Trends and Issues on STEM and STEAM Education in Early Childhood

Abstract

The research aims to focus on Thai national and international studies regarding STEM and STEAM education in early childhood education. After a detailed search by using the five databases, 33 researches published during 2008 and 2018 were accessed and analyzed using content analysis. The research finding signifies that STEM and STEAM education in early childhood classrooms have aroused both Thai national and international interest from an educational perspective to prepare students for the 21 century. Furthermore, classroom implementation and instruction design to incorporate STEM and STEAM education have been more challenging to fulfill the expected benefits, such as, effective of learning both formal and informal education, building of STEM literacy, preparing of professional development of preservice and in-service teacher.