STEM as integration

Working in STEM means integrating the work in all four subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We have to approach all four topics as a single one where skills are aquired in a unified way and connections among them are evident (Stohlmann, Moore, & Roehrig, 2012).

Working in STEM means integrating the hands-on experiences with the mind’s work (Zemelman, Daniels, & Hyde, 2005). We have to find the right balance between using our five senses in order to aquire the knowledge, and the deepful thinking that needs to happen in order to make the learning significant and interiorize the physical experience.

Working in STEM means facing challenges that usually need team-work. Collaborative-Learning is naturally ingrained in STEM (Zemelman, Daniels, & Hyde, 2005) and allows each team-member to provide the group with a different ability. The open nature of STEM makes it possible to progress and improve for all children, from high-achievers to dissabled students, each having their sets of goals in order to make the group succeed (Bargerhuff, 2013) (Sanders, 2009).