Presentation for Current Perspective in Music Education

1. STEM vs. STEAM
Jerison Harper Lee
Current Perspectives in Music Education

2. Definition
STEM is an acronym that stands for
Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics.
STEAM stands for the same four subjects
with Arts added.

3. What?
STEM subjects include:
Chemistry, Computer and Information
Technology Science, Engineering,
Geosciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical
Sciences, Physics and Astronomy,
Psychology, Social Sciences, and STEM
Education and Learning Research.

4. Why STEM?
The National Science Foundation was created in 1950
to promote the progress of science; to advance the
prosperity and welfare; to secure the national defense.
On October 4th, 1957, The Soviet Union successfully
launched Sputnik 1. This launch led to the creation of
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) in 1958 when Congress passed the National
Aeronautics and Space Act which sparked interest in
STEM subjects across America.

5. “A Nation at Risk” was published in 1983 due to the
lack of qualified worker to meet the great demand of
STEM jobs in America, putting America in a
challenged position when compared to other
innovators around the world. STEM education became
the main focus of the national agenda to uphold the
supreme global technological status.

6. STEAM not STEM
As STEM education is essential in driving the US
economy, it is not sufficient.
The US economic future will not base on only
replacing the existing industrial jobs but also on
innovations to meet the world-wide competition.
Until 2008, US has been the leader in the world as the
most innovative economy. This is no longer the case
recently.

7. Robert Root-Bernstein, a biochemist and MacArthur
prizewinner did a study of 150 biographies of eminent
scientists, from Pasteur to Einstein, in the early
1990’s. It dealt with this relationship between the two
sides of the brain.
He found that nearly all of the great inventors and
scientists were also musicians, artists, writers or poets.
Galileo, was a poet and literary critic; Einstein was a
passionate student of the violin; Samuel Morse, was a
portrait painter, etc.

8. The Nueroeducation Study done in 2009 led by John
Hopkins and the Dana Foundation, also showed
clearly that Arts education improves student
cognition, memory and attention skills in the
classroom as well as a range of life and academic skills.

9. It is imperative that our education system focuses on a
curriculum that includes, uses and develops, all the
tools and skills that are available to support creativity
and innovation.
“It is the tension between creativity and skepticism that has
produced the stunning unexpected findings of science.” -
Carl Sagan

10. Conclusion
Innovation together with Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics is the next step
to bring the US economy to a higher level.
STEAM is the way!

11. Reference
Chen, Kelly, and Imani M. Cheers. "STEAM Ahead:
Merging Arts and Science Education." PBS Newshour. N.p.,
31 July 2012. Web. 22 June 2013.
<http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/07/the-
movement-to-put-arts-into-stem-education.html>.
"History of STEM Education in the US." N.p., 6 July 2010.
Web. 22 June 2013.
<http://www.xtimeline.com/timeline/History-of-STEM-
Education-in-the-U-S->.
“Whitepaper, STEAM not STEM.” Web. 23 June 2012.
<http://steam-notstem.com/about/whitepaper/>.
“STEM to STEAM.” Web. 23 June 2012.
<http://stemtosteam.org/>.