Girls in STEM | Page 15

Girls in STEM 15
Özlem Kahraman

Why is STEM Education Important ?

STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science , technology , engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach . Rather than teach the four disciplines as separate and discrete subjects , STEM integrates them into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications .
A report by the World Economic Forum reveals that almost 65 percent of children today will end up in careers that don ' t even exist yet . The research conducted by the World Economic Forum in some of the world ' s leading companies , regarding what would be seen as the most important job skill in 2020 , shows that the number one response is complex problem-solving . Other skills on their top ten list include critical thinking , creativity , collaboration , and emotional intelligence .
The importance of STEM education is intricately tied to society ' s technological and scientific advancements . The National Science Foundation maintains that students will need a strong foundation in STEM subjects in order to be successful in the information-driven age .
STEM education and the application of technology empowers every student to use their creativity and develop their critical thinking skills .