STEAM education is an integrated approach in basic education, particularly for middle and high school students. In the US, it was formally signed into law in 2015 by then President Obama through ESSA, or the Every Student Succeeds Act.
This law states that local education agencies have the prerogative to integrate arts into STEM programs. However, this is only in reference to basic education. Incorporating arts or STEAM learning into university education is a very difficult and complex prospect.
STEAM education at university level
In basic education, curricula are standardized either on a state or federal level. The core subjects in basic education are generally the same. However, at the university level, there is a wide range of specializations and academic freedom in terms of designing courses.
That means there are some courses that barely have any science or math subjects in them, let alone engineering and technology. There are some science and math core subjects that are required in college such as calculus and fundamentals of physics but these are not as integrated into the courses.
Incorporating STEAM learning into university education requires a slightly different approach. Since it is neither mandated by law nor easy to do in a very academically diverse setting, it could be first done focusing on STEM-related degree courses such as bachelor of science in chemistry. Of course, there are some universities that established STEAM programs on their own initiative - or it could be done on an experimental or trial basis for other courses.
Even if you are not majoring in a science, technology, engineering or math course in college, you can still apply your STEAM learning in college. This is also true for college instructors and professors who are teaching non-science or math-related subjects.
For example, the idea of collaborative or team efforts on projects can be applied in university education. Students can be encouraged to accomplish projects that require cooperation and team efforts.
How STEAM-based programs impact college success
Similar to its impact on basic education, the integrated and holistic approach of STEAM education can be very beneficial. It provides a more realistic but more flexible worldview despite the regimentation and technicalities of science courses. In other words, it helps students become creative critical thinkers who are capable of meta-analysis when solving problems.
This is crucial in college because students are expected to be producers of knowledge rather than mere consumers of knowledge, not only in terms of theoretical or academic sense, but also in practical sense. This is the main reason why thesis research is the final and most important academic requirement for STEAM college students to graduate.
Integrating STEAM learning into university curriculum
Some universities have already integrated STEAM learning in their programs, especially in science-related courses. Arts and humanities are incorporated into the science programs to teach students not only analytical and technical skills in solving problems but also important life skills like creativity, communication, and collaboration.
The softer skills of the arts create a balance with the sciences to prepare students for the realities of the workplace. Sometimes, scientists, engineers, and mathematicians are not very good at explaining or communicating their work because of the technicalities and jargon involved. This can become problematic if the issue has serious implications that need to be explained to non-scientifically literate policymakers and the general public.
Collaboration is inevitable at the workplace, especially when it comes to complex science research projects. Learning social skills and interpersonal communication is crucial in the long-term success of any collaborative work.
Finally, integrating the arts in the university curriculum unleashes the creative potential of scientifically-minded students. They will no longer be constrained by established algorithms, methodologies, and protocols. They will be trained to find innovative, novel solutions to problems by approaching it from various angles.
Are you an educator looking for STEAM resources for middle school, high school or university? Take a look at Arduino Education kits and how they can support your hands-on STEAM lessons.