STEM is an abbreviation that represents the learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as individual or mutual disciplines (source).
Research on STEM indicates a possible shortage of mathematics and science professionals in the near future.
The implementation of STEM in the curriculum proves to be a vital step by governments and stakeholders including members in the education, industrial, civic, and political spheres to safeguard the topics and their role in the future.
Demand For STEM-related Skills
The growing demand for technology and tech associated disciplines continues to grow faster than the projected growth rates and estimates suggest that these changes may cause a teacher, student ratio imbalance, where the students pursuing the disciplines may be more than the teacher population.
A solution involves the adoption of STEM as an important discipline in the teaching colleges, high schools and other educational sectors with an aim of addressing the deficit before it occurs (source).
It is difficult to understate the benefits we can derive from the relationship between mathematics, science technology, and engineering. Major sectors of the economy rely on scientists, technical professionals, engineers, and mathematicians to formulate solutions on an everyday basis.
Examples include key areas including technology, industry, and medical research. The current global structure calls for the adoption of multiple concepts to provide lasting solutions. Integration and use of STEM serves as an essential tool in mitigating most global challenges (source), which highlights its importance in the future workforce generation, and a country’s future economic growth.
STEM Subjects In Our Schools
A majority of schools consider the knowledge of STEM disciplines as important courses worth studying. Topics such as Physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics offer numerous career choices for young students, and adults working in the workforce. Analysts suggest that STEM literate individuals have a more elaborate crucial thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Besides, there is a growing need for the integration of STEM in the curriculum (source). Several challenges exist, limiting the pace by which the implementation process can occur.
Integrating Digital Tools In Teaching STEM Subjects
The combination of STEM with additional tools and topics proves to be useful in technological advancement and science. For instance, consider computer science, and its implications for the future.
The development of digital software is proving to be an essential tool for the next generation. Coding and other forms of software engineering rely on the basic Principles of STEM, including mathematics, technology, and engineering to develop computer programs capable of handling complex tasks.
It is difficult to highlight the development of computer science, and its related programs without the need for STEM disciplines. An understanding of STEM is applicable in the fields of 3D architecture, space travel, and quantum physics, including other groundbreaking technologies (source).
The topics play a major role in innovation, which explains the growing preference towards the teaching of STEM and its subsequent topics in major educational institutions globally.
Countries such as the U.S, France, and other developed economies have started placing emphasis on STEM related topics in a bid to increase employment opportunities for its young population.
The integration of STEM in education involves early training on critical thinking and the thought simulation process. STEM is essential as a tool in stimulating thinking, especially in young children and adolescents.
The combination of STEM and art and its implementation to the working population provides ample solutions to some of the major challenges that affect today’s global community and highlights why STEM is an important component in the learning process.
Conclusion
As experts and stakeholders continue to engage on the best methods of integrating STEM to the day to day learning process, there exists plenty of issues that first have to be addressed before the implementation of STEM into today’s education system.
However, teachers, scholars, and researchers conclude that the knowledge on STEM disciplines remains a crucial tool worth sharing with coming generations including its inclusion into school curriculums.