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Why is S.T.E.M. Education

Important?

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In one word, what qualities do STEM students have upon graduation at the different levels in education?

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How proficient are U.S. 12th graders in math and science?

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S.T.E.M. education in school is important to spark an interest in pursuing a S.T.E.M. career in students.

S.T.E.M. education is critical to help the United States remain a world leader.

If S.T.E.M. education is not improved, the United States will continue to fall in world ranking with math and science scores and will not be able to maintain its global position.

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What is S.T.E.M?

S.T.E.M. stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.

S.T.E.M. curriculum blends those subjects in order to teach “21st-century skills,” or tools students need to have if they wish to succeed in the workplace of the “future.”

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Why S.T.E.M.?

Jobs in the real world are interdisciplinary.
We need to educate children in how subjects integrate and work together.
They need to develop diverse skills sets and a passion for exploration and growth.

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Science and Math

STEM science classes incorporate:

Technology
Engineering
Mathematics

STEM math incorporates concepts and exercises that apply:

Science
Technology
Engineering

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Technology and Engineering

Technology includes topics such as:

Computer programming
Analytics
Design.

Engineering can include topics like

Electronics
Robots
Civil engineering.

The key term, when talking about STEM, is integration. STEM curriculum intentionally melds these disciplines. It’s a blended approach that encourages hands-on experience and gives students the chance to gain and apply relevant, “real world” knowledge in the classroom.

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Benefits of STEM

S.T.E.M. embraces the 4 C’s identified as key in 21st Century education:

Creativity
Collaboration
Critical Thinking
Communication

S.T.E.M. initiatives also do more to reach and encourage females and minority students who may not have shown interest in STEM subjects in the past or may not have had strong support to pursue and excel in STEM subjects.

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BENEFITS OF STEM EDUCATION

Fosters ingenuity and creativity
Builds resilience
Encourages experimentation
Encourages teamwork

Encourages knowledge application
Encourages tech use
Teaches problem-solving
Encourages adaptation

Fosters ingenuity and creativity:

Ingenuity and creativity can pair with STEM and lead to new ideas and innovations. Without ingenuity and creativity, the recent developments in artificial intelligence or digital learning would not be possible. These technologies were created by people who learned that if the human mind can conceive it, the human mind can achieve it. No doubt they had a great K-12 STEM education teacher.

Builds resilience:

During STEM education activities, students learn in a safe environment that allows them to fall and try again. STEM education stresses the value of failure as a learning exercise, which will enable students to embrace mistakes as part of the learning process. This allows students to build confidence and resilience, which will enable them to keep going when the going gets rough. After all, failure is part of a process that ultimately leads to success.

Encourages experimentation:

Without a little risk-taking, and experimentation, many of the technological advancements that have occurred in the last couple of decades would not be possible. Many of these innovations were created by people who were told that their ideas wouldn’t work and their response was, “Let’s try it and see.” This type of attitude can be encouraged with STEM learning during the K-12 years. How can you accomplish this? By allowing students to experiment and take risks during learning activities.

Encourages teamwork:

STEM education can be taught to students of all ability levels. Students of varying levels of ability can work together in teams to find solutions to problems, record data, write reports, give presentations, etc. The end result is students who understand how to collaborate with others and thrive in a team-oriented environment.

Encourages knowledge application:

In STEM education, students are taught skills that they can use in the real world. This motivates students to learn, as they know that the skills that they acquire can be utilized immediately, and in ways that positively impact them and their loved ones. The ability to apply their knowledge to new and novel tasks will bode well for them when they enter the workforce.

Encourages tech use:

STEM learning teaches kids about the power of technology and innovation. So, when students encounter new technologies, they will be prepared to embrace them, instead of being hesitant or fearful. This will give them the upper hand in the global landscape, as the world is becoming increasingly tech-centered.

Teaches problem-solving:

STEM education teaches students how to solve problems by using their critical thinking skills. By engaging in STEM learn experiences, students learn how to examine problems and then create a plan to solve them.

Encourages adaption:

To succeed in life, students have to be able to apply what they have learned to a variety of scenarios. STEM education teaches them to adapt the concepts that they learn to various iterations of a problem or issue.

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Who benefits from S.T.E.M.?

S.T.E.M. education helps to bridge the ethnic and gender gaps sometimes found in math and science fields.

Initiatives have been established to increase the roles of women and minorities in S.T.E.M.-related fields.

S.T.E.M. education breaks the traditional gender roles. In order to compete in a global economy,

S.T.E.M. education and careers must be a national priority. Each and every decision made uses an aspect of S.T.E.M. to understand the implications.