Teaching STEM means teacher learning

Three experienced science teachers at a middle school tell about their first-year journey of adopting STEM pedagogy. STEM did not materialize as planned, but in the end it worked out. Some observations and advice: Transitioning to STEM requires leaving comfort zones. Teachers may need the help of an experienced guide. Many students have been trained to learn through more traditional methods and may not know how to think critically for themselves. The teacher is not the repository of all information; students have a large role in discovering their own knowledge through inquiry. © 2012.