STEAMing ahead: why and how science and science education need the arts

Resumo

There are ongoing concerns that pupils are not enthusiastic about learning STEM subjects and that decreasing numbers of young people pursue STEM into higher education or as a career. For science, efforts to invigorate teaching along IBSE/IBL lines have so far fallen short. There are now efforts to improve and raise engagement and outcomes in STEM adding the ARTS, turning STEM into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS and Mathematics). In this paper I show ways in which science and science learning benefit from the arts. At the macro level STEAM is best organised as a transdisciplinary exercise to solve real-life problems, and at a micro-disciplinary level utilising creative approaches such as fine arts, creative writing and drama.