What is STEM?
So… what is STEM? Chances are that you’ve read it’s an academic focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Any educator, involved parent, or google search will tell you that. However, this definition does a great disservice. It doesn’t explain ‘what’ it is and ‘how’ it’s different from our traditional science education. So, what is STEM really?
At its core, STEM is an effort to teach the technical skills required to prepare our children for the future workplace. The truth is that our pace of technological advancement is moving much faster than our curriculum. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has watched how the growth of STEM-based jobs have increased and can see that it isn’t slowing down anytime soon. But what jobs and skills are we talking about?
This chart helps explain why there is such a strong emphasis on programming and engineering. Ok, so why would STEM education help prepare our children for these opportunities? Let’s look at what STEM represents:
Science is a massive area. However, it provides a basic understanding of rational thinking and logic. The keystone of our science education is the development and application of the scientific method. This tool gives us a process by which we can question, test, and learn about the environment around us – no matter what we choose to do with our lives.
Technology… we’ll come back to this.
Engineering is the application of these fields in the pursuit of making cool stuff! This includes anything from iPhones, drones, and furniture to bridges, planes, and water purification. This is where the theoretical rubber meets the literal road!
Mathematics is a language involving numbers and letters that enables us to see patterns. These patterns help us to learn from our past and peer into the future. It gives us the power to extend beyond our limited understanding and create things that would otherwise be impossible. I can throw a rock, and intuit its trajectory and distance based on my experiences… However, I’ll need mathematics to create a rocket that can safely transport brave humans to and from Mars.
Up until now, these disciplines have been taught in schools. These make up the traditional scientific education curriculum. So – what is truly different about STEM?
Now for Technology… Traditional science classes don’t include technology. The main reason for this is because it hasn’t been accessible. But now, that has changed. Previously, electronic components, programming languages, and manufacturing processes have all been limited to businesses that had the capital to invest. Now all of these have become affordable and more approachable; of which Makey Makey (affiliate link), Blockly, and 3D printing are all great examples.
Our children have the ability to learn today what only a select group knew a few years ago.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
That’s it! That’s really what STEM is all about.