I think the STEAM concept means well, but is seldom put into practice well. In real life, smart and creative people learn things by exploring and creating. This is the classic story of geniuses tinkering in garages and learning more than they could in school. I totally believe kids learn through play and exploration. The problem with turning this into a curriculum, though, is that it becomes artificial and forced. The nerdy kid tinkering with a machine might teach themselves science or engineering principles for many reasons: they have already mastered the basics taught in school, they have a natural interest in the topic, and most importantly, the project was their own idea and so they take the initiative. You can't replicate that in a school setting with any number of legos.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEAM is better than “STEM.” But it is still not as inclusive.

The new and preferred acronym is S-STEAM, to support, acknowledge, and raise up the importance of sports for a more holistic approach to mental and physical health.

I wish that were a joke. Literature and History are important, especially for the development of critical thinking skills which are needed now more than ever.


The good thing is that it's all just marketing and doesn't mean anything. Legos are legos. But parents seem to buy it so schools will continue to pretend.

Tell us exactly why you “wish it were a joke?” Seriously, Pp: why?

And no, inclusion is not a joke. Or are you one of those who is opposed to inclusion?

Because it has nothing to do with inclusion and you're making that word meaningless.

That poster is making fun of inclusion idea by applying it to something ridiculous. Don't bite, PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEAM is better than “STEM.” But it is still not as inclusive.

The new and preferred acronym is S-STEAM, to support, acknowledge, and raise up the importance of sports for a more holistic approach to mental and physical health.

Is that A for the arts?

Yes. The arts are crucially important.

So is your mum but the Indians won’t buy it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEAM is better than “STEM.” But it is still not as inclusive.

The new and preferred acronym is S-STEAM, to support, acknowledge, and raise up the importance of sports for a more holistic approach to mental and physical health.

Is that A for the arts?

Yes. The arts are crucially important.

Food, water, and sleep are also crucially important.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEAM is better than “STEM.” But it is still not as inclusive.

The new and preferred acronym is S-STEAM, to support, acknowledge, and raise up the importance of sports for a more holistic approach to mental and physical health.

Is that A for the arts?

Yes. The arts are crucially important.

Anonymous wrote:STEAM is better than “STEM.” But it is still not as inclusive.

The new and preferred acronym is S-STEAM, to support, acknowledge, and raise up the importance of sports for a more holistic approach to mental and physical health.

Is that A for the arts?

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who does not get why the A was added to STEM? I thought stem was supposed to be a focus on science tech math engineering. Adding the arts now means everything? Isn’t that just “school”? What am I missing?? STEAM as an acronym seems really stupid to me.

100%

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who does not get why the A was added to STEM? I thought stem was supposed to be a focus on science tech math engineering. Adding the arts now means everything? Isn’t that just “school”? What am I missing?? STEAM as an acronym seems really stupid to me.

English and History

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who does not get why the A was added to STEM? I thought stem was supposed to be a focus on science tech math engineering. Adding the arts now means everything? Isn’t that just “school”? What am I missing?? STEAM as an acronym seems really stupid to me.

I don’t get it either.

Am I the only one who does not get why the A was added to STEM? I thought stem was supposed to be a focus on science tech math engineering. Adding the arts now means everything? Isn’t that just “school”? What am I missing?? STEAM as an acronym seems really stupid to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing has changed in the last 25-30 years.

In the early 1990s, not so many HS students were interested in STEM careers. Back then, business, law, and medicine were the main targets instead of STEM careers.

Since roughly the Dot-com boom/bust and the greater awareness about STEM jobs having good pay, more and more students are applying for college engineering programs, for college CS programs, and also (non-preMed) natural science degrees.

More parents then started to ask schools, public or private, about StEM preparation -- particularly math. Yes, it is being used for marketing but the underlying change is student and parent interest in STEM careers.

And yes, many students still want business, law, or medicine. Those have not gone away.

None of the stupid “steam, steam, or whatever” buzzword programs schools are doing are helpful- for any career. Teaching kids actual math, actual science lessons, reading, how to write, spelling, grammar, history, how to put together coherent thoughts; that is what should be taught. This has all died away from schools. Majority of 12th graders can’t do basic algebra anymore. They need to stop putting a pile of legos, cardboard, iPads in front of kids and calling it school work/lessons.

No, none of this is true!

The so-called advanced math taught in our schools is anachronistic and it leaves far too many children out. Math needs to be far more inclusive than as presently taught. Not to mention: the expectations are set far too high and are unrealistic for many.

Basic math- like reading, isn’t being taught well. The kids that are advancing are in math are the ones being taught outside of school. While some middle schools offer kids the option to take Alg I and beyond, it’s bc of their outside instruction that they are able to place into these classes in 6th-8th grade and why the school offers them. But this is a small minority of kids. 72% of 8th graders test below grade level in math nationally (which is considered prealgebra level). In other words, schools are doing a terribly poor job educating in all core subjects

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing has changed in the last 25-30 years.

In the early 1990s, not so many HS students were interested in STEM careers. Back then, business, law, and medicine were the main targets instead of STEM careers.

Since roughly the Dot-com boom/bust and the greater awareness about STEM jobs having good pay, more and more students are applying for college engineering programs, for college CS programs, and also (non-preMed) natural science degrees.

More parents then started to ask schools, public or private, about StEM preparation -- particularly math. Yes, it is being used for marketing but the underlying change is student and parent interest in STEM careers.

And yes, many students still want business, law, or medicine. Those have not gone away.

None of the stupid “steam, steam, or whatever” buzzword programs schools are doing are helpful- for any career. Teaching kids actual math, actual science lessons, reading, how to write, spelling, grammar, history, how to put together coherent thoughts; that is what should be taught. This has all died away from schools. Majority of 12th graders can’t do basic algebra anymore. They need to stop putting a pile of legos, cardboard, iPads in front of kids and calling it school work/lessons.

No, none of this is true!

The so-called advanced math taught in our schools is anachronistic and it leaves far too many children out. Math needs to be far more inclusive than as presently taught. Not to mention: the expectations are set far too high and are unrealistic for many.

Anonymous wrote:Literature, history, art, music and philosophy are called the humanities. Those with backgrounds in those areas like long, fancy words.

Science, technology, engineering and math are called STEM because those disciplines like and use acronyms.

This is low key hilarious, you win

Anonymous wrote:STEAM is better than “STEM.” But it is still not as inclusive.

The new and preferred acronym is S-STEAM, to support, acknowledge, and raise up the importance of sports for a more holistic approach to mental and physical health.

STEM rules.

Anonymous wrote:One thing has changed in the last 25-30 years.

In the early 1990s, not so many HS students were interested in STEM careers. Back then, business, law, and medicine were the main targets instead of STEM careers.

Since roughly the Dot-com boom/bust and the greater awareness about STEM jobs having good pay, more and more students are applying for college engineering programs, for college CS programs, and also (non-preMed) natural science degrees.

More parents then started to ask schools, public or private, about StEM preparation -- particularly math. Yes, it is being used for marketing but the underlying change is student and parent interest in STEM careers.

And yes, many students still want business, law, or medicine. Those have not gone away.

Medicine IS STEM 😆