A framework for effective STEAM education: Pedagogy for responding to wicked problems

Abstract

This conceptual paper articulates a new strategic framework for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) education in Europe to respond to the challenges facing educators, researchers, students and policy makers. It draws on conceptualisations developed within the EU-funded Road-STEAMer project which is creating a STEAM education roadmap for policymakers at the secondary/ tertiary intersection, particularly in projects that feature open science/schooling and/or responses to ‘grand challenges’. Grounded in the complexity of the current STEAM education landscape, the paper articulates the characteristics of effective STEAM education developed through the Road-STEAMer project, in order to demonstrate how the benefits of STEAM can be catalysed. The paper explains the Road-STEAMer characteristics (equity, disciplinary inter-relationship, collaboration, real-world connections, thinking-making-doing, creativity and inclusion/ empowerment/ personalisation) which were developed from a focused literature review and then considers them in relation to two case studies addressing the post sustainability agenda: Ocean Connections and SciCultureD. Both projects are critically discussed using the Road-STEAMer characteristics to demonstrate the use of modern educational tools in STEAM, alongside how STEAM can contribute to empowering the next generation. The paper concludes by drawing together insights into the significance of the Road-STEAMer characteristics as a strategic framing for catalysing the benefits of STEAM, emphasising the importance of collaboration between researchers and practitioners to achieve this.