What is STEM?
STEM can be…
An acronym for Science, Technology,
Engineering & Math
1. Interdisciplinary – formal, physical, life, social,
& applied science
2. Curriculum driven by problem-solving, discovery,
exploratory learning, active learning to find solutions
3. “a meta-discipline” transforming subject matter by
incorporating technology & engineering
Ellen Richards Founded Family &
Consumer Sciences
Ellen Swallow Richards
FCS Pioneer
1842-1911
• Ellen lived 1842-1911 when filth,
disease & suffering was common.
Only half of the children lived to
adulthood.
• Ellen became a scientist,
philosopher and change agent
at MIT.
• She felt science and research
would have a stronger impact if it
applied to improve living
environments.
Our first STEM connection…
• She was dedicated to
this new field of
connecting scientific
knowledge to
practical applications.
• She addressed food
safety, water quality
and safe home
environments.
Overall
STEM Education…
• Integrates science,
technology, engineering,
& math into one learning
experience
• Uses project-based learning
• Reinforces real world
application
• Prepares students for
integrated careers
• Develops “soft” &
technical skills
STEM Skills
• Analytical skills to research a topic, develop a project and
timeline, and draw conclusions from research results.
• Science skills to break down a complex scientific system into
smaller parts, recognize cause and effect relationships, and
defend opinions using facts.
• Mathematic skills for calculations and measurements.
• Attention to detail by following technical directions, recording
data accurately, formative and summative assessment.
STEM Skills
• Technical skills, troubleshooting, repairing, and utilizing
software and modern equipment.
• Communication and cooperation skills to listen to customer
needs or interact with project partners.
• Teamwork skills for successful project completion.
• Creativity to solve problems and develop new ideas.
• Leadership skills to lead projects or help customers.
• Organization skills to keep track of lots of different information.
• Time management skills to function efficiently.
21st Century Skills
• Core subjects and 21st Century themes
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Global awareness
Financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy
Civic literacy
Health literacy
Environmental literacy
• Learning and innovation skills
• Creativity and innovation
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Communication and collaboration
• Information, media, and technology skills
• Life and career skills
Soft Skills
“personal qualities, habits, attitudes & social
behaviors that make an individual a good employee”
• Verbal/written
communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Organization skills
• Curiosity & imagination
• Technology experience
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Teamwork skills
Time management
Following directions
Desire to learn
Creative problem-solving
skills
Curricular Attributes
STEM
FCS
• Challenging Curriculum
• Challenging Curriculum
• Inquiry-Based Learning
• Inquiry-Based Learning
• Defined Outcomes
• Defined Outcomes
• Sustained
Commitment/Community
Involvement
• Sustained
Commitment/Community
Involvement
STEM is FCS
• Teamwork, Leadership,
& Time Management
– Career, Community &
Family Connections
• 1.1 Analyze strategies to
manage multiple roles
and responsibilities
(individual, family, career,
community, and global)
• Creative Problem
Solving
– Consumer & Family
Resources
• 2.1 Demonstrate
management of individual
and family resources such
as food, clothing, shelter,
health care, recreation,
transportation, time, and
human capital
STEM is FCS
• Curiosity & Imagination
– Education & Early
Childhood
• 4.3 Demonstrate
integration of curriculum
and instruction to meet
children’s developmental
needs and interests
• Math Skills
– Food Production &
Services
• 8.6.10 Apply principles of
inventory management,
labor cost and control,
and facilities
management to front and
back of the house
operations
STEM is FCS
• Following Detailed
Directions
– Housing & Interior
Design
• 11.6 Evaluate client’s
needs, goals, and
resources in creating
design plans for housing
and residential and
commercial interiors
• Verbal Communication
– Interpersonal
Relationships
• 13.3 Demonstrate
communication skills that
contribute to positive
relationships
STEM is FCS
• Science Skills
– Foods & Nutrition
• 14.3 Demonstrate ability
to acquire, handle, and
use foods to meet
nutrition and wellness
needs of individuals and
families across the life
span
• Experience with
Technology
– Textiles, Apparel, &
Fashion
• 16.3.4 Demonstrate
design concepts with
fabric or
technology/computer
using draping and/or flat
pattern making technique
“STEM-ifying” FCS Problems
(Scientific Method)
Ask a Question
Do Background Research
Construct a Hypothesis
Test your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
Analyze your Data and Draw a Conclusion
Report your Results
“STEM-ifying” FCS Problems
(Engineering Approach)
Identify Problem
Brainstorm
Design
Build, Redesign, Test, and Evaluate
Share Solution
All FCS Careers are
All FCS
Careers
Based
in …. are
CONTENT
KNOWLEDGE
based in…
Family & Consumer
Sciences
Biology
Economics
Design
Sociology
(financial literacy)
Business
Nutrition
Architecture
(housing styles)
Chemistry
Psychology
Engineering
(cooking/baking)
(consumer decision making)
(fashion/textiles)
Anthropology
(family studies)
(family
studies)
Communications
& Media
Microbiology
Food Safety
Ecology
Physics
Technology
Strong
relationships
ECOLOGY
STEM Career Connections
Integrated Content:
• Kitchen Math
• Food Chemistry
• Reality Learning vs. Abstract Math Problems
• Financial Literacy
• Problem Solving and Synthesis
• Interdisciplinary Content
…and more!
Identifying STEM in Textiles & Apparel
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Biology: Animal fibers
Botany: Plant fibers
Physics: Functional clothing
Physiology & Anatomy:
Thermal regulation, garment
motion studies, fitting
• Chemistry: Synthetic fibers,
textile treatment, laundry
• Manufacturing technology: knitting, cutting,
sewing, pressing
• Garment engineering: product design, fit,
patterning
• Industrial Engineering:
sequence of operations,
ergonomics
• Geometry: drafting, grading,
scale
Students Say…
Students Say…
• “When I think about FACS, I feel that I am
going to learn something that will help me for
the rest of my life.”
• “The most important thing that I learned in
FACS class, that I feel I will take with me and
will help me the most, is learning about
different careers, colleges, and degrees.”
• “The hands-on project work in FACS helped
me to have confidence in my actions.”
FCS is STEM
Education