

The arts is a collective term, which is used to describe a range of different subject areas that are broadly considered to be artistic or otherwise creative in their nature. In this article, we will explain in more detail what the arts is, the importance of the arts, and how it can be viewed within a STEAM context. In truth, as we will cover in the next section, the arts is actually a major addition to this concept, because it is a broad field, which includes a wide range of different subjects. The idea grew out of a concept known as STEM education, with the key difference being the inclusion of the ‘A’ for the arts. The idea behind STEAM education is to place a focus on five key areas – science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics – while also encouraging the teaching of those fields to be more engaging and integrated. Read on to learn more about why the arts are so vital to a rounded education or visit our education solutions page for more insights into improving student outcomes. The key difference between STEM and STEAM education is that the latter recognizes the importance of the arts, whereas the former did not. STEAM education, as a concept, emerged from the existing STEM initiative, which was originally designed to emphasize the academic subjects that teach the most important life skills, while also encouraging more integrated lessons. The arts in STEAM education is arguably the most significant feature of the framework.
