To start in a simple way:
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Mathematics
But what does this mean in practice? Let’s first explore the concept of STEM and STEM learning.
STEM focuses on providing learners with the skills and competences in the subjects, with sub-categories being topics such as statistics, biology, economic, agriculture, psychology, and aeronautics, to name a few. Through the promotion of STEM subjects and learning in the last few years, aiming at a STEM career has become more and more interesting for students.
A big focus of STEM is on innovation and change, improving jobs, inventions, and practical knowledge and habits, relating to STEM in our society.
And then what is STEAM?
It shows how popular STEAM education has become when search engines online start showing you STEAM education instead of actual steam when you search for “What is STEAM?” It already differentiates both.
STEAM pays more consideration to soft skills and the Arts, and how creative skills, such as design and writing can further improve the productivity and innovation of learning, our society and economy.
But what is the actual difference between both?
Aside from the obvious inclusion of another discipline in STEAM, the focus of both is slightly different.
STEM is focused on the scientific and natural sciences between the subjects, aiming to enhance innovation and progress in the subjects.
In STEAM, learning includes hard and soft skills, and revolves around solving problems and collaboration.
In ECCE LUDUS, while escape rooms can teach STEM subjects and core messages, we want to focus on the STEAM and collaboration topics, improving the learning experiences and sustainability of students and the practices of teachers across Europe.
Source: https://www.ucf.edu/online/engineering/news/comparing-stem-vs-steam-why-the-arts-make-a-difference/
