it comes to those employed in STEAM fields, according to Stem Women (opens in new tab). Approximately 1 in 4 STEAM graduates is female.
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Inequalities in STEAM education
Ethnically, people from Black backgrounds in STEAM education in the UK have poorer degree outcomes and lower rates of academic career progression compared to other ethnic groups, according to a report from The Royal Society (opens in new tab). Although the proportion of Black students in STEAM higher education has increased over the last decade, they are leaving STEAM careers at a higher rate compared to other ethnic groups.
"These reports highlight the challenges faced by Black researchers, but we also need to tackle the wider inequalities which exist across our society and prevent talented people from pursuing careers in science." President of the Royal Society, Sir Adrian Smith said.
Asian students typically have the highest level of interest in STEAM. According to the Royal Society report in 2018/19 18.7% of academic staff in STEAM were from ethnic minority groups, of these groups 13.2% were Asian compared to 1.7% who were Black.
Additional resources
If you want to learn more about why STEAM is so important check out this informative article from the University of San Diego (opens in new tab). Explore some handy STEAM education teaching resources courtesy of the Resilient Educator (opens in new tab). Looking for tips to help get children into STEAM? Forbes (opens in new tab) has got you covered.
Bibliography
- Lee, Meggan J., et al. 'If you aren't White, Asian or Indian, you aren't an engineer': racial microaggressions in STEM education. (opens in new tab)" International Journal of STEM Education 7.1 (2020): 1-16.
- STEM Occupations: Past, Present, And Future (opens in new tab). Stella Fayer, Alan Lacey, and Audrey Watson. A report. 2017.
- Institution for Art Integration and STEAM (opens in new tab) What is STEAM education?
- Barone, Ryan, 'The state of STEM education told through 18 stats (opens in new tab)', iD Tech.
- U.S. Department of Education, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, including Computer Science. (opens in new tab)
- 'STEM sector must step up and end unacceptable disparities in Black staff (opens in new tab)', The Royal Society. A report, March 25, 2021.
- 'Percentages of Women in STEM Statistics' Stemwomen.com (opens in new tab)
Elaine J. Hom
Live Science Contributor
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FAQs
How do you define STEM education? ›
STEM is an approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through STEM, students develop key skills including: problem solving.
What is STEM in education UK? ›Benefits of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
What is STEM and why is it important? ›STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math. These four fields share an emphasis on innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. And together they make up a popular and fast-growing industry. Most STEM workers use computers and other technology in their day-to-day jobs.
What is STEM in simple terms? ›STEM is a common abbreviation for four closely connected areas of study: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The fields are often associated due to the similarities that they share both in theory and practice.
Why STEM education is important? ›STEM-based education teaches children more than science and mathematics concepts. The focus on hands-on learning with real-world applications helps develop a variety of skill sets, including creativity and 21st-century skills.
Is STEM hard in high school? ›Being a STEM student is not easy, it requires a lot efforts, patience, and dedications.
Is STEM learning free? ›It's free to join. It uses the same login details as your STEM Learning website account if you already have one. If not, it's quick and easy to register - and you can join in 'on the go' to using our Apps which you can download from the App Store and Google Play.
What is the difference between a STEM school and a regular school? ›STEM education is known for sparking an interest in subjects such as science, technology, math and engineering, because it gets students more involved in doing, rather than just learning. Traditional education covers a general spectrum of subjects without focusing directly on, or diving deeper into, a select few.
How do you explain STEM to a child? ›STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Each of STEAM's fve subjects share a common approach and focus. Tey require gathering and using evidence to create knowledge or solve problems. STEAM learning happens naturally everyday as children explore, play, and try new things.
How do you promote STEM education? ›How Can Parents and Teachers Encourage STEM? Engaging in a diverse set of projects and activities best encourages passion and curiosity for STEM. Hands-on experiences, strong role models, and exciting problems motivate children to want to learn and grow.
What are 3 main functions of a STEM? ›
A stem performs the following functions in a plant: (i) It supports branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits. (ii) It transports water and minerals from the roots to the leaves and other parts of plants. (iii) It transports food from leaves to different parts of the plant.
Which is an example of STEM? ›Examples are celery, asparagus, kohlrabi, rhubarb and turmeric. This is a video developed by vegetables.co.nz presenting the vegetables category, stems.
Does STEM include medicine? ›It is a science, the S in STEM. Yes, medicine and all the biological sciences are included in STEM. Be sure to take other STEM courses (mathematics, engineering and computer science).
What are the STEM skills? ›Think about key skills needed in today's workplace: problem solving, analytical thinking, and the ability to work independently. What do they all have in common? They're all related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).
Is STEM the future of education? ›A robust STEM education is becoming more and more important to our economy. Employment in STEM occupations is projected to grow 8.8% by 2028, and healthcare occupations, which generally require a strong STEM background, are projected to grow even more. Meanwhile, non-STEM occupations will only grow 5%.
What jobs can you get from STEM? ›- Medical doctors.
- Dentists.
- Health Care Professionals.
- Engineers.
- Scientists.
- Agriculture.
- Statisticians.
- Architects.
- The initiative does not provide clear-cut guidelines for educators to follow.
- Few elementary teachers are qualified to teach in the areas of math or science.
- No national standards.
- No teacher certification.
- Can be costly.
- Comes at the expense of other subject matter.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The term serves as an umbrella for a number of fields, including information technology, software development, computer network architecture, information security, and others.
Why should I choose a STEM career? ›Today's STEM employers are in need of trained and qualified professionals. Pursuing a STEM career can provide you with job security, as well as a strong sense of being an integral force to our marketplace. Consider, for example, that physical therapist is one of the fastest growing jobs in the country.
What is the difference between a STEM school and a regular school? ›STEM education is known for sparking an interest in subjects such as science, technology, math and engineering, because it gets students more involved in doing, rather than just learning. Traditional education covers a general spectrum of subjects without focusing directly on, or diving deeper into, a select few.
What is STEM education in primary schools? ›
The concept of STEM learning is to combine science, technology, engineering and maths to create something that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Combining these subjects together can help pupils understand how the subjects they study can be applied in real life.
What is considered a STEM career? ›A STEM job is any job in the fields of science, technology, engineering or math. With a foundation in these subjects, a STEM career allows you to solve problems, develop new ideas and conduct research.
Is STEM hard in high school? ›Being a STEM student is not easy, it requires a lot efforts, patience, and dedications.
Is STEM good for kids? ›In an era when technical and scientific skills are increasingly important in the work force, exposing children to STEM learning in the early years is key. Just as important, STEM learning is fun! It fosters important skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity.
How do you get into STEM school? ›To enroll in a STEM school, students typically have to enter a lottery or demonstrate proficiency in STEM subjects through an application.
What is the highest paying STEM job? ›- Nuclear engineer. ...
- Materials engineer. ...
- IT manager. ...
- Computer scientist. ...
- Software engineer. ...
- Network security engineer. National average salary: $115,349 per year. ...
- Network architect. National average salary: $136,251 per year. ...
- Radiologist. National average salary: $197,260 per year.
Although you might know STEM, you should also know it by its full name: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In the Indian education system, if you choose the Science stream regardless of biology or mathematics, you are going for a career in STEM.
Does STEM include medicine? ›It is a science, the S in STEM. Yes, medicine and all the biological sciences are included in STEM. Be sure to take other STEM courses (mathematics, engineering and computer science).
Is STEM learning free? ›It's free to join. It uses the same login details as your STEM Learning website account if you already have one. If not, it's quick and easy to register - and you can join in 'on the go' to using our Apps which you can download from the App Store and Google Play.
Why is STEM important primary school? ›STEM learning is also important for students in their everyday life in our contemporary world, with the rise of new technologies in biomedicine, microfabrication, robotics and artificial intelligence. The ability to understand and apply data, and develop solutions to complex problems, will be important life skills.
What are 10 careers you think of when you think of STEM? ›
- Gameplay Engineer/Programmer. ...
- Certified Ethical Hacker. ...
- Underwater Archeologist. ...
- Nanosystems Engineer. ...
- Atmospheric Scientist/Storm Tracker. ...
- LEGO Designer. ...
- Mobile Application Developer. ...
- Aerospace Engineer.
Going into STEM isn't just a great way to get a job. It's also a way to get a high paying job. Studies have shown that 63 percent of people with a degree in STEM-related work get paid more than someone with a bachelor's degree in anything else.
What are good things about STEM jobs? ›- 1). Cross-Marketability of Skills. ...
- 2). High Pay. ...
- 3). Job Availability. ...
- 4). Less Competition. ...
- 5). Less of a Gender Gap. ...
- 6). Basic Skills Won't Get Obsolete. ...
- 7). Innovation. ...
- 8). Better Classes.