Trends In Learning: STEM, STEAM, STREAM. . . A Battle Of Acronyms via Capstan

Trends In Learning: STEM, STEAM, STREAM. . .

A Battle Of Acronyms

Capstan: 7.30.2018 by Pisana Ferrari

Academic institutions worldwide are embracing “STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education and related curricula, supported in many cases by government funding. The term STEM was officially coined in 2001 by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) ⁽¹⁾, and the STEM movement developed in response to growing worries about students not being sufficiently prepared for 21st century’s high-tech jobs. Findings of international studies such as TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study), and PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), reinforced concerns about scientific competency and knowledge of students and sparked international comparisons ⁽²⁾.

In the past few years “voices started calling out for “A” as in “Arts” to be added to turn STEM into STEAM” ⁽³⁾. Then “R” for “Reading” was added to STEAM to have “STREAM”… Wikipedia lists other variations of the STEM acronym, such as STEMLE (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Law and Economics), METALS (STEAM + Logic) and STREM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, and Multimedia), to cite but a few.

The reference to a “battle of acronyms” in the title of this article refers to a blog entry by Dr. Meagan Pollock, Executive Director of a nonprofit organization that empowers young women to be successful in STEM, provocatively called: “STEM, STEAM, STREAM… SCREAM?!” ⁽⁴⁾. We can see Dr. Pollock’s point about the confusion the proliferation of acronyms may create. Ultimately it will be difficult to see which of these education systems is better. We expect that some will survive and thrive, whereas others may only be passing fads. Much depends on what the key objectives are. Is STEM just about jobs?

The current focus of STEM education appears to be precisely that, ie the (unmet) needs of the job market.  READ MORE >>