STEM in Early Childhood Education: Methods, Pedagogies, and Policies

This study explores STEM learning ecologies in modern early childhood education, methods and pedagogies for a 21st-century STEM education, appropriate policies and discourses on STEM learning with & through hyper complex environments and pedagogies, and the pedagogical foundation of STEM learning ecologies that are inclusive of new technologies & Aboriginal territories. It also discusses re-conceptualizing STEM learning and new technologies in early childhood.

STEM IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
TASK...............................................................................................................................................4
1- Analysing and critically examine STEM learning ecologies in modern early childhood
education......................................................................................................................................4
2- Discussing and analyse methods, pedagogies and methods for a 21st era STEM education...5
3- Describing appropriate policies and discourses on STEM learning with & through hype
complex environments and pedagogies.......................................................................................6
4- Argument based on approach to teaching STEM in early learning context............................6
5- Discussing pedagogical foundation of STEM learning ecologies that are inclusive of new
technologies & aboriginal territories...........................................................................................7
6- Re-conceptualize STEM learning and new technologies in early childhood..........................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
STEM learning is one of the most effective and useful methods or techniques of learning,
which enable an individual to obtain desire outcomes and develop themselves in productive
manner. This form of development and teaching method bring varied advantages that a learner
grab in order to grow rapidly whether it is personally or professionally. The current study will be
based on STEAM learning, which falls under the category of leading education techniques in the
world. The study will explain STEAM learning ecologies in the context of contemporary early
childhood education. It will define approaches, pedagogies and methods for a 21st century STEM
education. Furthermore, the report will justify relevant policies and discourses on chosen
teaching concept, with & through hyper complex environments as well as pedagogies. It will
clarify argument based on approach to teaching stem in early study context, pedagogical
foundation that include new technologies and Aboriginal territories. Lastly the assignment will
explain re conceptualize STEM learning and advanced technologies in early childhood.
TASK
1- Analysing and critically examine STEM learning ecologies in modern early childhood
education.
STEM learning stands for science, technology engineering and mathematics. It also
associated key practices that help to create a student or learner centred learning environment.
This type of environment may drive their attention toward taking and using better solutions to
identify issues and construct relevant explanations of real world phenomena with concentration
on children's emotional, academic, social and physical needs via share support of families, co-
learners, schools and community partners (Hecht and Crowley, 2020). In contemporary early
childhood education, STEM teaching technique play vital role in term of driving learners focus
and effort to utilize the best and effective set of skills in order to be successful in the recent time
when higher education is playing significant role regardless of particular career aims and
interests. It may enable students to obtain benefit of great teaching method more than
mathematics and science concepts.
It can be said that STEM grown continually to represent a unique technique regarding
learning and understanding, one that revolved around each student developing styles. This type
of ecologies in contemporary era, contribute to boost morale and confidence level of all students,
especially who are taking part in learning process from their childhood (Takeuchi and et. al.,

2020). Along with benefits, it can be said that Stem learning in the modern world may put
negative impact on early childhood education in term of lacking chance to ask question and
obtain response face to face as most of the education institutes are using this technique via
advance technologies, which may do not provide small children to properly understand and
develop understanding about any study concept. It may affect negatively upon their learning and
growth that is not beneficial at initial level of education.
2- Discussing and analyse methods, pedagogies and methods for a 21st era STEM education.
STEM learning in this world is becoming the highly discussed topic in the education
sector, because it may drive the attention of a tutor toward using and providing specific method
of teaching which may give them chance to support in growth and career development of
children's further. There are different form of methods and approaches as well as pedagogies
accessible in the world, that has been utilized and are utilizing by multiple education
organizations. In the context of 21st century, e-learning, problem based, research and inquiry
based study are the best examples of STEM education (How to effectively teach STEM subjects
in the classroom, 2021). Each method provide key benefits to individual learner in term of
developing their understanding about academic courses in varied terms. Tutors may engage
children's to resolve any issue or query that provide them better comprehending about overall
situation and also about the action that they may take to particular task. It may enhance their
problem solving skills even better than before and also boost their confidence level which is
quite essential for them to do so as it may make them more creative and sharp minded.
Pedagogy is referred to strategic and beneficial practice or method of teaching that in 21st
century tutors may utilize but in different manner. For example, they are using use e-learning,
especially in case of aboriginal, first people’s, Indigenous and those children's who are unable to
come educational institutes due to some health issues. They might be creative in term of teaching
a group of students and manage this activity in just one single step such as e-learning. It can be
said that tutors in the recent time may use the most effective teaching method related to STEM
learning and that is puzzle solving. It may give children's opportunity make their mind creative
and innovative as well as sharper than ever.

3- Describing appropriate policies and discourses on STEM learning with & through hype
complex environments and pedagogies.
Educational institutes and governmental bodies support positively and effectively related to
STEM learning ecologies in order to make it more effective and beneficial then every for
students especially teenagers or toddlers. They may form or restructure key policies that make
this type of learning technique useful in varied manners. For example, with the national teaching
policy 2020 considering the desire for flexibility in selecting subjects that a learner wants to
understand or study, as implementation of this policy may boost technology, mathematics,
science and engineering education in Australia. Each Australian territory and regional
government may take initiative and initiate certain forms of STEM learning policy as well as
initiate systems that range across key three priorities of children’s results, curriculum and tutor’s
workforce (Challenges in STEM learning in Australian schools. Literature and Policy Review,
2018). Australian governmental bodies may attempt to take action of funding support in
additional early teaching and institutes based initiatives that in return provide varied benefits to
both parties.
STEM learning discourse is emerging in national and state school education terms as
governments tend to develop a road map & vision for the bring future. With hyper complex
environment and methods, the current teaching concept along with encompassing benefits and
also cover key challenges that may put negative impact on success of all children’s and their
growth as well.
4- Argument based on approach to teaching STEM in early learning context.
According to, Speldewinde, Kilderry and Campbell, (2020) for purpose of teaching
STEM, tutors in early learning used the best techniques such as practical life as pedagogical
method, just to make assure that students develop their understanding via learning with real
example, which is quite beneficial for them. It can be said that practical life learning is the best
activity that a tutor may utilize to teach kids specific things, which in return enhance their
understanding and growth level even better than last few weeks or months. For example, tutors
may take all the students to a small break or survey out of the schools just to make assure that
kids identify the dress codes and duties as well as profession of those who wear that such as
police man, doctors, janitors, fire brigadiers and more who play vital role in this world in order to
prevent social life and individual person.

On the other hand, Hans, (2019) contradict that Reggio Emilla is the best approach of
STEM teaching in early period. It was developed by Loris Malaguzzi after world war II. It is
considered as heavily child development approach, which drive the concentration of tutors
toward varied ways through that they may encourage child to express themselves. They may take
action to enhance and boost morale of children’s especially toddlers and promote them to explore
the things in which they are interested. Teacher may take decision by considering this method to
made children’s feel like their conversation with tutors are a chance to learn and develop
knowledge about varied concepts.
5- Discussing pedagogical foundation of STEM learning ecologies that are inclusive of new
technologies & aboriginal territories.
The concept that combine advanced technologies and Aboriginal territories together is
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This concept encompasses different
types of techniques and key approaches that are quite different from those methods that
aboriginal territories may utilize in the context of teaching and learning to develop individual
learner such as early childhood (Anderson, 2020). STEM learning ecologies was founded in
2001 and introduced by scientific management at US national science foundation, for purpose of
teaching and making students capable to become scientist, engineers, mathematician and
technicians. The firm may earlier utilize acronym SMET when it referring to career fields in
those curriculum or disciplines that combined skills and knowledge from those areas (Tytler,
2020). In 2001, however, American biologist then provide direction to human resource and
academic at NSF to reorganize words to structure the STEM learning. As this concept
concentrate syllabus that has been extended to many nations across US, with systems founded in
places such as France, Taiwan, Australia and more countries (Torso and et.al., 2020).
This concept includes new technologies such as e-learning and aboriginal boundaries, in
term of teaching students to learn something new in better manner by using story telling with
visual cues instead of process and reading material directly (STEM Learning Ecologies:
Relevant, Responsive, and Connected, 2021). Besides of differences, both concepts aim to
enhance participation or engagement to Aboriginal as well as Torres strait islander learners in
technology, mathematics, science and engineering as professionalism areas (Cheeptham and
et.al., 2020). Aboriginals are homogenous and able to under varied languages and reach
territories. They are profounding and faced complex relation with natural environment in term of

taking education and learning from different methods such as cultural, real examples, community
spirit, etc.
6- Re-conceptualize STEM learning and new technologies in early childhood.
In the recent era, just because of technological advancement educational institutes and
other stakeholders such as governmental bodies may take decision to reform STEM learning in
term of adding advanced technologies into overall process of teaching. For example,
advancement related to digital technologies may put positive impact on early childhood learning
in term of reforming the key approaches and procedures of STEM concept (Attard and et. al.,
2020). Chosen learning method and new technologies are interrelated with each other as they
both are reformed in the recent time, due to emerging needs and learning style preferences of
students. For instance, e-learning need or requirement of this technique may drive the attention
of stakeholders toward reconstruct new-technologies and providing teaching services to
children's at their early age when they are unable to come to school and take better education. It
is quite entertaining for them to take learning sessions without going institutes via advance
technologies which may give them and their spouses opportunities to get knowledge about basis
education courses that may help to grow forward.
The re-conceptualizing process may explore and maps out development of varied creative
ideas as well as problems around four central activity themes such as system, model based
reasoning, thinking, ethical outcomes, and equity epistemic (Murray and et. al., 2020). In can be
said that many of the current national re-modify in STEM learning such as NGSS and standards
for technological skill that goal is to sustain a Stem team of students to offer as the next
population of scientists, mathematicians, technicians and highly skilled engineers
(Reconceptualizing STEM Education in Australia as Praxis: A Curriculum Turn, 2021).
Historical, ethical and more dimensions become reason of re-conceptualization in the context of
STEM learning in the current era.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above discussion, it has been summarized that children have obtained
benefit of developing their understanding about varied study materials or courses by using and
considering STEM learning as well as key methods related to this concept. It has enabled them to
develop their knowledge and enhance performance level in early stage, when they began their
study. Furthermore, from above analysis, it has been concluded that technological advancement

has provided unexpected benefits to child at early level of comprehending and developing
knowledge about certain useful as well as beneficial subjects. With the help of advanced
technologies, they have gained edges in several terms. The support and contribution of
Australian education committee in term of policy formation has made STEM learning more
effective and helpful in term of addition key features.

REFERENCES
Book and Journals
Anderson, J., 2020. The STEM education phenomenon and its impact on school curriculum.
Curriculum Perspectives. 40(2). pp.217-223.
Attard, C. and et. al., 2020. Affect and Engagement in STEM Education. STEM Education
Across the Learning Continuum: Early Childhood to Senior Secondary. pp.195-212.
Chai, C.S., Jong, M. and Yan, Z., 2020. Surveying Chinese teachers' technological pedagogical
STEM knowledge: A pilot validation of STEM-TPACK survey. International Journal of
Mobile Learning and Organisation, 14(2), pp.203-214.
Cheeptham, N. and et.al., 2020. Aboriginal youth summer camp in science and health science: a
Western Canadian university review of 10 years of successes and learning. International
Journal of Science Education, Part B. 10(3). pp.204-216.
Crompton, H., 2020. Contextualizing STEM Learning: Frameworks & Strategies. Research on
Outdoor STEM Education in the digiTal Age. 13.
Hecht, M. and Crowley, K., 2020. Unpacking the learning ecosystems framework: Lessons from
the adaptive management of biological ecosystems. Journal of the Learning Sciences.
29(2). pp.264-284.
Murray, C. and et. al., 2020. Reconceptualising relatedness in education in
‘Distanced’Times. European journal of teacher education. 43(4). pp.488-502.
Speldewinde, C., Kilderry, A. and Campbell, C., 2020. Beyond the preschool gate: teacher
pedagogy in the Australian ‘bush kinder’. International Journal of Early Years Education.
pp.1-15.
Takeuchi, M. A. and et.al., 2020. Transdisciplinarity in STEM education: A critical
review. Studies in Science Education. 56(2). pp.213-253.
Torso, K. and et.al., 2020. Participatory research approaches in mining-impacted hydrosocial
systems. Hydrological Sciences Journal. 65(14). pp.2337-2349.
Tytler, R., 2020. STEM Education for the Twenty-First Century. Integrated Approaches to
STEM Education. pp.21-43.
Online
Challenges in STEM learning in Australian schools. Literature and Policy Review. 2018.
[Online]. Available Through: <
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326368559_Challenges_in_STEM_learning_in
_Australian_schools_Literature_and_Policy_Review>
How to effectively teach STEM subjects in the classroom. 2021. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/effectively-teach-stem-subjects>
Reconceptualizing STEM Education in Australia as Praxis: A Curriculum Turn. 2021. [Online].
Available Through: <https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/9/4961/htm>
Seven different approaches to Early Years pedagogy. 2021. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.famly.co/blog/early-years-pedagogy>
STEM Learning Ecologies: Relevant, Responsive, and Connected. 2021. [Online]. Available
Through: < https://www.nsta.org/connected-science-learning/connected-science-learning-
march-2016/stem-learning-ecologies>