This book approaches STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) in early childhood education from multiple angles. It focuses on the teaching and learning of children from two years of age to the early years of school. Proponents of STEAM describe how it can create opportunities for children to learn creatively, and various chapter authors make strong connections between discipline areas within the context of an informal curriculum. Others advocate for an integrated STEM, rather than STEAM, approach. With a light touch on theory and a focus on how to embed STE(A)M in an integrated early childhood curriculum, the editors and contributors examine the STEAM versus STEM question from multiple angles. The chapters provide helpful frameworks for parents, teachers and higher education institutions, and make practical suggestions for how to support young children’s inquiry learning. Drawing on pedagogy and research from around the world, this book will be of interest to scholars of STEAM education, early childhood educators, students of early childhood education and parents of young children.
Caroline Cohrssen is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at The University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include learning and teaching in the years prior to school entry. This includes the home learning environment and early childhood education settings.
Susanne Garvis is a professor in the Department of Education at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. Her research interests include quality, policy and learning in early childhood education.
