Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Education


Over the past few years the word “STEM” has being brought up more and more in different curriculums, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. “The global economy is changing. Current jobs are disappearing due to automation and new jobs are emerging every day as a result of technological advances. The continual advances in technology are changing the way students learn, connect and interact every day. Skills developed by students through STEM provide them with the foundation to succeed at school and beyond.” (Department of Education Australia, 2019) The National Science Foundation (2016) states that in the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalisation and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.
Carwyn Jones, the First Minister (Welsh Government, 2016) states that “Science, technology, mathematics and engineering are the bedrock for innovation in business and industry and the Welsh Government will continue to push forward links between these and education helping young people get a real grasp of the real world of work.” This was also re-enforced by The National Assembly for Wales’ Enterprise AND Business Committees follow-up inquiry into Science, Technology and Mathematics Skills (2014) says that Wales needs to strive for excellence in STEM right through the pipeline – from the curriculum and qualifications offered in primary and secondary schools, in colleges and universities, through careers advice and work experience, and into meaningful and sustainable employment.
            In Wales the Welsh Government have come up with a number of actions to try push STEM more into primary and secondary education. They will “work closely with STEM practitioners and key organisations, such as the learned societies and Association for Science Education, in developing a fit for the twenty-first century STEM-related curriculum across primary and secondary settings in Wales.” (Welsh Government, 2016)
            The Northern Ireland Government (2019) also push Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics into primary and secondary education by stating that they need to ensure that Northern Ireland's young people have the skills, knowledge and understanding in STEM-related subjects in order to take advantage of job opportunities in these fields and contribute to the country's economy. “The DE and the DEL commissioned a review of STEM in Northern Ireland and published the final report in September 2009. The review found that: There is a decline in interest in STEM among primary school children; Many primary teachers lack the confidence and knowledge to teach science; and, there is a decline in the uptake of maths, physics and computing at A level.” (Department of Education, 2009)
            In Northern Ireland the Department of Education (2009) have also put actions in to try push STEM subjects within schools, Address the disparity in STEM performance between schools, including by ensuring a strong focus on professional development; Support primary teachers in teaching The World Around Us, including through the development of new resources; Review ongoing developments in maths in relation to STEM provision, including the introduction of new end of key stage assessments; Make STEM learning more enquiry based, including through use of the STEM Truck and the design of new resources; Increase the focus on core sciences and maths, including by focusing on attainment in maths from key stage 1 to GCSE; and, Increase the number of applications for physical sciences and mathematics places in Initial Teacher Education Courses.
            There have been many reports that have been taken to show that children in the United States have not been prepared enough by the United States education system to “thrive and prosper in the technology-driven workforce of the 21st century.” (National Science Board, 2007, National Academy of Sciences et al., 2007, National Centre for Education Statistics, 2006, U.S. Department of Education, 2008) The National Centre for Education Statistics (2006) states that in The National Academies Press’ 2007 Rising Above the Gathering Storm it was found out that “Fewer than one-third of US eighth grade students performed at or above a level called ‘proficient’ in mathematics…Alarmingly, about one-fifth of the fourth graders and one-third of the eighth graders lacked the competence to perform even basic mathematical computations”
            On the 25th January 2019, my year and I went on a University trip to techniquest. Techniquest is the UK’s longest established science centre. It was founded 1986 it was situated near Cardiff Castle but moved the UK’S first purpose-built science centre, in Cardiff Bay. Techniquest have a number of different values that they follow these are “excellent, Empowering, Innovative, Inclusive, Collaborative and Inspirational.” (Techniquest, NA) I found this really beneficial as I got to experience what the children that come here get to take part in and experience. Firstly, when we went in we headed straight to the science labs to do some science and maths experiment’s some of these were how to remove the yolk of an egg from the whites of an egg only using a bottle and then which tube could hold the most amount of ceramic baking beans, the tube that was taller and thinner or the tube that was shorter and wider.  Then after this we headed to the theatre to watch a show on the earth and global warming. This show was very interesting but also very beneficial as there was information that was told that I did not know before they also brought people up on stage to get involved in different activities. Lastly, we got to explore the interactive experiences when you first walked into techniquest.    

             To conclude, STEM subjects are becoming more focused subjects throughout the education system across the world from within schools, to jobs being more focused on these subjects and even out of school with more science centre’s being built across the UK even the world.

References

·    Donaldson Report (2017) 'Successful Futures.'  Available at: https://www.atl.org.uk/latest/science-curriculum-counts (Accessed: 28th March 2019)                                                                                               Education.wa.edu.au. (2019). What is STEM? - The Department of Education. [online] Available at: https://www.education.wa.edu.au/what-is-stem- [Accessed 27 Mar. 2019].                                                                            
    Kids, P. (2019). Why Is STEM Education So Important?. [online] Engineering For Kids. Available at: https://www.engineeringforkids.com/about/news/2016/february/why-is-stem-education-so-important-/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2019].                                                                               National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering Institute of Medicine. (1900) ‘Rising above the gathering storm: Energizing and employing America for a brighter economic future.’ National Academies Press.

      National education Union. (2017). [image] Available at: https://www.atl.org.uk/latest/science-curriculum-counts [Accessed 28 Mar. 2019].·    
       Perie, M., Grigg, W. and Dion, G. (2005) ‘The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics, 2005.’ NCES 2006-453. National Centre for Education Statistics.
·      National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008) ‘Foundations for success: The final report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel.’ US Department of Education.
·      National Science Board (US). (2007) ’A national action plan for addressing the critical needs of the US science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education system.’ National Science Foundation.    
     Senedd.assembly.wales. (2019). Follow-up Inquiry into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Skills | National Assembly for Wales. [online] Available at: http://senedd.assembly.wales/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=9156 [Accessed 28 Mar. 2019].·      
    Techniquest (NA) ‘The Story of Techniquest.’ Available at: https://www.techniquest.org/about-us/the-story-of-techniquest/ (Accessed: 28th March 2019)
·      Welsh Government. (2016) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in education and training. Cardiff: Core Subjects Branch.


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