Liberal Arts and STEM at SXSWedu
From Rick McMaster
I had promised to write about ISSIP’s role in e-mentoring but I had the opportunity to attend SXSWedu in March and wanted to share my experience. Thousands from around the world attended more than 250 sessions during the four days. Last year I was focused on the Maker Movement and what it could do for STEM education. Many sessions discussed this topic again this year but I focused my attention on discussions of how the liberal arts fit in today’s STEM world. (Full disclosure: my undergraduate degree is a BA and all my graduate degrees are in the pure sciences although I was an experimentalist).
Some people have suggested that STEM is the new liberal arts. My personal view, reinforced by what I heard through all the sessions that I attended, is that STEM is part of a liberal arts education but not a full replacement. While our world has evolved, Thomas Jefferson’s statement still rings true, "An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” Today an understanding of STEM and the interrelationship among its components and the elements of a liberal arts education is necessary to meet this goal.
I’ll list some of the sessions that touched on the topic and then summarize my conclusions.
“The Liberal Arts Matter in a STEM World… explored how the liberal arts complement training in STEM fields to create more complete leaders capable of critical thinking and effective communication…”
“Can the Liberal Arts Survive in an Age of Innovation?... examined some of the recent "disruptions,'' which come at a time when the US is struggling to stay competitive with other countries and get more Americans to graduate with high quality-degrees and certifications…”
“Teaching American Values: Innovation and Creativity… explored what works in today’s classroom to create interest in STEM, foster critical thinking and nurture these competencies…”
"Build, Create and Hack: Bringing STEAM into K-12… best practices, challenges, and successes of developing Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) programs within schools across the US to help address these needs…”
“Saving STEM: Why Technology and the Arts Matter… how to reduce the achievement gap by implementing innovative programs that promote academic success in STEM…”
“Disrupting by Design: How the Arts Inspire Schools… When arts organizations and schools work together, students have the space to think both critically and creatively about their world.
The overall messages that I took from these sessions are:
- There is a gap between college administrations’ view of graduates’ job readiness and the firms doing the hiring. A “pure” STEM education is necessary but not sufficient for success in today’s world.
- The top causes of startup failures are team dynamics and communication. The liberal arts can help address these by building the “T-shaped” person who can deal with complex problems.
- Adding the arts [and other elements of a liberal arts education] allows for this broader-based person who can be more creative and innovative.
- The Liberal Arts teaches you “learning to know”, not just “learning to do”, encouraging lifelong learning.
Even if you were not able to attend SXSWedu this year, keep watching their website. Video and audio highlights of the sessions will be available. Maybe I’ll see you there in 2015.
Your comments are always welcome, @DrKold or drkold.org.
Rick McMaster has retired from IBM as the STEM Advocate in University Programs Worldwide but continues in his “STEM and more” outreach as chair of Central Texas Discover Engineering and ISSIP Industry Emeritus.
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