STEM Education

The acronym STEM refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Although each individual subject has its own extensive history, the notion of STEM education is relatively new. The commonalities and overlap of subject matter has meant that delineation of each subject area is very difficult. This has led to a combining of subjects such as: S&T (science and technology), STS (science, technology, and society), SMET (science, mathematics, engineering, and technology), TAS (technology as applied science), SET (science, engineering, and technology), MST (mathematics, science, and technology), and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics). This entry further defines the term STEM and discusses the value of STEM subjects to society, interest levels and gender disparities in STEM, and research on STEM education and the choice to pursue STEM careers.

Although many countries utilize the STEM acronym, there is little consensus about its meaning. When people refer to the multidisciplinary nature of STEM, they are generally focusing on the four different subject disciplines working independently. However, the interdisciplinary nature of STEM refers to the integration of knowledge and modes of thinking drawn from these four disciplines.

Science, mathematics, and engineering are not new subjects, but technology education is. There has been, and continues to be, disagreement and confusion over what technology education actually entails. This range of views embraces concepts such as design and innovation, product design, intervention by design, and the development of technological literacy. However, it is also understood by some to mean the study of technical and vocational knowledge and skills, and to others, the study and utilization of computers, computerized equipment, and a wide range of digital tools.

To eliminate confusion, this entry uses the broader and more holistic interpretation of the term technology education where the focus is not on gaining or applying technical skills and computing literacy, but rather on thinking creatively to solve design problems that may or may not require these technical skills. The term STEM education will refer to teaching in an interdisciplinary holistic manner, whereas the term STEM subjects will refer to the individual subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.