Integrating STEM: An Interdisciplinary Approach to PreK-12 Education

Abstract

STEM education employs an interdisciplinary pedagogical approach that merges the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into traditional disciplines covered across all levels within primary and secondary school curricula. STEM topics span the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and naturally weave STEM disciplines throughout, focusing on the importance of developing a global STEM-literate workforce capable of responding to the worldwide challenges presented today and into the future. STEM-focused frameworks provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in the twenty first century and beyond, preparing them for the rapidly changing technological and scientific landscapes. This chapter explores STEM as a meta-discipline, documenting the origins and emergence of STEM education in the United States, provides definitions of STEM literacy and includes primary and secondary implementation models.