STEM is the buzzword in education these days. But what is STEM education or STEM learning all about and how important is it in the education of our children? The acronym STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
STEM education is designed to equip the learners with skills such as: critical thinking, problem-solving, team-work, adaptability, creativity or innovation, digital literacy, among others. These are the skills that children need to succeed in the 21st Century job market.
It must be understood that STEM is not a stand-alone or separate subject that children learn. STEM education is an approach to or process of learning which puts together all subjects to holistically help the children to learn in a real-world set-up thereby preparing them to face challenges and enable them to offer innovative solutions to the world that they live in. This is important since most careers nowadays require knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics regardless of the field for one to be successful.
Students who have undergone STEM education turn out to be problem-solvers, innovators, inventors, logical thinkers, self-reliant, and technologically literate. They can think critically and challenge status quo and hence being innovative. Students in STEM education keep up with technological advances and can collaborate with others in their environment, and they are willing to take risks by experimenting and adapting the concepts they learn to new challenges and situations. STEM education also enhances interdisciplinary communication as the learners interact and actively engage with other experts from other fields and share ideas.