The four STEM disciplines are Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and may be summarized as follows
• Science enables us to develop our interest in, and understanding of, the living, material and physical
world and develops the skills of collaboration, research, critical inquiry and experimentation
• Technology covers a range of fields which involve the application of knowledge, skills and computational thinking to extend human capabilities and to help satisfy human needs and wants, operating at the interface of science and society
• Engineering is about the design and creation of products and processes, drawing on scientific methods to provide the skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems
• Mathematics equips us with the skills needed to interpret and analyse information, simplify and solve problems, assess risk, make informed decisions and further understand the world around us through modelling both abstract and concrete problems
Within these four STEM disciplines there are a wide range of STEM subjects that learners can engage in during their school life. These can range from designing and making in primary school to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at post-primary. There is no definitive list of STEM subjects and recent consultations with teachers, parents and learners found considerable variance of views in this regard.
STEM education not only involves the teaching of these disciplines and subjects in isolation but also involves a cross-disciplinary approach. It builds on the content knowledge and understanding developed in and across the four disciplines, while acknowledging that all STEM learning activities are underpinned by Mathematics. It also recognizes the strong linkage between STEM and Arts education which fosters design, creativity and innovation.
Engaging with high-quality STEM experiences at a young age can have a lasting impact on learners, as it can set the stage for their later engagement and success in these fields. Such experiences can encourage and support children to articulate and represent their explorations, discoveries, thinking and understanding which in turn can help build critical early STEM knowledge and skills. Building on this, the STEM education experience provides opportunities for learners, at each phase of their learning journey, to develop their STEM knowledge and skills in an integrated and engaging way.
Young people need to understand and be capable of using skills and concepts developed through STEM education to be active citizens, to engage with modern communications and media in a critical way, to ensure personal well-being and to make informed choices about many aspects of their lives. STEM education is also highly relevant for our economic prosperity. International evidence shows that demand for STEM workers is expected to grow significantly between 2015 and 2025. While the demand is growing for workers with STEM skills, research has established that many of our learners are not adequately prepared to take up STEM related employment.
• Science enables us to develop our interest in, and understanding of, the living, material and physical
world and develops the skills of collaboration, research, critical inquiry and experimentation
• Technology covers a range of fields which involve the application of knowledge, skills and computational thinking to extend human capabilities and to help satisfy human needs and wants, operating at the interface of science and society
• Engineering is about the design and creation of products and processes, drawing on scientific methods to provide the skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems
• Mathematics equips us with the skills needed to interpret and analyse information, simplify and solve problems, assess risk, make informed decisions and further understand the world around us through modelling both abstract and concrete problems
Within these four STEM disciplines there are a wide range of STEM subjects that learners can engage in during their school life. These can range from designing and making in primary school to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at post-primary. There is no definitive list of STEM subjects and recent consultations with teachers, parents and learners found considerable variance of views in this regard.
STEM education not only involves the teaching of these disciplines and subjects in isolation but also involves a cross-disciplinary approach. It builds on the content knowledge and understanding developed in and across the four disciplines, while acknowledging that all STEM learning activities are underpinned by Mathematics. It also recognizes the strong linkage between STEM and Arts education which fosters design, creativity and innovation.
Engaging with high-quality STEM experiences at a young age can have a lasting impact on learners, as it can set the stage for their later engagement and success in these fields. Such experiences can encourage and support children to articulate and represent their explorations, discoveries, thinking and understanding which in turn can help build critical early STEM knowledge and skills. Building on this, the STEM education experience provides opportunities for learners, at each phase of their learning journey, to develop their STEM knowledge and skills in an integrated and engaging way.
Young people need to understand and be capable of using skills and concepts developed through STEM education to be active citizens, to engage with modern communications and media in a critical way, to ensure personal well-being and to make informed choices about many aspects of their lives. STEM education is also highly relevant for our economic prosperity. International evidence shows that demand for STEM workers is expected to grow significantly between 2015 and 2025. While the demand is growing for workers with STEM skills, research has established that many of our learners are not adequately prepared to take up STEM related employment.
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