Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) – Part I

STEM education, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, integrates distinct fields of study into a cohesive curriculum. Disciplines that fall within this classification, including chemistry, physics, trigonometry, and software design, are also included in STEM programming. Presently, U.S. students fall behind their foreign cohorts in STEM education. Young Americans, in order to compete with their international counterparts in math and science, are encouraged to participate in this innovative educational initiative. U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, has remarked, “Everyone has a stake in improving STEM education. Inspiring all our students to be capable in math and science will help them contribute in an increasingly technology-based economy, and will also help America prepare the next generation of STEM professionals—scientists, engineers, architects and technology professionals—to ensure our competiveness.”

Over the last ten years, the number of jobs related to STEM has increased three times compared to the number of jobs in non-STEM disciplines. By developing an integrated curriculum, not only is it more engaging for students but it also builds on problem solving skills and encourages solutions based thinking. Courses in the STEM programs are more intellectually and academically demanding relative to courses in the humanities or in the social sciences.

More schools today offer a form of STEM programming, and the numbers continue to increase. STEM educational courses offer an authentic link to work environments that students will encounter in their respective fields of study; it fosters collaborations with community colleges and universities, as well as with business corporations and potential employers.

As a parent, you may wonder – How do I encourage my child to engage in STEM activities? Stay tuned for our answer to this very question in next week’s blog post.