How do you design a STEM/STEAM curriculum that is relevant and engaging for your students?

Designing a STEM/STEAM curriculum starts with identifying your goals—think of it as setting the course for your adventure. First, decide what you want your students to achieve and the skills you want them to develop. This clarity acts like a compass, guiding every step of the journey. Once you’ve mapped out your destination, you can create engaging projects and activities that lead students towards these objectives. For practical advice, check out “The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity” by George Couros. This book offers straightforward strategies for encouraging creativity and innovation in education, which can help you build a more effective and engaging curriculum.

In my experience as an aviation educator, having clear goals from the outset is crucial for effective learning. I’ve noticed that when I define specific objectives for what I want my students to achieve—whether it’s mastering jet aircraft systems or applying critical thinking in flight scenarios—it significantly improves the learning process. Aligning these objectives with industry standards ensures students gain the technical proficiency and decision-making skills needed in the field. I’ve found that a well-structured framework also allows for more meaningful assessment, enabling me to track progress and adjust instruction to better prepare students for STEM field

To design a relevant and engaging STEM/STEAM curriculum, start by identifying clear goals such as fostering critical thinking and creativity. For instance, in a biology unit, integrate hands-on activities like DNA extraction to explore real-world applications. Incorporate technology for data analysis and art for visual representation, ensuring interdisciplinary connections and active student participation throughout the learning process.

Don't forget to analyze the open science and open education solutions available for your theme, such as in the NASA OSSI method.

Your goal should be to produce critical-thinking, serial learners, full stop. Once this becomes "the standard" in the education system as a whole, then the path towards achieving it becomes clearer. Anything short of this results in the perpetuation of a substandard education system for the majority of the global population.

Design a STEM/STEAM curriculum by choosing a theme like "Sustainable Cities." Integrate science (environmental impact of urbanization), technology (smart city technologies), engineering (designing eco-friendly buildings), arts (public art installations), and math (data analysis of energy usage). Engage students with real-world problems, like designing a sustainable neighborhood, fostering critical thinking and collaboration.

Choosing a theme that is relevant to their current understanding of the world is the best approach. Focus on what currently exists and is prevalent in the students' lives. You want to select a theme or problem they interact with or face personally, collectively as a group. Avoid outdated models like climate change that haven't been solved over the past 40 years. Students will see through that charade. Instead, use something like computing power generating too much heat for AI content creation. Yes, you'll have to learn something new, but that's your job—lead by example.

Teachers within our network utilize project-based learning to present a driving question for students to solve related to a real-world problem or challenge. If the challenge is complex enough, students will need to explore multiple subject areas to present a solution to the problem. Therefore, designing an interdisciplinary learning experience will be feasible because students will explore STEM concepts and beyond while addressing a meaningful challenge.

Design a STEM/STEAM curriculum by connecting science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through real-world problems. For instance, create a project where students design sustainable urban gardens. They'd analyze soil chemistry (science), use CAD software for garden layout (technology), calculate water flow (engineering), design aesthetically pleasing layouts (arts), and manage budgets (math). This holistic approach fosters interdisciplinary skills and engages students in meaningful learning experiences.

It's always very important to make connections to other disciplines when possible. Education is an interdisciplinary activity, not a siloed sequence of information. Students have other interests as they develop. Tap into this curiosity and incorporate one or more subjects that integrate and complement the main discipline of the curriculum being designed. Naturally, visual art integrates with all disciplines. Utilize this collaboration, and you'll be surprised at how much interest learners will take in the subject overall. As an instructor, if you are not an artist, then seek the help of one and collaborate. Develop techniques for this new integration.

There can be no interdisciplinarity without the proper intercultural communication literacy, that is to say: to develop interaction between disciplines you must understand each of theim different languages and cultural specificities.

Designing a relevant and engaging STEM/STEAM curriculum involves integrating hands-on and inquiry-based learning. For example, in a robotics unit, students can start by exploring basic mechanics and programming principles through guided activities. They then progress to designing and building their own robots to solve specific challenges, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. Throughout, teachers facilitate inquiry by encouraging students to ask questions, experiment, and refine their designs based on outcomes.

Hands-on learning is the best form of learning. Eventually, learners will have to engage and utilize the lessons in a practical manner outside of formal education. Inquiry-based learning is how all curricula should be designed. As educators, our job is not to produce information vessels—we now have AI technology for that. Our job is to produce interdisciplinary critical thinkers.

Consider joining the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Network to get the best science communication methodologies.

One thing I always did and try to do, if permitted, is create classes where industry professionals come in to interact with my students. This is very effective because students can hear firsthand everything you have been teaching or explaining to them as a non-industry professional. It also allows them to ask questions and gain insights that the instructor might not provide.

To facilitate effective communication, hold regular group check-ins where students can discuss progress, share challenges, and seek advice, fostering a culture of open dialogue. Provide opportunities for students to present their work to various audiences, offering feedback to enhance their presentation skills. Encourage reflection and feedback by having teams reflect on what worked well after each project and creating feedback loops for constructive criticism, promoting a growth mindset. Lastly, connect students with real-world audiences through community involvement and digital portfolios, helping them showcase their work, improve communication skills, and build confidence.

Designing a STEM/STEAM curriculum involves integrating real-world problems, varied learning styles, and student interests. For instance, in a physics unit on motion, students can choose projects aligning with their passions: designing sports equipment for better performance or analyzing the physics of dance movements. By allowing choice and connecting to their interests, students engage deeply and personalize their learning experiences, making the curriculum both relevant and engaging.

To make a meaningful impact, the curriculum must be relevant, inclusive, and engaging. This can be achieved by focusing on real-world applications, diversity, and student interests. Integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and sustainability into the curriculum is essential. Moreover, incorporating diverse role models and case studies helps students see the relevance of STEM/STEAM fields and inspires them to pursue careers in these areas. Fostering a growth mindset and encouraging experimentation and learning from failure. Assessing student understanding through authentic assessments like project-based evaluations provides a comprehensive picture of their knowledge and skills

In designing a STEM/STEAM curriculum, also consider incorporating real-world applications and community involvement. For example, partner with local businesses or organizations to provide students with real-world problems to solve. This could involve a project where students work with a local environmental group to develop solutions for reducing plastic waste in their community, integrating biology, chemistry, and environmental science with social studies and technology. This approach enhances relevance, shows the impact of their work, and fosters a sense of community responsibility.

Partnering with industry professionals and organizations provides mentorship, internships, and project-based learning opportunities, preparing students for the workforce. This collaboration bridges the gap between education and industry needs, equipping students with practical skills and exposing them to cutting-edge technologies. As educators we need to inspire this new generation of innovative thinkers and problem solvers to tackle real-world challenges and drive innovation.