It’s a well-known fact that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers pay well and have high job placement rates. Despite this, K-12 students show less interest in pursuing careers in STEM disciplines, partly because teachers don’t introduce them to STEM concepts until middle school or high school. Educators traditionally focus on math and language arts, rather than all parts of STEM in early school years.
Teachers are working to change this trend by broadening their curriculum to include more STEM and STEAM topics. STEAM refers to programs that focus on both STEM subjects and on the arts. In STEM and STEAM education, youth don’t learn what to think, but instead, are taught how to think and approach real-life problems critically. By fostering this interest early on, educators are paving the way for the present youth to be future leaders and innovators.