What is STEM?

What is STEM Education?

STEM education focuses on the integrated teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and other disciplines through inquiry and real-world problem-solving.

STEM teaching practices are based on research on how children learn. Students conduct research, write journals, give presentations, draw what they see, collect, record and interpret data, write reports, create graphs and charts, invent new products or solutions to real-world problems, rebuild automobiles, and write the code for new video games. They may also address artistic components of design and engineering.

STEM learning fosters creativity and innovative thinking through real-world problem solving. New strategies of integrating applied arts into the STEM curriculum (referred to as “STEAM”) are gaining interest nationwide as a common practice. Applied arts often have a natural place in mathematics, science, technology and engineering curriculum, as they support improved student creativity, communication skills, and practices of design criteria, which lead to broader applications throughout many diverse STEM careers.

STEM education is student-centered and engaging. Teachers facilitate more and lecture less. In fact, you may have to look hard to find the teacher! Groups of students may be talking, questioning, defending, showing and doing.

STEM education starts in preschool and continues throughout life. STEM education is a set of effective and inspiring teaching practices that engage students from preschool through college. “Early education in science and mathematics is important as preparation for students pursuing study and careers in STEM fields.”i STEM activities outside the classroom can also be very motivating for students, build skills, and increase student interest in STEM degrees and careers.

STEM education uses equipment that relates to the real world.Students and teachers may be fortunate enough to work in state-of-the-art laboratories or, more commonly, the teacher may practice “Walmart science.” Teachers often buy their own supplies to use in classrooms that have few resources. This is another reason why business and community partnerships are essential; students need to see and use tools necessary in real STEM professions.

The term “STEM literacy” refers to the basic scientific knowledge and skills that everyone needs. Put simply, a basic knowledge of science prepares students to tackle the challenges of a fiercely competitive and constantly changing 21st century economy as well as the challenges of decision making that affects our quality of life.

How Does the Nevada STEM Coalition “Define” STEM Education?

There is no national or “official” definition of STEM education or STEM schools. However, there are generally recognized STEM practices that the Nevada STEM Coalition supports and that exist in numerous state STEM initiatives. (See also our Foundational Principles.)

• More emphasis on the fields of science, engineering, technology, and applied mathematics starting pre-kindergarten for ALL students, including girls, women, and diverse populations.
• Inquiry teaching practices that promote cross-discipline and/or theme-based projects, higher order thinking, hands-on activities, communication skills and problem solving.
• Educator and community awareness of the STEM job skills and job opportunities in Nevada so that they can share this information with students and motivate more of them to consider these careers, thus addressing current shortages in skilled workers for STEM-related business and industry.
• Increased educator and community awareness and use of informal STEM programs and activities to build student interest and engagement.
• Increased teacher preparation and training in STEM content and in STEM teaching practices to increase student performance.
• The use of all these activities to build college- and career-ready students in all disciplines who are prepared as 21st century global citizens.

Can You Give Me Some Examples?

• Classes are more student-centered. Teachers facilitate more and lecture less. In fact, you may have to look hard to find the teacher!
• Classroom topics may include social studies, science, reading, art, math, technology, and engineering and may include important themes.
• Classrooms may be noisy with many groups of students talking, questioning, defending, showing and doing.
• Students are researching and talking to experts about how the class activities relate to careers or college. They are solving real-world problems.
• Students are reading, writing journals, giving presentations, drawing what they see, collecting and recording data, writing reports, creating graphs and charts. They may be doing art to illustrate what they are learning!
• Students are interpreting, questioning, challenging, drawing conclusions, and applying skills to new situations. Teachers keep asking them to dig down for deeper understanding and explanations. Students are encouraged to question each other. They are preparing for the 21st century workforce that requires teamwork, higher level thinking, and problem solving.
• Students may get their lectures online and do activities in class
• Drill and practice can be online, with immediate student feedback and lessons moving as fast as the student learns them
• Students and teachers may be fortunate enough to work in a state-of-the-art laboratory, or, more frequently the case, the teacher may practice “WalMart Science.” Teachers often buy their own supplies and make do in classrooms that have few resources.
• The coming new science standards include engineering and technology. Districts will need to develop new curriculum and provide teachers with professional development (“workforce retraining”) to assist them with content knowledge and teaching practices.

Good educators have always known that students often cannot apply what they have learned to new situations. Students may know information in isolation, but it is a learned skill to apply, or transfer, that knowledge to solving a unique problem or inventing something new. Researchers and inventors are not always born—they are nurtured from childhood, and often sparked by an outstanding teacher.

Isn’t that what we want ALL our kids to be able to do?

Exemplary STEM instruction, taught by a talented teacher, requires students to challenge their own assumptions, defend their conclusions, dig deep for answers, work cooperatively, and apply knowledge to solving problems.

It’s also called INQUIRY LEARNING

How Does STEM Teaching and Learning Fit with the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards?

Multidisciplinary STEM practices are required in the Common Core reading and math standards as well as the Next Generation Science Standards. They can include real world career information/experiences as well as other disciplines such as the arts and social studies.
STEM ActivitiesCC English Language Arts StandardsCC Math StandardsArts, Technology, Social Studies StandardsNG Science Standards

NAEP Testing for 2011, Grade 8 Science (Nationwide)

• “Students doing hands-on projects in class more frequently scored higher”
• “Students who report doing science-related activities that are not for schoolwork score higher”

Nevada Governor Sandoval supports STEM:

“STEM education in Nevada supports the alignment of education and workforce development to strategic economic opportunities by ensuring that our students and workforce possess the skills and innovation to succeed in a diversified society.”