STEM is important because it can be considered one of the pillars of modern global education, and in turn, of modern civilisation.
Modern global civilisation is a technological civilisation that heavily relies on scientific knowledge in order to function. It is a civilisation that has multi-tiered dependencies. If one layer is removed or weakened, the entire system ceases to function well, and could eventually even collapse.
The multiple levels of dependencies of our global civilisation include four broad aspects, namely, energy generation, communication, transportation, and digital. All other aspects, such as industrial manufacturing and commercial transactions, depend on these multi-tiered dependencies.
STEM educated individuals help to maintain and operate the complex multi-tiered dependencies of our global civilisation. From engineers to physicians, our world is dependent on STEM-educated professionals.
What is STEM in education?
STEM education is focused on four subjects: science, technology, engineering, and math.
STEM students are expected not only to understand the underpinning scientific concepts of our modern world. Students are also expected to apply these concepts into something useful and practical. They are expected to be technologically innovative.
In many industrialized countries, like the United States and the UK, STEM is an integral part of the basic education curriculum. It is also offered as a specialized track for students who have the right aptitude and interest in science.
5 reasons STEM education is important
The importance of STEM education can’t be overstated. It is the foundation that makes our modern world possible. For example, can you imagine a world without people who understand how airplanes work? Obviously, air travel and building airplanes would not be possible.
We need professionals who have the technical expertise in various technological systems that support our modern global civilisation. From energy generation to digital information security, STEM experts in various fields work together to make the magic happen. For instance, the real-time video call that we take for granted will not be possible without the following infrastructures:
- Fiber optics underground and under the sea
- Communication satellites
- Cellular communication towers
- Networked computer servers
- Operating systems and software applications
However, all of these will be useless without a source of energy. Energy in the form of electricity powers these infrastructures. It could be solar power energy, such as that used in satellites, or any of the grid-based sources of electrical energy, such as nuclear power plants and geothermal power plants.
The interconnectivity and dependencies of various technology infrastructures and systems require the skills and knowledge of STEM professionals. This hammers home the point of the importance of STEM education.
These are some of the main reasons why STEM education is important:
1. STEM is the future
The need for STEM-educated professionals will remain as long as our civilization depends on technology and scientific discoveries. If we are to explore, transform, and solve our planet’s current crises, such as climate change, we need STEM-educated professionals and innovators who will make this possible.
STEM is the future if that future includes sustained need for scientists, engineers, and technology innovators. A future without STEM is bleak and backward. Even the most serious problems and threats that we are facing today will largely and decisively be solved by the applications of scientific knowhow.
2. STEM skills aid critical thinking & initiative
STEM-educated individuals do not merely regurgitate the “facts” that they have learned in school. They are capable of examining the merits of information. They can evaluate the truthfulness of certain conclusions or concepts. At the same time, they have the ability to translate abstract ideas into practical applications.
STEM education aids in critical thinking and initiative in terms of technology innovations and the betterment of civilization.
3. Boosts technological skills
STEM students are typically trained early on in basic education to program computers, build mini machines, and design electronic circuits.
More advanced students are obviously taught more advanced lessons and build on their foundational learning. The STEM method of teaching is mainly hands-on, and students directly learn by manipulating and building objects. Hands-on activities and projects help develop students’ creativity and technological skills.
4. Teaching teamwork
Many of the required projects in STEM classes require collaboration. The value of teamwork is emphasized through the division of labor or specialization of tasks to achieve a common goal. This mirrors a real-world workplace where workers are expected to contribute to the overall success of a project and the organization itself.
5. Boosts project management skills
Assigning tasks, specifying deadlines, and allocating resources are some of the crucial aspects of managing projects. The various activities and class projects that students are required to complete helps them imbibe the concepts of project management. From constructing buildings to sending manned missions in space, project management is crucial in the efficient execution of organizational goals.
Why is STEM education important for the future?
As our society expands and becomes more complex, interdependence becomes crucial. A truly global community is only possible through technological support - the underlying support for international economic and social development is technology. It’s through technology that things like communication, transportation, and commercial transactions are facilitated.
The increasingly complex systems that are necessary for the maintenance of our global civilization require the expertise of STEM-educated professionals. STEM education is important for the future of humanity if we intend to be an interplanetary or even interstellar species. Leaving our home planet to explore other habitable worlds could even be considered an existential necessity.
Are you an educator looking for STEM resources for middle school, high school or university? Take a look at Arduino Education kits and how they can support your hands-on STEM lessons.