STEM: What is it?
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
- Program started by Judith A. Ramaley, former director of the National Science Foundation’s education and human-resources division.
- Designed to revolutionize the teaching of subject areas such as mathematics and science by incorporating technology and engineering into regular curriculum by creating a “meta-discipline.”
- More on STEM in education
STEM: More than 4 subjects
- STEM Education attempts to transform the typical teacher-centered classroom by encouraging a curriculum that is driven by problem-solving, discovery, exploratory learning, and requires students to actively engage a situation in order to find its solution.
- 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.
STEM: Why is it important
- All students benefit from the STEM program because it teaches independent innovation and allows students to explore greater depths of all 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.
- STEM is the big education “buzz” word
- STEM has business and legislative support
- STEM is often expanded to STEAM (for “Arts”) (so there is potential to also include WLs)
STEM: How does the STARTALK Russian Student Program focus on it?