STEM and STEAM
There are two distinctions to note about STEAM education. First, it embraces arts integration, which generally connects an art form or discipline with subject areas outside of the arts. Second, STEAM approaches allow for enhanced problem- or project-based learning and student inquiry and experimentation. Both STEAM and arts integration hold potential for pre-K and elementary grades. Research shows that participation in arts-integrated learning improves students’ physical, cognitive, and social, and emotional skills. This includes reading ability, writing fluency and problem-solving to name a few. The interconnectivity between disciplines (i.e., not teaching any one discipline in isolation) is also important. In 2018, the Arts Education Partnership hosted a Thinkers Meeting convening 14 leaders in STEAM to explore new opportunities to more clearly define STEAM and explore new opportunities for STEAM in state policy. Part of that discussion focused on clarifying the distinctions between STEM and STEAM.
- STEM is an approach to learning where science, technology, engineering and math are applied to real-world problems that connect school and community, and promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness.
- STEAM includes art and design in STEM to develop a more comprehensive education model.
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