CreaThere is much buzz about 21st-century skills and STEM in the education world. It may make you wonder what all this is about and how it can affect your child’s study process. In the following article, you will learn about STEAM education and the extensive role of its famous four Cs. The outcome they show is massive and undeniable.
Introduction to STEAM Education
As an abbreviation, STEAM combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Students are lucky in modern times to get formal education through STEAM methodology or STEM method.
Learning Science is a crucial requirement of the 21st century. Our children today need to be aware and skilled in every way to conquer the challenges of modern times successfully on their own. Learning science makes them aware of the world, innovations, and possibilities. It pushes them to analyse their surroundings and identify problems to find appropriate, efficient, innovative solutions.
Technology is the fruit of the 21st century. Within the last two decades, we have witnessed massive technological developments. The evaluation of computers, mobile devices, the internet, and connectivity has replaced much of the pain, methods, tools, and ways of working. This development changed the course of banking, education, work, and communication throughout the world. Yet, it is not over, and the future is even faster, more curious, and more adaptable.
The next element of steam education is Engineering. The field of engineering is not new, though. However, with the advancements in science and technology, the ways of working are changing. New methods are replacing old and time-consuming procedures to the last end. Today, students can do civil, mechanical, environmental, water, and software engineering.
Art is an expression! It is also an element that makes STEM education STEAM in nature. In the 21st century, students must learn arts alongside science, technology, engineering, and maths. The arts keep a human inside alive and vibrant. Success in the world is significant, but the connection to the inner self is essential to stay grounded, sane, efficient, and visionary to unfold the realities of life.
Here comes the last component of STEAM education- Mathematics. Students cannot deny the importance of mathematics in the 21st century. Learning maths can help students solve numbers, data, and money matters and find economic solutions on personal, national, and international levels on professional grounds.
DATA & STEAM Education
Data is the future. However, data alone cannot produce results. Therefore, collecting accurate and required data, gathering it, analysing it, and delivering results do wonders. Data discloses trends and allows humans to make appropriate decisions to manage situations positively.
Today, data sciences are also emerging as a new normal. When data comes together with computers, it results in data sciences- a technology representing a technical future.
The collaboration of all these essential subjects in STEAM education benefits students in developing personalities with major skill sets and efficiency development. These skills are often known as the famous four Cs. Let us learn about them together.
STEAM Education & 4 Cs
With continuous learning relating to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics and regular usage of assisting tools, students engage in various activities. Therefore, the following skills are developed in their personality. These skills are known as the 4 Cs.
- Creativity
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Critical Thinking
In the following content, we will discuss these one by one!
Creativity
Various pieces of research prove a strong link between creativity and motivation. Students need inspiration to continue their studies; adults need encouragement to keep grinning. Life is unpredictable at times, and students need the motivation to stay glued and hold on to the fight to get out of the situation. There, creativity helps move miles. Creativity lightens the mind to remain vibrant, colourful, and tricky in the dull, clouded, unfair, and challenging world.
Moreover, creativity helps in emotional development. In childhood, at various moments, children feel restricted by parents, schools, or mentors not to behave in a certain way as it is inappropriate. The creativity shines inside, and they learn to manage and express their wild emotions as productive ones with time.
Communication
On the other hand, communication is the essence of human society and people. None of us lives in the jungle. We live in a community; society is formed from people coming together. The situation often becomes tricky when people live together due to diverse natures and outlooks. At this point, communication plays its part. The person who learns the art of communication wins at life, usually in life. No matter what, private life, professional sitting, or day-to-day life matters.
Therefore, communication is essential to learn. The students develop this skill with the help of steam education. Under steam’s work ethics and methods, students work in teams on various matters and tasks and communicate together. Everyone is included in tasks from the upper level to the basic level, and people learn to communicate through words, actions, and feelings.
Collaboration
While the students communicate on various levels, they collaborate in different teams and positions. Therefore, they learn the art of working, moving, managing, and giving their teammates space. This eventually helps the students in their future endeavours on various levels. They learn to work in a team, accept differences of opinion, adjust for bigger goals, and play for the community’s betterment.
Under Steam education, schools often provide community services. There, students learn about the pains of underprivileged society members and try to help them out in one way or the other. They collaborate on diverse levels and enhance their learning and adapting levels.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is the solid pillar of the robust foundation of the four Cs. Thinking critically means thinking like a skilled person about any situation from all viewpoints. Thinking from multiple perspectives allows one to share critical thinking skills with students at an early age. These skills are polished and get fine-tuned as time passes. Critical thinking helps to make better decisions and enhances problem-solving skills. It refines research skills and quickly stimulates curiosity, which dies otherwise.
STEP Schools Focuses on 4Cs in Pakistan
After you know the role of the four Cs and STEAM education in the development of children, you will be eager to know if any institution in Pakistan offers STEAM education in full glory to students in Pakistan. Then, the answer is yes!
Step Schools offers STEAM education, providing students with 21st-century schools. The four Cs are developed through teamwork assignments, community services, and exposure to advanced subjects like Robotics and Coding with enriched education through project-based learning (PBL). In addition, education technology is duly incorporated into the entire learning process to ensure quality and 360-degree education for students at the school level.