Abstract
In this chapter, I will discuss STEM teaching primarily from the perspective of Estonian education. STEM education is spreading in many countries around the world and is an important central topic in the field of education. STEM learning enables young people to link different subject areas and find diverse solutions to real-life problems. We need educated young people who will be able to succeed in developing smart and sustainable technological solutions in the world of work in the future. In the context of the Estonian curriculum of Technology Education, I will discuss the relationships with the elements of basic structure of the Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL). I will discuss STEM education, research, and the evolution of the STEM acronym and the application of the definition in Estonia. According to the results of PISA tests, the knowledge and skills of Estonian students in natural sciences are at the forefront of the world. Various ways of engaging students help to increase their interest in STEM studies, including relevant projects, events, and competitions. Numerous study activities, including international ones, take place in Estonian universities for university students, schoolchildren, and teachers alike, to bring new and fresh study solutions to school lessons, which are attractive to students and develop them technically and technologically.
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Soobik, M. (2023). The Impacts and Relationship of STEL and Technology Education in Estonia. In: Bartholomew, S.R., Hoepfl, M., Williams, P.J. (eds) Standards-Based Technology and Engineering Education. Contemporary Issues in Technology Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5704-0_16
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