As parents and teachers, we all want students to the most from their time in school. That’s why education experts are continually reviewing different means of teaching students, trying to find the techniques, materials, and subjects which are both most effective as well as most “important” for today’s students to learn. Both of those qualifiers are naturally quite subjective, and there is a lot of debate and variety in philosophical approaches.
What Is STEAM Learning?
First, let’s get this out of the way – what, precisely, is Steam Learning? For the uninitiated, STEAM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.
The STEAM Learning approach thus emphasizes these five educational disciplines, which should come as no surprise given the fact that, before the incorporation of the Arts, STEM was the darling of the educational world. STEM jobs continue to be among the highest paying positions out there. That said, a healthy interest in the Humanities is always beneficial, and with menial tasks being automated or phased out, creativity is set to be quite in-demand.
The Benefits
So, now that we know what Steam Learning is let’s take a look at how and why it can be so beneficial.
For one thing, as stated, more and more jobs are interested in the creativity associated with the Arts. STEM positions likewise enjoy a great deal of prestige. In addition, placing emphasis on the subjects covered in STEAM can help improve our flagging test scores in these categories relative to the rest of the world.
Moreover, there is something to be said for teaching these subjects for their own sake. Each of them can add a great deal of value to our society, and having a good working knowledge of these subjects can thus be an essential way of making sure that students receive as well-rounded an education as possible.
We owe it to our students to provide them with the best educational systems and methods possible. The STEAM approach to education is designed with the intention of doing just that.