What is STEM Education? |
STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. Rather than teach the four disciplines as separate and discrete subjects, STEM integrates them into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications. STEM Education attempts to transform the typical teacher centered classroom by encouraging a curriculum that is driven by problem solving, discovery, exploratory learning, and requiring students to actively engage a situation in order to find its solution. |
Integration of Curriculum |
The four parts of STEM have been taught separately and independently from each other for years. By adopting the STEM philosophy Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics all play an integral part in the teaching of the whole. The science, engineering and mathematics fields are made complete by the technology component that provides a creative and innovative way to problem solve and apply what has been learned. |
Benefits of the Program |
Connecting the disciplines for students opens the door to more meaningful curriculum that is relevant to the century in which they will live. All students benefit from STEM education because it teaches independent innovation and allows students to explore greater depths of each of the subjects by utilizing the skills learned; these skills are going to be required in order for today’s students to be tomorrow’s global leaders. All jobs are requiring workers to have a greater ability to think critically and work independently and as a member of a team. STEM education will also help close the performance gap between students in the United States and those in other countries. |