What is the STEM VS STEAM

 

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

STEM entails the scientific and mathematical concepts of primary and secondary education. Focusing on how these four disciplines interact and integrate with one another, STEM-based learning seeks to equip students with interdisciplinary skills and knowledge required in the modern world.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics)

You could argue that STEAM is an expansion of STEM through its acknowledgement of the arts as a key cog of interdisciplinary learning. Defining the arts as language, social sciences and humanities, STEAM promotes the importance of creative thinking when approaching STEM projects. By incorporating an ‘A’ and thus the arts into STEM, proponents argue that it creates a well-rounded reflection of contemporary curriculum.

How are they the same?

It may appear obvious, but parallels run between STEM and STEAM through their mutual promotion of science-based learning. Both approaches signify the importance of teaching science, maths, engineering and technology in the education system to not only fill a progressive demand for jobs in these sectors, but to also prepare students for an increasingly digitised world.

What’s the difference?

While the differences between STEM and STEAM are pretty marginal, the main disparity lies in their acknowledgement of arts-based learning. STEM heavily promotes scientific and mathematic concepts while STEAM approaches seek to combine art and science

The STEM versus STEAM debate will no doubt continue as experts contend that students with well-developed hard and soft skills across multiple areas of expertise are essential to the modern working world.