In education, many people have heard about STEM, a philosophy of education that incorporates science, technology, engineering, and math. Fewer have heard about STEAM. The addition of A for arts is seen as a critical element to educate children for jobs in the 21st century. Here’s more information about both philosophies and why we need STEAM education today.

1. We Need STEAM, Not STEM
Education, To Prepare Our
Kids For The 4th
Industrial Revolution

2. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Title
Text
IntroductionIntroduction
We are at the beginning of a 4th industrial revolution and educators are faced with
preparing a generation of students for many jobs that don’t even exist yet. Since the
term STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) was coined back in 2001, there
has been growing interest in this learning philosophy to better prepare today's students
for tomorrow's jobs. However, to adequately prepare the future workforce, another
acronym is gaining popularity: STEAM, which adds arts to the mix.
We Need STEAM, Not STEM Education,
To Prepare Our Kids For The
4th Industrial Revolution

3. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What is STEM?
Since jobs in the real-world draw upon several disciplines at once, STEM does the same
with science, technology, engineering, and math. Lessons integrate all these disciplines, so
it's, therefore, more realistic to real-life applications than traditional philosophies of
education that have the various subjects in silos.
If you think about the job duties of an architect who incorporates elements of science,
technology, engineering, and math to complete their job responsibilities, you can see how
educating children with an interdisciplinary approach is more applicable to what they will
face after graduation.

4. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What is STEM?
STEM also prioritizes project- and inquiry-based learning. Every child needs to acquire
problem-solving skills and technology literacy to be prepared for the 21st-century
workplace. STEM integrates and applies math and science to create technologies and
solutions to solve real-world problems by using an engineering design approach.
One of the largest challenges to STEM adoption is funding and resources. There must be
investments made in the latest technology and how to use it as well as training educators
about how to incorporate new technology into lesson plans. Additionally, education
systems are very focused on assessments and grades rather than recognizing when
activities foster creativity, innovation, and critical thinking skills.

5. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What is STEAM?
Leonardo Da Vinci was on to something years ago when he stated, "Study the science of
art. Study the art of science." More recently, students and academics at the Rhode Island
School of Design (RISD) have spearheaded the concept of STEAM—which brings the
elements of STEM together with arts to guide students' critical thinking, inquiry, and
dialogue. Proponents of STEAM education recognize the importance of creativity and
innovation in the future to solve our problems.
In fact, according to one study, nearly all Nobel laureates in the sciences practice some
form of art as adults. When you compare these successful scientists with others, they are
significantly more likely than other scientists to practice art in a variety of forms, from
acting to singing, writing poetry to woodworking, and more. It's this science success and
art connection that make STEAM proponents believe that by integrating arts to a child's
education, it creates a person more ready to meet the ingenuity demands of our
economy.

6. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What is STEAM?
Students who receive a STEAM education engage in experiential learning, collaborate with
others, and persist in problem-solving as they take thoughtful risks and work through the
creative process. In fact, many employers, educators, and parents believe STEAM helps fill
in a gap left by STEM of key skills/attributes children need to thrive.

7. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Why do we need STEAM?
STEAM incorporates the benefits of STEM in and through the arts to give a more
complete, well-rounded education. Although some feel this distinction is unnecessary
because regular STEM incorporates creativity, leaders of the STEAM movement feel that
the arts provides a critical missing piece to STEM education that then prepares students to
not only understand science, technology, engineering, and math but know how to apply
principles from each of these disciplines to creatively solve problems. Here's how
educationalist Sir Ken Robinson discusses STEAM in his TedTalk.
While the STEAM movement is still relatively new, it's gaining "steam." In fact, the revered
children's education program Sesame Street has added STEAM to its program. Problem-
solvers in the future will have to look beyond what first feels like a limitation and approach
challenges with inquiry, wonder, and innovation. These are skills that the arts exercise.

8. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Why do we need STEAM?
In order to create a successful STEAM program, it is essential that the arts are included in
STEM in an authentic way. It’s not about adding creativity to STEM, but rather to apply art
in real-world situations. For example, if students had an assignment to create a product as
a STEM project, incorporating arts in an authentic way would be to improve the
appearance or design of the product using principles of industrial design.
Since we don’t yet know what jobs will look like as we progress further into the 21st
century, it makes sense to educate our children with the skills and capacity to think
outside the box with creative solutions. This is something a STEAM education can
effectively prepare them to do.

9. © 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website
© 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website

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