What is STEM Education: What You Need to know

The acronym STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Often seen as belonging to different spaces, STEM combines these disciplines to offer a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to learning and education by exploring real-world problems. Whether classroom, remote, or blended learning, STEM encourages students to actively engage in a lesson by discovering and exploring to find a solution. It also prepares students for critical thinking, perseverance, and personal accountability, which are essential for success in higher education and professional settings.

Combined with the 5E+IA model, STEM education provides an engaging and equitable learning environment for all students. According to the Pew Research Group, employment in STEM-related jobs is continuously growing and has jumped 79% in the last thirty years. The boom isn’t slowing down either: STEM jobs are projected to grow upwards of 11% from 2020 to 2030. 

STEM education makes learning science an enjoyable experience for students. Instead of remaining seated and taking notes on experiments– students are up and out of their seats, interacting with one another and using discourse as one of their main problem-solving strategies. A STEM science class allows students to approach problem-solving like real scientists and explore subjects in greater depth. Using the scientific method, students follow a standardized approach to research. Results are discovered through their own investigation, promoting accountability and adding a richer learning experience for all participants.

In recent years, there has been a push for incorporating the Arts into STEM education through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). STEAM learning emphasizes creativity and aligns the arts with STEM learning. Arts can include visual arts, language arts, music, and more. STEAM’s interdisciplinary approach allows even more opportunities for learning and exploration through the arts.

RELATED READING: STEM VS STEAM: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

In a STEM math class, students learn through inquiry-based learning, emphasizing exploration and wonder. The use of instructional methods, such as the Concrete, Representational, and Abstract model (CRA), allows students to explore complex concepts through a scaffolded approach. In CRA, students use manipulatives, drawings, and eventually abstract formulas to demonstrate mastery of mathematical concepts and make real-world connections.

Instead of just being told what happens as a result of something, students conduct experiments using real-world examples to understand the relationship between cause and effect. These experiments can take place in the classroom or even outside in the natural world. When students are solving problems that are happening in their world, they are more likely to be interested and invested in what they are learning. STEM provides opportunities for students of all ages to be mindful citizens aware of current issues occurring on a global level. Even at a young age, STEM ignites the curiosity that leads to students becoming lifelong learners.

See how to use the story of The 3 Little Pigs to introduce STEM into early childhood education.

STEM education is also a gateway to high-paying STEM careers. The amount of college students that are STEM majors is steadily increasing, especially since STEM covers everything from computer science and engineering to physical and life science professions. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, jobs in STEM-related fields have grown 24% over the last fifteen years. STEM professionals also command higher wages in their prospective professions, earning 29% more than their non-STEM peers–and the gap is still growing.

Why the uptick in STEM? Our world has become increasingly digital. Technological advancements have changed the way we do everything, including jobs. STEM education equips students with a growth mindset and the autonomy needed to be successful in their future careers.

Traditional teaching methods are outdated in the modern classroom. Rote-memorization falls short in the modern world. Living in a digital age, students consume and synthesize information differently than students in years past. Rote learning doesn’t take into account students’ need for acquiring information that appeals to different learning styles. It is more about regurgitating information rather than building up a foundation of knowledge and connecting it to other interactions and examples in the world. Studies have shown that this outdated model doesn’t work anymore. Students are 1.5 times more likely to fail when learning from traditional teaching methods.

Rather than lecture-styled instruction that encourages rote memorization, STEM education offers a hands-on experience for students based on real-world application. Students use of technology, the scientific method, and an inquiry-based model, provide opportunities for meaningful interactions with phenomena and the ability to make connections to the world.

STEM’s student-centered approach empowers students by engaging them in a cooperative learning model, where they are active participants working collaboratively towards a common goal. Students not only learn from their successes but also from their failures or mistakes, just like real scientists or engineers. Not only does STEM education increase student investment and buy-in, but it also avoids classroom management challenges by redirecting students' energy and focus to solving the problem in a way that is fun and interactive.

What does this look like in the classroom? Learning about animal habitats can be easily made into a STEM lesson with the incorporation of 5E+IA and some STEM activities.

Using prior knowledge, students participate in discourse on what they think makes a suitable habitat for an animal (ability to make shelter, ample food sources, safety from predators, etc.) As they acquire more information, students hypothesize the impact of the environment on an animal’s ability to live and thrive. They use datasets, such as Tuva Data Literacy, that organize data and statistical information in a visually consumable way. The culminating activity is a physical representation of an animal habitat, showcasing all the information acquired through the course of the unit in a physical model of an animal environment.

Students of all ages can benefit from and enjoy STEM. They can use hands-on learning with real-world examples and real-world problem-solving procedures like the scientific method. It also provides opportunities to work with technology and digital tools, which is a high-interest area for all students.

STEM education appeals to students’ natural curiosity and wonder about the world around them. Through an interdisciplinary approach and student-centered model, students develop 21st-century skills that reinvigorate their passion for learning. STEM education taps into students’ thirst for knowledge by providing an alternative approach to learning through the exploration of Phenomena. STEM transforms classroom learning with highly engaging, interactive lessons that increase interest in both Math and Science.

STEM students learn collaboratively through discourse and problem-solving. Using the scientific method, students view themselves as more than just participants in an activity; they view themselves as scientists conducting an experiment about actual problems experienced in real life.

STEM education drives higher test scores and student achievement on high-stakes standardized tests with standard-aligned lessons that scaffold learning, allowing the exploration of complex concepts in chunks that build on one another.

STEM allows students to experience productive struggle, which builds confidence and the critical thinking skills needed when encountering challenging questions on standardized tests. STEM skills and strategies can be applied in any context and empower students when facing new challenges.

According to the Institute of Education Sciences, on the PISA 2015 science literacy assessment, students who expected to work in health or STEM fields scored 516 points on average, outperforming by 28 points their peers with expectations of non-science careers.

Research shows the direct impact on student success in all of our STEM programs, including STEMscopes Science, STEMscopes Math, and Math Nation. Highlights include:

• Dunne STEM Academy Elementary School increased their science proficiency passing rates on the Illinois Science Assessment by 18%
• Dallas ISD saw a +12% higher passing rate among African American students within STEMscopes Math schools
• Title 1 schools with frequent Math Nation use had +17% higher proficiency rates

Browse our Research and Efficacy Studies

Bringing STEM into the classroom can be transforming. It provides an inclusive learning environment and flexibility in instructional methods. Although there can be some challenges in adopting a new STEM program, incorporating STEM into the classroom doesn’t require rewriting your curriculum– it requires viewing education as an opportunity to learn and grow. STEM offers abundant opportunities for differentiated instruction that appeals to all learning styles. STEM’s interactive approach to learning makes it enjoyable for students and teachers alike.

At Accelerate Learning, we recognize the importance STEM plays in developing lifelong learners equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in higher education and the workforce. We also trust the professional judgment of teachers. That’s why we utilize a flexible teaching model that provides ample resources to incorporate into lessons. This allows teachers to use material that works best for the set of learners in their classroom and will enable teachers to incorporate their personality and teaching style into each and every lesson. We also believe in providing teachers with professional learning that will aid them in navigating the teaching of STEM. STEMscopes engages a diverse group of students with varying skill sets, allowing them to interact with complex and challenging concepts.

The STEMscopes 5E+IA Model

STEMscopes uses the 5E+IA model, which opens up the possibilities for inquiry-based learning that keeps kids tuned in and excited about what will happen next. Our belief is that students learn best by doing with hands-on experiments that connect to the real world. 
Here is a brief overview of our model:

The 5E model has been a staple of effective instruction for decades and is at the core of our STEMscopes approach for both math and science curriculum. Centered on a gradual transition from teacher-led instruction to student-driven learning, the 5E model allows students to explore context before content, to develop a deep understanding of concepts.

Combined with our Intervention and Acceleration for struggling and gifted students, STEMscopes offers a comprehensive approach to engaging students in hands-on, 5E+IA STEM education that inspires lifelong learners.