What Is STEM Education in Elementary?
- Introduction of the scientific method
- Basic science experiments
- Building digital literacy skills
- Math problems based on real-world applications
- Coding and algorithms
- Critical thinking and problem-solving activities
STEM vs STEAM vs. STEMM
There is nothing the education system likes as much as a good acronym, so which one should you be using these days? Join our teacher team on a deep-dive into STEM, STEAM, and STEMM.- STEM — short for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math — is often considered the OG here with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) showing up as a relatively recent addition, but the truth is STEM and STEAM have both been around for awhile.
- STEM and STEAM were both proposed in 2012 by the United States National Research Council as a new form of teaching K-12 science education. The goal was to focus on deep and collaborative learning to build a strong foundation for students that would prepare them for a technology-heavy working environment in the future.
- STEMM is the newcomer here. It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine. Educators and STEMM policymakers say the inclusion of that second M should also come with a focus on diversity and inclusion.