With the rise in the demand for other kinds of professionals like innovators and thinkers along with engineers and those from science backgrounds, STEAM education is gathering popularity in the education system. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. This is an educational approach that underscores the necessity of considering science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics as access points for pulling off the multi-faceted task of imparting knowledge and inspire inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking among learners.
STEAM is more than just a buzzword or an add-on to STEM. It's an educational model that builds the creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills students will need in the 21st Century. Who knows, it may even be one of the keys to solving humanity's biggest challenges in the years to come. Because of the difference in approach, STEAM offers the scope of developing multifaceted skills. More and more schools are adopting it to ensure solid and well-equipped development for students.
Inquiry, collaboration, and process-based learning are what makes the STEAM approach different to others. We are in a phase where learning on textbooks and memorising lessons are outdated, making it essential for educators to resort to innovative approaches. STEAM serves this purpose as it inspires learners to explore beyond books.
Most importantly, this approach helps teachers to focus more on the four Cs of the 21st century, (creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration), which are now fundamental qualities students need to possess if they want to make their names in their respective fields of interest.
Author: Catherine Perri - JUMP trainer
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