CONCEPT PAPER ABOUT STEM STRAND

STEM is an educational program developed to prepare primary and secondary students

for college and graduate study in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM). In addition to subject-specific learning, STEM aims to foster inquiring minds, logical
reasoning, and collaboration skills. In addition, STEM focuses on perceived education quality
shortcomings in these fields, with the aim of increasing the supply of qualified high-tech
workers.

Educators break STEM down into seven standards of practice (or skill sets) for educating
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students learn and apply content, integrate
content, interpret and communicate information, engage in inquiry, engage in logical reasoning,
collaborate as a team, and apply technology appropriately.

This strand will develop the students’ ability to evaluate simple to complex societal problems and be
responsive and active in the formulation of its solution through the application and integration of
scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical concepts as it prepares them to pursue college
degrees that focuses on the enigma of the natural world thereby leading them to become future scientists,
technological analysts and experts, engineers, mathematicians, programmers, and the like.

Education for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)

has received increasing attention over the past decade with calls both for greater
emphasis on these fields and for improvements in the quality of curricula and instruction.
In response, numerous new instructional materials, programs, and specialized schools are
emerging. While most of these initiatives address one or more of the STEM subjects
separately, there are increasing calls for emphasizing connections between and among the
subjects.

Advocates of more integrated approaches to K–12 STEM education argue that

teaching STEM in a more connected manner, especially in the context of real-world
issues, can make the STEM subjects more relevant to students and teachers. This in turn
can enhance motivation for learning and improve student interest, achievement, and
persistence. And these outcomes, advocates assert, will help address calls for greater
workplace and college readiness as well as increase the number of students who consider
a career in a STEM-related field.

Recently, both the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) and the
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have called for more and deeper connections
among the STEM subjects. The NGSS explicitly includes practices and core disciplinary
ideas from engineering alongside those for science, raising the expectation that science
teachers will be expected to teach science and engineering in an integrated fashion.

Despite the rise in interest in providing students with learning experiences that foster
connection making across the STEM disciplines, there is little research on how best to do
so or on what factors make integration more likely to increase student learning, interest,
retention, achievement, or other valued outcomes. Recognizing the need for a more
robust evidence base, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the Board on
Science Education of the National Research Council (NRC) convened a committee to
examine current efforts to integrate the STEM disciplines in K–12 education and develop
a research agenda that, if carried out, could provide the data needed to inform such efforts
going forward.

STEM fields offer students more than just a close look at how the world works. Even though
changes in STEM education are altering the way students engage with and react to those fields of study,
the process is slow. However, the more students learn practical, hands-on uses for the information they’re
learning, the more they will warm to the subject matter. Something else to interest and even excite
students? Careers in STEM fields are challenging, fun, and exciting. Some students may lack interest in
STEM studies, and this may mean they will overlook careers in STEM fields.

Today’s students often go through their entire secondary education without being able to pinpoint
exactly what they want to do with their lives. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but think about how
having a firm plan earlier on can help students better prepare for their future. By keeping students
informed about possible careers in STEM, teachers can help them better understand what they might do
after they earn their high school diploma.

Most students may not even realize the advantages that come with working in the STEM fields. Aside
from a plethora of job opportunities and choices, those working in STEM have a lot to be happy about.
There is a ton of room for advancement, which means an ever changing environment. STEM careers
usually allow you to set clear goals and accomplishments, yielding a reward more fulfilling than just high
paychecks. Speaking of high paychecks, STEM jobs, on average, pay out about 70% more than the
national average.