The History and Importance of STEAM Education
You’ve probably heard of the acronym STEM. The term was introduced early in the 21st century as a way to refer to careers and/or curriculum centered around science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- the most rapidly growing industries in the U.S. economy. Then as the U.S. and companies continued to ramp up technological innovation, in order to remain competitive across the globe, the movement around integrating STEM into educational frameworks began to gain a lot of traction.
In a nutshell, people began to recognize that it was time to start preparing our youth, and our economy, for the future, by helping students of all ages develop the 21st century skills they will need to be successful, and to play an effective role, in the future workforce.
Fast forward several years, after STEM had become a buzzword in the world of education, and a new, very similar term emerged -- STEAM. The “A” in steam refers to arts. And this addition plays a critical role in how we need to be preparing our youth for the future.
To give you a better understanding of how STEAM came about and the importance of implementing a STEAM learning environment, let’s take a look at what led to this movement, what the “A” brings to the table, and how educators and parents can implement this framework in ways that enhance our kids’ continued educational and personal development.
The History of STEAM Education
STEAM is a progression of the original STEM acronym, plus one additional element: art. Why the change? The integration of the arts into STEM learning has allowed educators to expand the benefits of hands-on education and collaboration in a variety of was, promoting creativity and curiosity at the core. But before we get to that, let’s first look at the evolution of STEM to STEAM.
The original push for the implementation of STEM curriculum stemmed (pun not intended) from a rise in related job opportunities in the American economy. In fact, according to the U. S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations began growing at double the rate of all other occupations. Furthermore, people with STEM-related degrees were making higher incomes, even in non-STEM related careers. And as the economy continued to evolve, STEM workers have played a critical role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S. economy — and have become a key component to helping a variety of industries win the future.
But in 2020, when it comes to arming our youth with effective creativity critical thinking skills, STEM is not enough. By adding in a focus on helping kids develop a creative mindset, and other related skills, educators can give our youth even more opportunities to be successful in real-world, professional settings and problem-solving situations.
Why Add Art to The STEM Framework?
A growing number of schools are now incorporating teaching methods that are more in line with STEAM education, as it has become clear that arts education makes learning more fun and keeps children more engaged.
“Incorporating the A in STEAM—art—brings in personal expression, empathy, meaning-making and the purpose of what you’re learning,” explains Dr. Kristin Cook, associate dean of Bellarmine’s Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education and longtime science educator. “It’s the humanizing piece of transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary instruction.”
In a report titled “How the ARTS Benefit Student Achievement,” the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies points to data that shows the benefits of incorporating arts into a student’s school day. Researchers found that students scored better on standardized tests when they were more active in the arts -- compared to those who were less active in the arts. Those same students reportedly also watched less TV, felt less bored in school and participated in more hours of community service.
The STEAM movement is not an attempt to take away from STEM or its subject areas, but instead, the idea is to enhance the framework by invoking a greater sense of creativity. In addition, one of the objectives behind this movement is to entice students who might not otherwise consider a STEM job to do just that -- by adding a focus on the arts and integrating all five disciplines in a creative way. It makes kids more well-rounded and opens them up to a vast number of new opportunities.
The idea is to teach kids that they don’t have to be only analytical or only creative -- they can be both. To be successful both now and down the road, one must be both an analytical thinker and a creative thinker. STEAM shows kids they don’t have to pick one side of their brain over the other, but they can use both to solve almost any problem they face.
Why is STEAM So Important?
While the U.S. economy and job market have continued to rapidly evolve over the past several decades, our education system has not. For the most part, students continue to learn the same subject areas in the same classroom setting.
Here at Steam Truck, our mission is to enhance how students learn and teachers teach by incorporating STEAM curriculum and project-based learning into the school day.
The goal of STEAM-based learning is to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in the future. Regardless of the specific role or industry, it is now critical that students go off to college and/or enter the workforce with a set of well-rounded skills that allow them to adapt to an evolving and fast-paced environment.
Naveen Jain, founder of the World Innovation Institute, wrote a number of years ago when STEAM was just gaining momentum: The traditional system of “standardized, rote learning that teaches to a test is exactly the type of education our children don’t need in this world that is plagued by systemic, pervasive and confounding global challenges,” he said. “Today’s education system does not focus enough on teaching children to solve real-world problems and is not interdisciplinary, nor collaborative enough in its approach.”
STEAM brings together five critical disciplines to create an inclusive learning environment that encourages all students to participate, collaborate and problem solve. This holistic approach encourages students to exercise both the left and right sides of their brains simultaneously, as they would need to do in a 21st century working environment.
“As repetitive tasks are eroded by technology and outsourcing, the ability to solve novel problems has become increasingly vital,” says Jeevan Vasager in a Financial Times article.
In fact, according to the National Education Association, there are four primary skill areas necessary for success in the 21st century:
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Communication
Collaboration
Creativity & Innovation
As the education world continues to explore new strategies to equip students with these skills and the knowledge they need to be successful innovators and creators in the 21st century workforce, there has been a growing emphasis on STEAM and related learning tactics as an avenue to for making this happen.
As opposed to traditional models of teaching, the STEAM framework blurs the lines between disciplines in order to encourage higher levels of creativity and effectiveness when it comes to problem solving. For example, giving a future engineer the skills to visualize and sketch out his ideas will make him more effective in his job down the road.
The Data
By teaching kids how to think critically, problem solve and use creativity, the STEAM framework prepares students to work in fields that are poised for big growth. A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth in STEM and STEAM related occupations of 8.8% between now and 2028, compared to 5.0% for non-STEM occupations. It also lists median annual wages of $84,880 for STEM/STEAM jobs, compared to $37,020 for all occupations.
While kids as young as two use STEAM skills on a daily basis, whether it be through building blocks or collaborating through play, only a small percentage of U.S. students are being exposed to an effective STEM/STEAM education at an early age. In fact, according to a study by Microsoft:
4 in 5 STEM college students (78%) said they decided to study STEM in high school or earlier
One in five (21%) decided in middle school or earlier.
Only 1 in 5 STEM college students feel that their K–12 education prepared them extremely well for their college courses in STEM.
“Educating students in STEM subjects (if taught correctly) prepares students for life, regardless of the profession they choose to follow,” technology innovator and President of Enterra Solutions Stephen DeAngelis says in an article in Wired.
“Those subjects teach students how to think critically and how to solve problems — skills that can be used throughout life to help them get through tough times and take advantage of opportunities whenever they appear.”
Another important aspect of the STEAM approach is that students aren’t just taught the subject matter, they’re taught how to ask questions, how to be innovative and how to create. This allows them to develop the ability to approach any situation with an open mind and mindset that’s creatively wired.
How to Implement STEAM at Home
As mentioned above, the earlier kids begin to learn through a STEAM framework, the quicker they can develop key creative and critical thinking skills. So instead of waiting for them to be introduced to STEAM at school, there are ways that parents can help their kids to start learning at home.
A report from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, a research and innovation lab that focuses on the challenges of educating children in a rapidly changing media landscape, provides multiple recommendations to help parents encourage STEAM learning at home, in order to expand to the classroom and help their students’ critical thinking.
Here are some of the organization’s recommendations:
Learn About STEAM: Parents will feel more confident introducing STEAM ideas and projects to children if they have a better understanding of the topics and skills in the field.
Connect Learning: Take advantage of the wide range of tools and activities available online that help incorporate STEAM into all aspects of kids’ daily lives.
Provide Digital Connection (if possible): Students need access to technology to continue their STEAM education at home, while increasing their digital literacy. With educational internet, parents can work with their children, helping increase their confidence in STEAM fields.
Here’s a list of great ideas to consider implementing at home with your kids!
About STE(A)M Truck
STE(A)M Truck is a mobile makerspace created to spark a passion in youth for science, technology, engineering, arts and math by bringing the coolest tools, equipment and mentors directly to schools. Through our programs, STE(A)M Truck provides students with access to the expertise and materials needed to implement hands-on building, tinkering, and learning experiences that are oftentimes unavailable in schools serving low-income communities. Our multifaceted curriculum is designed to pull kids out of their comfort zones and help them see the awesome potential that is their future selves. We also work with and empower teachers so they can continue this work in the classroom after we pull away.
Access to hands-on building, tinkering, and the kinds of curriculum offered through STE(A)M Truck can increase access to STEM careers and build the skills critical for long term success. However, the tools, expertise, and time needed to utilize these types of strategies are usually unavailable in public schools, and especially so in public schools serving low-income communities. Our programs provide access to materials, expertise, and curriculum that can reach students during the school day directly on their own campus.
If you’re interested in learning more, contact us or check out our current programming offerings here.