What is STEM?

At its most basic, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Alternatively, STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. But STEM education is far more than just sticking those subject titles together. It’s a philosophy of education that embraces teaching skills and subjects in a way that resembles real life.

In Rashielea, the areas of sciences, technologies, maths and art can be taught discreetly and teachers use progressive knowledge and skills planners to inform their teaching.  However, these areas are often taught through STEM activities which enable children to use a wide variety of skills in relevant contexts.  We always look for opportunities to take part in local and national STEM events, such as Rolls Royce, SSPCA, Forth Road Bridges and UWS. Our Depute Head Teacher, Mhairi Peden, has also been involved in the SSERC programme and has been involved in developing engaging contexts for learning through STEM and helped our teachers build confidence in delivering experiments to engage our learners.

Our teachers provide further opportunities for children to develop their STEM skills through after school clubs too.

Sciences
Through learning in the sciences, children and young people develop their interest in, and understanding of, the living, material and physical world. They engage in a wide range of collaborative investigative tasks, which allows them to develop important skills to become creative, inventive and enterprising adults in a world where the skills and knowledge of the sciences are needed across all sectors of the economy.

Within the Curriculum for Excellence, the new key concepts are as follows:-

• Planet Earth
• Forces, electricity and waves
• Biological systems
• Materials
• Topical science.
  Through these organisers, we aim to develop our new Science curriculum to provide a range of different contexts for learning which draw on important aspects of everyday life and work.

 

Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths

Through various contexts for learning, we aim to encourage and develop the following in all our learners:

• knowledge and understanding of the big ideas and concepts of the technologies
• curiosity, exploration and problem solving skills
• planning and organisational skills in a range of contexts
• creativity and innovation
• skills in using tools, equipment, software, graphic media and materials
• skills in collaborating, leading and interacting with others
• critical thinking through exploration and discovery within a range of learning contexts
• discussion and debate
• searching and retrieving information to inform thinking
• making connections between specialist skills developed within learning and skills for the world of work
• evaluating products, systems and services
• presentation and communication skills
• an awareness of sustainability

Source: Parentzone Scotland