How to Think About the Value of STEM
I recently read an article in WIRED magazine and was prompted to send the following response to their editorial team.
First, here is the article:
https://www.wired.com/story/how-we-learned-to-love-pedagogical-vapor-stem/
Next, here was my response:
If you ask an educator they’ll be the first to tell you that you’ve misrepresented the goal of STEM education. It may have started as a way to bring attention to the subject areas deemed key to our country’s success but today STEM represents an aspirational state of learning that creates opportunities for students to connect thinking across multiple disciplines. It is a framework for interdisciplinary learning and, the holy grail of education, because it creates organic learning opportunities for students as a byproduct of other learning experiences. STEM is an acknowledgement that the challenges humanity faces can’t be solved with thinking from a single subject area.
What are your thoughts?
About The Author
Tim
Tim Schwartz brings over 25 years of experience in the tech space. A lifelong learner, Tim has spent his career in spaces that allow him to combine his loves of technology and education. He cites his 12 years working abroad in a foreign language along with his BA in cultural anthropology for his deep understanding of the humanity behind different perspectives—a valuable and somewhat rare skill among technologists. Tim focuses on strengthening cybersecurity while increasing employee productivity, centralizing mobile device management, automating identity management and access, digitizing analog workflows, and introducing marketing automations to provide a positive—and digitally secure—experience for both employees and clients. Tim’s love of not only learning but also sharing what he knows extends far beyond the realm of technology. He holds a master’s degree in teaching Japanese as a foreign language, and he has authored numerous articles about improving early education and parenting.